Super Bowl LX Tale of the Tape: How do Patriots, Seahawks compare?

Super Bowl LX features a bout between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. The Patriots are looking for their first Lombardi Trophy in the post-Tom Brady era, while the Seahawks want revenge after falling short 11 years ago.

Here's how New England and Seattle stack up.

Quarterback

There's a huge difference between the regular season and playoffs for quarterbacks. Momentum matters more for them than players at any other position.

Drake Maye is an MVP finalist after posting an NFL-high 72% completion rate and accounting for 35 touchdowns in his first rodeo as the Patriots' full-time starter. Sam Darnold passed for 4,048 yards and 25 touchdowns but threw 14 interceptions and committed a league-high 11 fumbles in the regular season.

The tables have turned in the playoffs. Maye - facing three top-10 defenses - has completed 55.8% of his passes, thrown two interceptions, and committed six fumbles. Darnold was efficient in the divisional round and then shined with 346 yards and three touchdowns in the NFC title game. He hasn't been intercepted in his last three appearances, including Week 18.

Maye's passer rating is at 84. Darnold's is 122.4 - the fourth highest in a postseason entering the Super Bowl.

Current form is crucial when evaluating quarterbacks in the postseason. Remember Joe Flacco's incredible 2013 run? Maye, 23, may be the future of the league. But days away from the big game, Darnold gets the nod.

Advantage: Seahawks

Running backs

Walker is the most disruptive running back in the Super Bowl; his playoff run includes 178 rushing yards (4.7 per carry) and four touchdowns, plus 78 receiving yards. But he's been Seattle's only big-time RB option since a season-ending injury to Zach Charbonnet, its rushing touchdown leader. Holani is an undrafted sophomore who rushed for only 73 yards in the regular season and spent two months on injured reserve.

Although Stevenson isn't as explosive as Walker, he leads this postseason in rushing yards and has been key for the Patriots amid Maye's struggles. He had 25 carries and zero fumbles in a snowy AFC championship despite the Denver Broncos expecting the run in most of the second half. Stevenson is also a solid pass-blocker, and his seven playoff receptions rank third on the team.

Behind Stevenson is Henderson, who's been limited to 24 playoff carries. The 38th overall selection in the 2025 draft is a potential home-run hitter: Four of his team-leading 10 regular-season touchdowns covered at least 50 yards.

Advantage: Patriots

Receiving corps

Smith-Njigba is already the NFL's receiving leader in Year 3 and shined in the NFC title game with 153 yards and a touchdown on 10 receptions. In-season acquisition and Pro Bowl returner Shaheed caught a 51-yard pass in the conference championship, which could be a sign of things to come. He possesses great vertical speed and showed big-play ability with his former team, the New Orleans Saints, and has been waiting to erupt in the passing game for Seattle. Former Super Bowl MVP Kupp isn't what he once was, but the nine-year veteran remains a chain-mover, with six first downs and a touchdown this postseason.

The 32-year-old Diggs has proven he's still a legitimate No. 1 receiver in his first season back from a torn ACL. He topped 1,000 yards and has already scored this postseason, starring alongside Boutte and Douglas. Henry (849) has more yards this season than every Seahawks tight end combined (742), including the playoffs. He's also a red-zone threat, recording seven touchdowns during the regular season and one in the playoffs.

Only two Seattle wideouts topped 400 regular-season yards compared to four from the Patriots' deeper receiving corps. However, the Seahawks have the matchup's best receiver in Smith-Njigba. His special season, Kupp's playoff prowess, and Shaheed's game-changing potential form an outstanding combination.

Advantage: Seahawks

Offensive line

No debate here. The Patriots' offensive line looked solid for most of the season, relying on rookies Campbell and Wilson on the left side and starting veterans at the other positions. However, the line has surrendered five sacks in each playoff game, and the team's tailbacks haven't registered many big runs. Campbell has fallen off since returning from a knee injury late in the regular season and has been charged with a whopping 11 quarterback pressures in three playoff games, per PFF.

The Seahawks have allowed five total sacks in the playoffs. Zabel led all interior linemen in regular-season run-block wins, according to ESPN, and Lucas is PFF's highest-rated run-blocker this postseason (minimum two games).

