"Super Bowl 60 Preview: California Dreaming"

Winning comes with sacrificing for the betterment of team success. You 
either finish first or nobody remembers you taking part. Two teams have 
one goal in mind this coming Sunday evening. Super Bowl 60 will 
conclude another great NFL season. Thirty-two teams started with
playoff aspirations; we're going to see if the remaining two can enshrine
themselves as champions. One team will hoist the coveted Lombardi
Trophy; while the other is left in morale defeat.

Two teams with different paths in reaching Super Bowl 60 came with
strong expectations. A lot of buzz, clout, hype and realistic opportunities
to land in Santa Clara, California. For the Seattle Seahawks and New
England Patriots, they were head and shoulders above everyone else
most of the season. As the Super Bowl is days away, both teams know
marginal room for error can prove costly. Let's get to the preview shall
we!

1. Seattle Seahawks (14-3) vs 2. New England Patriots (14-3)

The Seattle Seahawks return to dominance was years in the making.
With a ten season gap since their last Super Bowl appearance, it's
ironically against New England. With lean years post Russell Wilson,
solid drafting and making ends meet; Seattle is one game away from
winning their second Super Bowl in franchise history. Head coach Mike
McDonald has built this defense in a matter of two seasons. Stern old
school guy with players who don't mind getting physical. None of this
would be possible without quarterback Sam Darnold. From being a high
draft pick by the New York Jets to short stops along the way, Darnold
has been everything and then some since signing with Seattle in 2025.

A quarterback who people trolled and mocked for "seeing ghosts" with
the Jets, Darnold is proving everyone wrong. Redemption led to
success by landing with the right team who believed in him.
Understanding the quarterback position by sitting and watching how to
play. It's paid off as Darnold lead this Seahawks team into Santa Clara.
Having one of the best offense in football, Seattle can score in bunches.
Wide receiver JSN is among the best young receivers.

A very good offensive line with running back Kenneth Walker leading the
charge. It will be a challenge in running against New England's
defensive front. For Seattle to win, it starts with great protection up front
and giving Darnold time to deliver passes. JSN will be blanketed most of

the game and veteran Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp will be the x-
factor. Special teams must be a crucial ingredient in making New

England's offense drive the field.

Seattle's defense is among the top five in football; led by a stout front of
guys who can make plays. When given time to bull rush the
quarterback, expect turnovers and short fields for their offense. The
biggest concern for Seattle: secondary can be had at any given
moment. Credit, they've played okay but will gamble and make careless
mistakes with penalties. It will be discipline that'll test this defense early
and often. If it occurs, the Seahawks will need to pin their ears back and
hold on.

New England Patriots find themselves back in the Super Bowl since
2018. With lean years post Tom Brady, the unceremonious exit of
former head coach Bill Belichick, the Patriots dynasty is revived. Led by
head coach Mike Vrabel, this team plays in the mirror images of old
Patriots defenses. Stifling, physical, poised and very well coached to a
point they rarely make mistakes.

Second year quarterback Drake Maye leads the Patriots offense into
this game with a strong running attack. It's going to be as difficult
running the football against Seattle. Even with the MVP still up for
grabs, none of it will matter if Maye folds in the biggest game. It will take
a near perfect game and play calling by offensive coordinator Josh
McDaniels. For the Pats offense it's simple: find running lanes and keep
the ball out of harm's way. With Stefon Diggs being likely blanketed,
look for Hunter Henry to be the x-factor. A tight end who can create
enough space to make a positive play.

New England's defense can and will punch Seattle in the mouth early. A
very well coached unit, don't be surprised if they hold the Seahawks to
field goals. A strong front who can apply pressure and make Sam
Darnold's life very uncomfortable for sixty-minutes and then some. The
secondary can make plays and holding JSN to minimum catches will be
a challenge. Taking away a dynamite wide receiver and forcing Darnold
to throw untimely passes plays into their favor.

This will come down to one or two aspects: Darnold throwing a huge
completion to JSN or Kupp and setting up a walk-off field goal... Or
Stefon Diggs having one of those vintage highlight catch and run
touchdowns to upset Seattle. We're set for a great finish for the 2025-26
NFL season in Super Bowl 60.