Will Super Bowl LX be close? Here’s trend of past Seahawks-Patriots games

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Maybe it should just be accepted that whatever the final outcome is Sunday night in Super Bowl LX, it’s going to be a close, one-score game in the closing moments that’ll be unnervingly uncomfortable for fans of both teams.

At least, that’s what history between the Seahawks and Patriots has taught us going back more than 30 years.

In each of the past 10 matchups between Seattle and New England, the result was in question into the final moments of the game or carried into overtime. Nine of those 10 games ended up being decided by one score.

And many of those 10 games were decided by one key play or on several occasions, was decided by a play at the 1-yard line — including one that Seahawks fans would rather forget but must be mentioned.

Here’s a look at those 10 games, starting with a game that changed the trajectory of both franchises:

Sept. 20, 1992 — Seahawks 10, Patriots 6 at Foxboro Stadium

The 1992 season was rather forgettable in Seattle and New England. Both finished 2-14 in the regular season and tied for the worst records in the NFL. The Seahawks won the Week 3 matchup thanks in part to a defense that sacked New England QB Hugh Millen six times in the game.

But the victory was also a loss for Seattle. The victory gave a tiebreaker to the Seahawks when it came to determining the draft order for the 1993 draft. That meant the Patriots had the No. 1 pick where they selected Washington State star Drew Bledsoe with the No. 1 overall pick and the Seahawks were left to select Rick Mirer at No. 2.

Sept. 19, 1993 — Seahawks 17, Patriots 14 at Foxboro Stadium

While Bledsoe was taken No. 1 overall, it was Mirer celebrating the victory in the first matchup between the top two picks. Mirer wasn’t around for the end of the game after suffering an injury in the third quarter and the Seahawks had to hold on as New England scored 14 points in the fourth quarter but couldn’t force overtime after Scott Sisson’s 54-yard field goal attempt in the closing seconds missed.

Oct. 24, 1993 — Seahawks 10, Patriots 9 at Kingdome

Yes, the Patriots and Seahawks played twice in the 1993 season. Weird, huh? A strange scheduling quirk led to the teams playing twice. It wasn’t necessarily a classic — the Patriots kicked a 19-yard field goal — but it was another close game as Mirer hit Brian Blades on a 1-yard TD pass with 25 seconds left to give the Seahawks the victory.

Oct. 17, 2004 — Patriots 30, Seahawks 20 at Gillette Stadium

They played twice in one season and then didn’t play for 11 years after the Seahawks switched conferences. Again, weird. The Seahawks were overrun early, falling behind 17-0 and 20-3 before a late rally. Shaun Alexander’s 9-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter pulled Seattle within 20-17 and Josh Brown’s field goal with 3:01 left trimmed the deficit to 23-20. But Corey Dillon’s 9-yard TD run with 1:51 left provided the final margin.

Dec. 7, 2008 — Patriots 24, Seahawks 21 at Qwest Field

The battle of the backup quarterbacks. With Tom Brady and Matt Hasselbeck out with injuries, it was Matt Cassel and Seneca Wallace leading each team in the last matchup between Bill Belichick and Mike Holmgren. The Seahawks led 21-13 going to the fourth quarter after Deion Branch’s second TD reception, but Sammy Morris’ 1-yard TD run with 2:44 left gave New England the lead and Wallace was sacked and fumbled at midfield on the ensuing drive.

Oct. 14, 2012 — Seahawks 24, Patriots 23 at CenturyLink Field

U mad bro? This game will forever be remembered for Richard Sherman approaching Brady on the field after the game and his subsequent social media post that was eventually deleted. Russell Wilson threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes, the first to Braylon Edwards from 10 yards out with 7:26 left and what proved to be the game-winner to Sidney Rice from 46 yards with 1:27 remaining. The comeback was set up by the Seahawks defense in the fourth quarter that intercepted Brady, forced the Patriots to punt twice and stopped them on fourth down on the final drive.

Feb. 1, 2015 — Patriots 28, Seahawks 24 at University of Phoenix Stadium

Did something memorable happen in this game that may never be seen again in Super Bowl history? Don’t think we need to delve into the details here. Just know that many “Chris Matthews, Super Bowl MVP” and “Jermaine Kearse greatest catch in Super Bowl history” stories ended up in the scrap heap of laptop files that night. Rewrite!

Nov. 13, 2016 — Seahawks 31, Patriots 24 at Gillette Stadium

The first meeting after the events of the Super Bowl clash came down to the final seconds, again. Seattle took a 31-24 lead on the last of Wilson’s three TD passes to Doug Baldwin with 4 minutes left. The Patriots took the ensuing possession down to the Seattle 2, but on four snaps from either the 2- or 1-yard line, couldn’t get into the end zone. Brady’s pass intended for Rob Gronkowski on fourth down fell incomplete.

Sept. 20., 2020 — Seahawks 35, Patriots 30 at Lumen Field

The final matchup between Belichick and Pete Carroll took place during the COVID season with cardboard cutouts in the stands watching a terrific game that again was decided on the 1-yard line. Wilson threw five touchdown passes after throwing a pick-6 on the opening drive of the game. Wilson’s TD tosses included strikes of 38 yards to David Moore and 21 yards to Freddie Swain in the third quarter as Seattle took a 28-17 lead. Cam Newton scored on a 1-yard run with 2:16 left and after the Seahawks went three-and-out, the Patriots reached the Seattle 1 with 3 seconds left. Newton tried a keeper on the final play, only to be upended by L.J. Collier at the line of scrimmage to end the game. The cardboard cutouts went wild.

Sept. 15, 2024 — Seahawks 23, Patriots 20 OT at Gillette Stadium

The most recent matchup in the regular season went back-and-forth all afternoon. Jason Myers tied the game at 20-20 with 55 seconds left in regulation after Julian Love blocked a 48-yard attempt from Joey Slye with 4 minutes left that could have given New England a six-point lead. In overtime, the Patriots went three-and-out and the Seahawks drove downfield — aided by a 20-yard pass interference penalty — and Myers hit the game-winner from 31 yards.