Five early bold Super Bowl predictions: Unwanted history for Drake Maye, Sam Darnold becomes a champion
CBSN
The Patriots and the Seahawks meet in a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX
And then there were two. The New England Patriots will face the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, on Feb. 8.
It's a rematch 11 years in the making; the two franchises produced a Super Bowl XLIX instant classic 11 years ago, with Malcolm Butler's iconic goal-line interception helping New England hold on for a 28-24 win. Much has changed since then, as one would expect in a whirlwind league such as the NFL, though the level of change -- Pete Carroll and Bill Belichick coached which teams this season? -- is still startling.
It's not Russell Wilson vs. Tom Brady, but it is a fascinating and unlikely quarterback meeting between Sam Darnold and Drake Maye. Darnold, playing for his fifth NFL team, had never won a playoff game before this season. Maye and the Patriots are the first team ever to make the Super Bowl one year after losing 13+ games.
The paths differed. The Patriots have averaged just 18 points per game in these playoffs, having to overcome several of the NFL's best defenses and playing some outstanding defense of their own. The Seahawks, who also feature one of the NFL's top defenses, have averaged 36 points per game thus far this postseason.
None of those number matter now, though, and with two weeks until Super Bowl Sunday, both teams have ample time to rest up, study up and prepare to put their best foot forward with the Lombardi Trophy at stake.
