- - Super Bowl 2026: The top 10 storylines for Patriots vs. Seahawks, from Sam Darnold's redemption to a new Pats dynasty

Chris CwikFebruary 2, 2026 at 12:00 AM

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After months of the most unlikely comebacks and some shocking playoff eliminations, two NFL teams will finally square off for the ultimate prize. Super Bowl LX will kick off Sunday, and features two teams no one would have predicted would be here back in September.

After a 10-7 season in 2024, the Seattle Seahawks decided to take a major gamble at the league's most important position. Geno Smith, a former high draft pick who nearly washed out of the league before a late-career resurgence, was shipped out for Sam Darnold, a former high draft pick who ... basically did the same thing.

The change looked to be prophetic, as Smith led the NFL in interceptions and sacks allowed before being benched by the Las Vegas Raiders. Darnold, meanwhile, proved that last season's resurgence with the Minnesota Vikings wasn't a fluke, leading the Seahawks to the third-most points scored in the NFL.

On the other end, the New England Patriots fired Jerod Mayo after just one year last offseason. Former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel was brought in as head coach after being let go by the Tennessee Titans in 2023. At quarterback, Drake Maye showed flashes as a rookie, but also looked raw and in need of further development.

Turns out, Vrabel was the perfect hire. More competent coaching resulted in a massive turnaround, and Maye's development was a major part of that. In his second season in the NFL, Maye put himself in contention for the MVP award, and suddenly looks like the best quarterback to come out of an impressive 2024 class.

All of those figures played a prominent role in their respective teams getting to this point of the season. With everything on the line Sunday, here are the top-10 storylines heading into Super Bowl LX.

Can Sam Darnold’s complete his career resurgence?

Prior to 2024, Darnold's NFL career could be summed up with short video clips, neither of them flattering. The first occurred during Darnold's second season in the NFL, when the New York Jets quarterback was caught on a microphone saying he was "seeing ghosts" during a loss during a game aired on ESPN. Darnold received plenty of criticism for that comment.

The second came later that same season, when Darnold was ruled out of a game due to mononucleosis. A graphic of Darnold was shown on the broadcast and instantly became a meme due to its absurdity.

Sam Darnold overcame being out indefinitely from mononucleosis to clinching a Super Bowl appearance. Anything is possible. pic.twitter.com/uJrJRuIdt1

— jordan (@JordanUhl) January 26, 2026

The graphic served as not only a reminder that the Jets were cursed, but that Darnold seemed well on his way to becoming a bust after the team took him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

For a long time, that looked to be the case. From 2020 to 2023, Darnold combined for 27 touchdowns and 28 interceptions over 40 appearances. After serving as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023, his NFL career appeared to be on life support.

But everything changed with the Vikings. Darnold turned in his finest season as a pro, tossing 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, making the Pro Bowl for the first time. He led the team to a 14-3 record, but couldn't overcome the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card game.

After vanquishing the Rams this season, Darnold is looking to complete his career resurgence against the Patriots in the Super Bowl. A win would absolutely erase Darnold's previous demons, especially considering his "seeing ghosts" game came against ... you guessed it ... the Patriots.

Is Drake Maye the Patriots' true successor to Tom Brady?

Much to the chagrin of NFL fans outside the New England area, the Patriots are back on top in the NFL and it's all due to their talented, young quarterback. Maye became a legitimate MVP candidate in just his second season in the league, something Tom Brady didn't accomplish until Year 4 of his career.

But Brady showed his greatness before that season, leading the Patriots to a Super Bowl win in his second year as a pro. If Maye can do the same, the comparisons will be inevitable.

Putting that comparison on any player is absurd, though it's worth noting Maye has already produced much better numbers in his first two seasons compared to Brady. There are some very obvious reasons for that, as Maye was a first-round pick who played almost immediately and Brady was a sixth-round pick who wasn't viewed as a starter until an injury to Drew Bledsoe pushed Brady into action.

Of course, what Brady did moving forward is what established him as the GOAT. Brady kept winning, bringing home seven Lombardi Trophies in all, which more than any single NFL franchise. He only got better with age, winning all three of his MVP awards between the ages of 30 and 40. And he somehow beat Father Time, putting up excellent numbers through his age-45 season.

Expecting any of that from Maye would be silly, but the fact that the Patriots seemingly have another championship-caliber quarterback this soon — one who has better stats than Brady at the same age — is going to invite that comparison, especially if Maye wins Sunday.

Can the Seahawks put the Malcolm Butler game in the past?

The Super Bowl LX matchup should sound familiar, because it hasn't been that long since the Patriots and Seahawks have squared off in the big game. The two teams met back in Super Bowl XLIX after the 2014 season, and that one had a pretty famous ending.

