Super Bowl 2026: National media predictions for Seahawks-Patriots rematch
by Sophia Vesely · The Seattle TimesThe Seahawks battle Sunday for the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl LX. They face the six-time champion New England Patriots, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif, kicking off at 3:30 p.m. PT.
The Seahawks are the betting favorite, favored by 4.5 points.
Here’s a round up of national media predictions for the Super Bowl.
ESPN: 12 of 12 pundits predict the Seahawks to win.
Eric Moody writes: “Seahawks. Seattle’s defense has been formidable all season, and defense still wins championships. The Patriots are averaging just 18.0 points per game this postseason, the fourth fewest by a team entering the Super Bowl and the fewest since 1979. Two of the three teams went on to lose the Super Bowl.”
Ben Solak writes: “Seahawks. The Patriots’ run against elite defenses ends with the true best unit of the season. With two weeks to plan, Macdonald will have too many tools to fluster and disrupt Maye.”
Sports Illustrated: 9 of 10 pundits predict the Seahawks to win.
Albert Breer writes: “Seahawks 23, Patriots 20. MVP: Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Patriots’ path to a win here is by taking this game to the place their first three playoff games went — a rockfight, predicated on a tough team betting on itself in the fourth quarter. If New England wins, I think Drake Maye will have to play his best game and make plays with his legs, the run game will have to shorten the game, and the interior of the defensive line, behind Milton Williams and Christian Barmore, will have to exploit the middle of the Seahawks’ offensive line. There are a lot of ifs there. And while I have a ton of respect for what New England’s accomplished, and have a hard time picking against them in this spot, I just think the Seahawks have too many answers … I think it all adds up to a loaded Seattle team being just a little too much for a Patriots team that’s accomplished a lot.”
Conor Orr writes: “Patriots 17, Seahawks 16. MVP: Robert Spillane. This selection is going to horrify Patriots fans, because I have picked against the team every single week of the playoffs so far. But I am bored with the obvious assertion that Seattle is a better team that will simply outmatch New England. That is probably true. I would imagine if I were a member of the Seahawks, I’d be supremely confident right now going into the game. However, there is always another possibility in this world and I am willing to explore the idea that something incredibly catastrophic happens early on and the game just spirals in another direction. Again, it is unlikely, but this process is about me and getting my cheap thrills wherever they come … In order for the Patriots to win the game, they are going to have to earn turnovers in bunches. This means throwing Sam Darnold off his spot, preventing play-action and, ultimately, getting lucky.”
USA TODAY: 3 of 6 pundits predict the Seahawks to win.
Lorenzo Reyes writes: “Wire-to-wire, the Seahawks were the more complete and consistent team this season. The Patriots were solid and certainly outperformed expectations, but their weaker schedule (including a somewhat favorable path through the postseason) still raises doubts about their ability to play against the NFL’s best. Seattle, though, has an aggressive, ballhawking defense that should make life challenging for Drake Maye. He has played like a veteran thus far this year and may even win MVP. The Super Bowl is a different stage.”
Richard Morin writes: “The Patriots, who will either become the winningest or losingest team in Super Bowl history, are no strangers to distractions this time of year. Drake Maye’s overblown injury, the omission of both Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick from the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class and Kraft’s name appearing in the Epstein files are the latest examples. Expect Mike Vrabel and Co. to bury the noise and play a tight game (to win).”
CBS Sports: 4 of 4 pundits predict the Seahawks to win.
John Breech writes: “Seahawks 34-20 over Patriots. “For me, the deciding factor in this game is going to be Mike Macdonald. Since being hired by the Seahawks in 2024, Macdonald has absolutely dominated young quarterbacks, and now he gets to face the second-youngest starting quarterback in the history of the Super Bowl (Drake Maye). In his two seasons on the job, Macdonald has coached six games against first- or second-year quarterbacks, and he’s gone 6-0 in those games … Not only is he undefeated, but the six quarterbacks have averaged just 168.8 yards passing while throwing nine interceptions compared to just two touchdowns. If Macdonald forces Maye into a bad game, the Seahawks will likely win big.”
Jordan Dajani writes: “Seahawks 20-13 over Patriots. “This is the seventh Super Bowl since 1970 between an All-Pro quarterback (Maye) and the NFL’s No. 1 scoring defense (Seattle). The No. 1 scoring defense is 5-1 in the previous six matchups. … They say defense wins championships, and I think that will be proven Sunday.”
NFL.com 21 of 24 pundits predict the Seahawks to win.
Mike Band writes: “Seahawks 31, Patriots 23. Why: Seattle’s attacking defense manufactures early negative plays to create a double-digit lead. Drake Maye’s late surge can’t outpace the NFL’s most complete roster.”
Grant Gordon writes: “Seahawks 28, Patriots 24. Why: In an NFL brimming with first-round quarterback resurrection stories — see Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield, Daniel Jones, etc. — Sam Darnold will pen the most wondrous tale yet. Darnold will win Super Bowl MVP, but Seattle will prevail when its defense holds strong in a revisionist nod to these franchises’ first rumble for the Lombardi, as the Patriots are stopped on the goal line to end a classic.”
Brooke Cersosimo writes: “Patriots 24, Seahawks 23. Why: The Super Bowl has been decided by a field-goal attempt in the final 10 seconds of the game five times in its history, and the Patriots have won two of those five contests — thanks to Adam Vinatieri (shoutout to my fellow South Dakotan). The sixth instance occurs Sunday as sixth-round rookie Andres Borregales boots a 50-yarder to win it late in regulation.“
The Mina Kimes Show: 2 of 2 pundits predict the Seahawks to win.
Mina Kimes says: “I think where I come down on this is I feel for the Seahawks to win this game, Sam Darnold just has to be OK, but for the Patriots to win this game, Drake Maye has to be amazing. He was an amazing quarterback this season. He was my MVP pick for a reason, so it is not outside the realm of possibility, but I just think when I go matchup for matchup, thinking through each group, thinking about Seattle’s improved ability to run the football over the last couple of months, thinking about that coaching staff, I still feel pretty good about Seattle here.”
Ben Solak says: “(The Seahawks) feel like they’re a cut above for sure. It’s very hard getting the Patriots winning this game without the Patriots getting short fields, which goes to your standpoint. Sam has just had an unbelievable season and a great NFC Championship Game, like ‘Alright buddy, you’ve done your work. We’ll handle it from here. Just do not lampoon us.’ … In general, if the Seahawks defense does not face short fields, they do not give up touchdowns and over time, you’re going to wear the Patriots out, you’re going to score a couple touchdowns, and you’re going to win this thing.”