Advantage: Seahawks

Front seven

The Seahawks paced the NFL in many defensive categories in the regular season, including EPA/play. The Patriots also fielded one of the better defenses in the league, and it's been particularly good lately.

New England's allowed just 71.3 rushing yards per playoff game, and the front seven has totaled 11 sacks. Chaisson has a team-high three sacks, while Williams and reserve linebacker Anfernee Jennings collected two each. Jennings, linebacker Jack Gibbens, and lineman Khyiris Tonga may not start in the Super Bowl, but they are key to this rotation. The unit has wreaked havoc in the playoffs, although it faced weak offensive lines (Texans, Chargers) and a backup quarterback (Jarrett Stidham).

As good as the Pats are, it's hard not to pick the Seahawks here. Seattle rosters second-team All-Pro selections in Williams and Jones and a Pro Bowler in Lawrence, whose two sacks and three forced fumbles lead the team in the playoffs. Rotation lineman Jarran Reed (three pressures), pass-rushers Derick Hall (six) and Boye Mafe (one), and linebacker Tyrice Knight (two defensive stops) are also key depth pieces.

This Seattle group dominated the San Francisco 49ers in the trenches before the Los Angeles Rams gave them more trouble in the NFC title game. While it might feel like the Patriots' front seven has more momentum, the Seahawks' group boasts more depth and star power.

Advantage: Seahawks

Secondary

Pro Bowl cornerback Gonzalez, Davis, and Jones have each posted at least one interception and four pass breakups in the playoffs. The Patriots have intercepted five passes, including four against C.J. Stroud's Texans.

New England's defense leads the postseason in EPA/dropback and passer rating (51.2). Seattle ranks third and ninth, respectively. But - again - favorable matchups were a huge factor in the Pats' January success.

This is another case where the Patriots are good, but the Seahawks are great. Featuring perhaps the NFL's best secondary, Seattle was the only team in the top five for passer rating, interceptions, and yards per pass attempt allowed in 2025. No other club had five defensive backs on the field as often as the NFC champions, according to TruMedia.

Witherspoon is a three-time Pro Bowler who was PFF's second-best corner in coverage this season. Emmanwori's incredible versatility allows him to excel in the slot and in the box. With other quality starters in Bryant, Love, and Jobe, this is the Seahawks' most talented secondary since the Legion of Boom.

Advantage: Seahawks

Special teams

Jones is a second-team All-Pro punt returner with game-changing potential. Patriots rookie Borregales is 4-for-6 on field goals this postseason, although one of his misses was a 63-yarder on a first half's final play.

Myers has yet to miss an extra point all season and is perfect on three field-goal attempts in the playoffs after converting 85.4% of his regular-season tries. The Seahawks also feature a second-team All-Pro punter in Dickson and a Pro Bowl return specialist in Shaheed. This group is solid everywhere, and it'll be quick to pounce if the Patriots muff a punt like the Rams did.

Shaheed's return abilities are off the charts. He scored on punt and kickoff returns in the regular season, and he's stayed hot in the playoffs. His divisional-round touchdown on the opening kickoff set the tone for a dominant victory.

Advantage: Seahawks

Coaching

Both the Seahawks and Patriots are in the top five in scoring on offense and defense. They're well-rounded teams whose distinct identities showcase their great coaching.

This is Mike Macdonald's second season as a head coach, and he's already earned a reputation as one of the sport's brightest defensive minds. He's built a balanced team with the support of standout offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and defensive coordinator Aden Durde. Kubiak has followed his former boss, Kyle Shanahan, in utilizing a modernized version of the West Coast offense, but the 2025 Seahawks still exploit the run game: They had the league's third-most rushing attempts.

New England is all about adapting to its opponents and capitalizing on mismatches - and it works. In the Patriots' first year under Mike Vrabel, they improved by 10 wins. He's the 2025 Coach of the Year favorite (over Macdonald). His staff includes longtime offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr, who's been the team's play-caller since defensive coordinator Terrell Williams stepped away for prostate cancer treatment.

Super Bowl experience could also be a factor in the Patriots' favor. Vrabel won three as a player, and McDaniels has six rings with New England.

Advantage: Patriots

Final results

It's a 6-2 win for the Seahawks, who prevail at quarterback in perhaps the list's most intriguing battle. We expect a closer contest in the actual Super Bowl as long as Maye and the Patriots' offense can recapture their regular-season form.