Super Bowl expert predictions: Seahawks or Patriots?

Who will win Super Bowl 60 in Santa Clara? The Sky Sports NFL team make their predictions as the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots face off at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday.

NDAMUKONG SUH

Seattle Seahawks 35-28 New England Patriots. I believe Seattle and New England will be a memorable game as it has in previous encounters. However the last matchup ended in a very dynamic, creative and controversial play-call from the Seattle side, I don’t think they will have that mistake or situation again. They will have a dominant defense and a very complementary offense, but understanding the strength of their team is running the football and situational football from the quarterback position.

Seattle win led by Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Kenneth Walker, but the Cinderella Story is and will be the defense led by Leonard Williams in that very talented group. Although Sam Darnold will be recognised he will not be the story behind the success. The New England Patriots are exciting and in the future will be a great team to watch, but this year goes to Seattle and that defense, bringing them back to dominance.

PHOEBE SCHECTER

Seattle Seahawks 27-21 New England Patriots. I think the Super Bowl is going to come down to defense. Seattle has been a team that’s been so strong all season long. Their defense has been tremendous and really keeps them in the games a lot of times. What’s going to be fascinating is to see how these Patriots fare against them, because yes, they’ve played three of the top five defenses in these past couple of weeks, but the weather has played a really big role in it. Even if you look at the AFC Championship Game, it wasn’t exactly a runaway game against the Broncos. Previous to that with the Texans, they really did struggle. It was more so the mistakes by the Texans that led them to success. So what I’d love to see for the Patriots defense is for them to almost stick to their identity. They are a defense that work in multiples in terms of they can play zone, man, a bit of area match. They like to change the picture.

You’re going to have to do that against Sam Darnold, confuse him, show him something different at the line of scrimmage, force him into making those mistakes. I think if they’re able to capitalise on that, and then I also think Drake Maye is going to have to be this Patriots team. We’ve seen some ups and downs. He’s not had a very great QB rating, his EPA per play is one of the lowest. He’s going to have to use his legs, and we’ve seen that this defense of the Seahawks have struggled at times with rushing quarterbacks. However, there’s only been seven design QB runs against them all season long, so perhaps mixing some of that in. And then Sam Darnold, what’s fascinating with him is you’re going to throw the ball to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, you’ve got to be able to stop him. And you’ve got to then be able to cover because Sam has a great offensive line that protects him.

NEIL REYNOLDS

Seattle Seahawks 31-20 New England Patriots. The Patriots have done an admirable job in turning their fortunes around and I think this is the start of good times ahead. Drake Maye and the offense should re-awaken out of the snow, but they face a formidable foe in Seattle’s defense. The Seahawks can also score points with Sam Darnold looking to write an NFL fairytale. With him being helped by Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Kenneth Walker, I see a win for a Seahawks team gathering up a head of steam. Seattle 31, New England 20.

HANNAH WILKES

Seattle Seahawks 27-18 New England Patriots. I think we’ve got a great matchup on our hands. Two great defenses and two great offenses, but where I think it is won or lost is the fact the Seattle defense is so elite they will make it too hard for the Patriots to keep up with Sam Darnold and what he has the Seahawks offense doing. They will contain Drake Maye enough that he will not be able to compete with what Sam Darnold and his offense can do. The New England defense will make it difficult but I just think Seattle are the more complete team with more experience. I think it’s Seattle’s turn to lift the Lombardi Trophy.

OLIVIA HARLAN DEKKER

Seattle Seahawks 31-10 New England Patriots. If Sam Darnold can have a game even close to his NFC Championship Game performance and take care of the ball, this will be over early. They showed creativity and great execution offensively against the Rams, and I think they can take advantage of a leaky Patriots red zone defense. And of course, the dark side defense will make life difficult on Drake Maye and company.

JASON BELL

Seattle Seahawks 25-20 New England Patriots. I’m predicting a defensive battle. The turning point will be a turnover by one of these two defenses and an explosive play vertically down the field from one of the quarterbacks. I’m going with Seattle to make that play with a play-action pass from Sam Darnold to Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

JEFF REINEBOLD

Seattle Seahawks 24-17 New England Patriots. I like the Seahawks. The Patriots are a great team but Seattle are built for this, battle tested in the NFC West with the ability to win by grinding it out with the run game. Kenneth Walker is a hot running back right now with the ability to bleed yardage and beat you to the edge. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is on another level while Rashid Shaheed, Cooper Kupp and Jake Bobo are complimentary pieces.

The tight end AJ Barner is sneaky good, he’s my X factor and based on last week’s game Darnold seems to be protecting the football better. New England are on a heater right now so I think this will be a close hard-fought game decided on turnovers and the play of both special teams units. In the end Aden Durde, Seattle’s defensive coordinator, will be the second UK-born coach, behind Al Saunders with the Rams in 97, to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

EFE OBADA

I haven’t settled on a scoreline! There are so many key match-ups in this game. We’ve got two outstanding head coaches. One that’s turned the Patriots around in such a short period of time and similarly Mike Macdonald who has put his Seahawks players in good positions. You’ve got the Patriots d-line that has been playing phenomenal all season and then just stepped up another level in the playoffs.

Then we’ve got a Seahawks defense that is just aggressive and just violent and intentional and has a lot of stars, going against one of the youngest stars in the quarterback who is a candidate for MVP. There is Jaxon Smith-Njigba against Christian Gonzalez as well. There’s so much to watch. It’s the cream of the crop, these are the best teams in the league, it’s anybody’s game. It’s going to be so close, both quarterbacks have to protect the ball. I can see it being a very low-scoring game, just because of the strength of the defense.

CAM HOGWOOD

Seattle Seahawks 27-24 New England Patriots. Mike Macdonald and Aden Durde have orchestrated the stingiest and most stubborn defense in football, and in turn the most complete team in football this season. The Patriots have been outstanding behind a more-than-worthy MVP contender in Drake Maye, but I think Seattle are just that little bit more polished. Matthew Stafford played out of his skin in the NFC Championship Game, and yet clinical Sam Darnold football would prove the decisive remedy. I think that performance was the perfect indication of Seattle’s ability to win in more than one way. The simulated pressures and coverage disguises are the ultimate test of Maye’s field diagnosis, but I think it will actually be the pocket time and pressure that is decisive. Left tackle Will Campbell has struggled in the playoffs, and Maye himself has been guilty of ball security issues; the Patriots cannot afford to play anything but a squeaky clean game. I think it will be tighter than most are anticipating, but it’s difficult to see Seattle falling short.

Watch the New England Patriots against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on Sunday February 8, with coverage under way at 10pm live on Sky Spots NFL ahead of kick-off at approximately 11.30pm.

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