With the Patriots leading by four points and just 27 seconds left on the clock, the team's defense found itself in a bad spot. The Seahawks had driven down to the 1-yard line, and had three more chances to score the game-winning touchdown. Seattle also had one timeout left and bruising running back Marshawn Lynch lined up in the backfield. Their victory looked certain.

And then Malcolm Butler happened.

The Seahawks shockingly opted to throw for the touchdown on second down. Quarterback Russell Wilson quickly set himself after taking the shotgun snap and tried to fire a slant to Ricardo Lockett. Butler jumped the route, coming up with the game-sealing interception with just seconds left to play.

February 1, 2015: Malcom Butler’s interception at the goal line seals a 28-24 Patriots win over the Seahawks at Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale. pic.twitter.com/UWQGE7ppBr

— This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) February 1, 2023

It was an improbable play that led to one of the biggest "what-if" moments in NFL history. What if the Seahawks had trusted their tackle-breaking running back and tried to slam the ball into the end zone? Would fans be talking about a Seahawks dynasty instead?

With a win Sunday, Seattle can finally put that game — and Butler's interception — in the past.

Can Stefon Diggs get redemption for previous playoff failures?

Prior to 2025, Stefon Diggs had made the playoffs seven times, but a Super Bowl appearance remained elusive. It wasn't for lack of trying. Diggs has put up some impressive postseason stat lines, with four games over 100 receiving yards. One of those contests was the "Minneapolis Miracle," in which Diggs caught a game-winning 61-yard touchdown pass in the divisional round as time expired.

But as his teams continued to fall short, Diggs' disappointment grew. Following a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2020 season AFC championship game, Diggs, then a member of the Buffalo Bills, was spotted in full uniform watching the Chiefs celebrate from a distance.

Stefon Diggs has had his share of playoff disappointments, like the 2020 season AFC title game loss to the Chiefs. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) ()

The image gained traction on social media, as it captured Diggs' disappointment following the loss.

Years later, Diggs has an opportunity to live out finally become a champion. A win Sunday would not only give Diggs the Super Bowl championship he's been seeking, but put a new spin on his AFC championship photo. Instead of it being an image of failure, it will serve as an example of staying motivated and continuing to fight, even at your lowest moment.

Can Mike Vrabel become one of the best coaches in the NFL?

Prior to 2025, Mike Vrabel was viewed as a solid coach who did an admirable job with the Tennessee Titans despite the team lacking star power at some key positions. And while Vrabel was regarded well following his 2023 firing, he wasn't necessarily considered a slam dunk for the next team in need of a head coach.

But Vrabel exceeded all expectations with the Patriots. While some improvement should have been expected under Vrabel, going from 4-13 to 14-3 and immediately reaching the Super Bowl has done a lot to improve Vrabel's standing among the current crop of head coaches.

With the Titans, Vrabel put together a 54-45 record, making the playoffs three times, but going 2-3 in those appearances. After one year with the Patriots, Vrabel now has a 68-48 career record as a head coach and a 5-3 record in the postseason.

A win in the Super Bowl would go a long way toward establishing Vrabel as one of the league's best coaches, potentially putting him on par with names like Andy Reid, Sean Payton and Sean McVay. Maybe that's premature, but the Vrabel-Patriots pairing certainly has a lot of similarities to those coaches and the NFL franchises where they became household names.

Is John Schneider the next Hall of Fame executive?

Seahawks general manager John Schneider made history when the franchise punched its ticket to Super Bowl LX. With the win, Schneider became the first NFL general manager to reach multiple Super Bowls with the same franchise, but with a different head coach and no players from the previous Super Bowl team.

The accomplishment speaks to Schneider's team-building ability and the Seahawks' decision to keep him around despite some major team changes since the team's first Super Bowl appearance under Schneider in the 2013 season.

Over that time, the Seahawks traded away Russell Wilson, watched Pete Carroll leave and completely reconstructed a defense on par with the "Legion of Boom." While Carroll had final say on personnel moves while he was in Seattle, Schneider deserves credit for playing a key role in them, and then for making more big moves that propelled Seattle back to the Super Bowl. Swapping Smith for Darnold was a massive upgrade, as was drafting safety Nick Emmanwori in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Signing DeMarcus Lawrence also proved to be a shrewd offseason acquisition by Schneider.

Whether Schneider reaches the level of Hall of Fame executive probably depends on how the team responds in the immediate future (and, apparently, how the voting rules shake out after this year's Bill Belichick fiasco). The Seahawks have experienced plenty of success in Schneider's 16 seasons with the team. If that continues while he's fully responsible for personnel moves, he'll deserve a good look at Canton.

JSN vs. Christian Gonzalez: Who wins battle of 2023 first-round picks?

