Super Bowl Predictions | Split on Seahawks or Patriots

Only four teams remain in contention for the Super Bowl 60 trophy, and all four have a history of success.

The Seattle Seahawks are seeking their first Super Bowl appearance since 2015 and first victory since 2014. The LA Rams have rebuilt their offense and defense and are one win away from the Super Bowl after winning in 2022.

In the AFC, two powerhouses from the 2010s are back in contention. A decade ago, the Denver Broncos took down the Carolina Panthers to win their third Super Bowl trophy. They’ll face the New England Patriots, who’ll break a tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers for most Super Bowl victories by a franchise if they win this season.

The Pitt News Staff gave their predictions on who’ll win each conference and who’ll win Super Bowl 60.

Seahawks vs. Patriots, but this time the Seahawks run the ball // Austin Lenardt-Barley, Staff Writer

The AFC championship game is not going to be a shootout or weather game as we expected. Without Bo Nix and the fact that backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham hasn’t made an NFL start in two years, the Patriots’ defense will have a field day. They will easily come out on top of the AFC in a boring bout next Sunday. 

The Seahawks have all the momentum in the world, and I don’t see Matthew Stafford stopping them. They are the number one scoring defense in the league, and we all know the old saying — “defense wins championships.” The Seahawks are going all the way, and this time, they will not make the same mistake they did on the goal line in Super Bowl 49. 

I have the Seahawks beating the Patriots 27-20 in this year’s Super Bowl. Seattle is playing some really good complementary football, and Drake Maye is already 13th all-time for fumbles in the playoffs. This could lead to some key mistakes from the second-year quarterback. 

If the Patriots commit a few turnovers, then this Seahawks team can capitalize. I see them learning from history and sticking with the run game. Running back Kenneth Walker III will have a monster game and win Super Bowl MVP. 

Drake “Drake Maye” Maye brings it home // Ava Nicholas, Senior Staff Writer

While it’s nearly impossible to overlook the Seahawks’ impressive defense, I still think they’ll fall to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. I’m predicting an easy AFC Championship game against the Broncos because — let’s be real — backup Jarrett Stidham isn’t beating anyone in January. Nix’s ankle injury has already sealed the Broncos’ fate of an early exit.

Meanwhile, Drake Maye is playing out of his mind right now, and New England’s defense forced five turnovers against Houston. New England has the playoff experience that Seattle lacks, and Mike Vrabel knows how to win championships.

I think Maye’s dual-threat ability will serve him well and will keep the Seahawks off balance. Though Sam Darnold has a great running game with players like Kenneth Walker III, I don’t think he could beat out Drake Maye in crunch time. Come Super Bowl Sunday, I’m taking the Patriots 27-24, and New England starts a new dynasty under Vrabel. 

Patriots emerge victorious, but the real losers are the fans // Ari Meyer

It seems that at this point, the inevitable outcome for the AFC involves the New England Patriots emerging at the top of the group, as all they have to do is overcome the Denver Broncos without their dynamic quarterback, Bo Nix. The Jarrett Stidham Broncos certainly provide less of a challenge, making it very likely the Patriots will play in the Super Bowl.

With that in mind, this season is now the seventeenth straight season in which either the Kansas City Chiefs or New England plays in the AFC championship game, providing a monotonous game on the AFC side. 

With either the Rams or Seahawks taking the NFC spot, the Super Bowl is unlikely to provide a result that would excite a fan looking for a break from the past ten years of boring Super Bowl matchups. 

The Patriots have looked more or less unbeatable since they fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers early on in the season. I don’t see that changing when they likely head to Levi’s Stadium in a couple of weeks.

A game that continues the current trends is no doubt great for stakeholders, but the common fan may tire of its lack of interesting storylines.

Seattle Seahawks withstand the New England Patriots in Super Bowl // Sam Harris

After the Seahawks steamrolled the San Francisco 49ers last Saturday, there’s no doubt head coach Mike MacDonald has created a solid playoff team that will allow them to punch their one-way ticket to the Super Bowl. It was not even their strong defense that was prominent in this game, but the offense that made explosive plays and allowed them to stay dominant when they had the ball.

In the AFC, the Patriots have prominently shown up as one of the strongest teams this season. Drake Maye is an excellent quarterback who I believe is able to push this team to the Super Bowl. They have looked solid in the regular season and have only ramped up.

I can see the Patriots putting up a tough fight against the Seahawks, but the Seahawks will ultimately finish on top, winning the Super Bowl. I’m predicting a final score of 28-14 Seahawks.