The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will square off in Super Bowl LX on February 8 at Levi's Stadium, with kickoff at 6:30 p.m. ET—a matchup that pits an improbable playoff run against a dominant defensive powerhouse.

Patriots' Stunning Resurrection

New England's journey to the championship game ranks among the most remarkable turnarounds in NFL history. The franchise entered this season with +6000 odds to reach the Super Bowl, coming off back-to-back 4-13 seasons in 2023 and 2024.

The turnaround began when the Patriots hired Mike Vrabel as head coach. The former defensive lineman won three Super Bowls with the team as a player and spent six seasons coaching the Tennessee Titans before taking the helm in New England. Players credit Vrabel's blunt honesty as a catalyst for the team's resurgence. He's been named a finalist for Coach of the Year.

This marks the Patriots' 12th Super Bowl appearance in franchise history—the most by any team. New England currently has six Super Bowl titles, tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most championships in NFL history. Their last championship came after the 2018 season, when they defeated the Rams 13-3 in Super Bowl LIII.

Maye's Meteoric Rise

Second-year quarterback Drake Maye has emerged as one of the league's elite signal-callers, finishing the regular season with the second-best odds to win MVP. The 23-year-old led the league in passer rating and completion percentage—making him the second-youngest quarterback to reach the Super Bowl in NFL history.

Maye's development owes much to offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who spent 20 years with the Patriots under Tom Brady. McDaniels has shown Maye film of Brady's execution of the offense to accelerate his growth. Veteran tight end Hunter Henry explained the strategy: "Josh was with them for 20 years, so why would you not want to show how this offense can be executed at the highest level?"

However, Maye has struggled in the playoffs. He's turned the ball over five times in New England's first two postseason games and threw for just 86 yards in the team's conference championship win. Despite these early stumbles, the Patriots have dismantled two elite defenses, defeating the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans to reach the Super Bowl.

Seahawks' Complete Arsenal

Seattle comes in as a complete team led by second-year head coach Mike Macdonald, widely regarded as one of the game's top emerging coaches. The Seahawks' defense led the league in points allowed during the regular season.

Quarterback Sam Darnold—acquired in free agency after a bounce-back season with the Minnesota Vikings—finished fifth in passing yards. He's been empowered by wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who led the league in receiving yards and is the favorite to win Offensive Player of the Year.

Seattle's defense operates at an elite level across all three tiers. The pass rush features defensive tackles Leonard Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence alongside Byron Murphy. Linebacker Ernest Jones IV ranks among the league's best at his position. Rookie safety Nick Emmanwori—one of football's breakout first-year players—anchors the secondary.

How to Watch

• When: Sunday, February 8, at 6:30 p.m. ET
• Where: Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California
• TV: NBC
• Stream: Peacock