The Patriots hit on a future star when the team selected cornerback Christian Gonzalez with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Three picks later, the Seahawks found a star on the offensive side of the ball, taking wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Both Gonzalez and Smith-Njigba played crucial roles in their teams reaching the Super Bowl this season. Gonzalez picked up his first-ever Pro Bowl appearance, forcing 11 pass breakups in 14 games. Smith-Njigba established himself as one of the game's best receivers, leading the NFL in receiving yards and being named first-team All-Pro.

Both players will presumably see a lot of each other on Super Sunday. While Gonzalez may not shadow Smith-Njigba the entire game, that's probably the matchup the Patriots will prefer. Whichever player wins that battle could determine which team wins the game. If Gonzalez can find a way to shut down Smith-Njigba, that could completely throw off Darnold and the entire Seahawks' offense. But if Smith-Njigba is allowed to run free in the secondary, that could spell major trouble for New England.

One game is unlikely to define the rest of their careers, but it will be one heck of a matchup, especially with both players entering the NFL as part of the same draft class.

Are we in for another Patriots dynasty?

Sorry, America: We might be in for another decade-plus of the Patriots contending for Super Bowl titles. (Photo by JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images) (JEFF HAYNES via Getty Images)

If the Patriots win Sunday, comparisons to the team's rise in the early 2000s will be inevitable. New England is led by a talented, young quarterback and a defensive-minded coach ... that sure sounds similar to the duo that eventually led the Patriots to six Super Bowl championships.

Any talk comparing Maye and Vrabel to Brady and Belichick will be premature, but it's easy to see why some fans would assume another Patriots dynasty is on the way. For one, there will likely be more belief in Maye than there was in Brady following his first Super Bowl win. At the time, Brady was a first-year starter who put up modest numbers. The team seemed to rely less on Brady in the playoffs, as he tossed just one touchdown in three postseason games that season — though he was injured for a portion of one of those games. Still, it could be argued that the Patriots won the 2001 season Super Bowl with Brady in more of a game manager role. He had his moments, obviously, but there was no indication he would turn into the Hall of Famer he eventually became.

Expectations are much higher for Maye, who the third overall pick and put himself in contention for the MVP award in his second season in the NFL. Given his draft pedigree, there's a possibility Maye can get even better than this moving forward. Plus, the roster around him is just a year removed from picking in the top five of the draft, so a strong rookie class or two to complement last spring's solid free agent signings will only bulk out the roster.

That's a scary thought for the rest of the NFL — and for the non-Patriots fans who thought the team's reign of terror was over the instant Brady left.

How will preseason odds shape the NFL offseason?

At some point Sunday, a player on the winning team will deliver some version of the line, "Nobody believed in us." And for the first time in sports history, that tired cliche will actually be accurate.

Both teams entered the 2025 NFL season with long-shot odds to win the Super Bowl. The Seahawks were listed at 60-1. The Patriots came in at 80-1. That makes the Super Bowl LX the most unlikely Super Bowl matchup in at least 50 years.

If the Patriots and Seahawks could overcome massive odds, what's to stop teams like the Arizona Cardinals or Miami Dolphins from pulling off the same trick next season?

That's the way most NFL teams should be thinking in the offseason. A year can make a massive difference in the sport, with teams routinely going from last place in their division to winning that same division a year later. The right coaching change or a willingness to take a shot on a talented player who hasn't had the opportunity to blossom can drastically alter a team's fortunes.

Of course, expecting every single team to hit on an elite head coach and an excellent quarterback is foolish. But if the Patriots and Seahawks taught the league any lesson, it's that taking risks on talented players can pay off in a big way. Darnold and Diggs were far from sure things when they signed in the offseason, but both players proved to be enormous acquisitions.

The Seahawks and Patriots are evidence that teams in similar spots — maybe the Tennessee Titans or the New York Jets — should try hard to make upgrades across the roster and take risks on high-upside players instead of writing off a year and praying a multi-year rebuild works out.

Are the Seahawks the NFL's next big coaching tree?

It's only been two years, but the Seahawks' hiring of Mike Macdonald looks like a masterstroke. The former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator has a 26-10 record including playoffs in his first two years on the job, and already appears to be cultivating a coaching staff bound for bigger things.

Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is already a popular head-coaching candidate around the league. The team's success has made it harder for Kubiak to take on interviews thus far, but if he doesn't fill one of the head-coaching vacancies this cycle, he could be among the most desirable names on the market next season.

The same can be said about defensive coordinator Aden Durde, who interviewed with both the Atlanta Falcons and Cleveland Browns in recent months. Like Kubiak, Durde might be better off waiting for next year's coaching cycle. But if he can keep the Seahawks' defense playing at a high level for another season, he'll almost certainly be a hot name on the coaching market next offseason.

The Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan coaching trees have dominated the NFL in recent seasons, but a Seahawks win could see a changing of the guard across the league.

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Source: “AOL Sports”