Patriots and Seahawks set to battle in Super Bowl LX
Super Bowl LX will feature a marquee matchup between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. The championship game is scheduled for Sunday, February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California — home of the San Francisco 49ers.
This marks the Patriots’ 12th Super Bowl appearance in franchise history and their 10th since Robert Kraft took ownership of the team. For Seattle, this will be their first trip back to the Super Bowl since the 2014 season, adding another chapter to the team’s postseason legacy.
Patriots Survive Snowy Battle Against Broncos to Claim AFC Title
New England punched its ticket to Super Bowl LX by edging the Denver Broncos 10–7 in a weather-marred AFC Championship Game. Heavy snowfall in the second half drastically limited scoring opportunities, with just three total points recorded after halftime. A clutch Patriots field goal ultimately proved decisive.
The win capped a dramatic turnaround for New England, which managed only eight victories across the previous two seasons combined. The arrival of head coach Mike Vrabel, paired with the rapid growth of quarterback Drake Maye, propelled the Patriots back into contention among the NFL’s elite.
A key moment came in the second quarter when Broncos head coach Sean Payton opted against an easy field goal, choosing instead to attempt a fourth-down conversion. With worsening weather conditions later limiting offensive production, the decision loomed large.
“There’s always hindsight,” Payton said postgame. “At the time, we liked the situation. You’re making decisions based on momentum and the opponent. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out.”
He added that Denver failed to fully capitalize on favorable field position and acknowledged that turnovers played a major role in the loss.
For Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs, the victory carried extra meaning. Five years after losing an AFC Championship Game with Buffalo, Diggs is finally headed to the Super Bowl.
“I’m incredibly proud of this group,” Diggs said. “Coming back from injury, trusting the process, and being surrounded by the right people made everything worth it. We’re not done yet — there’s one more goal.”
Seahawks Outlast Rams in NFC Championship Thriller
Seattle earned its fourth Super Bowl berth by defeating the Los Angeles Rams 31–27 in a high-scoring NFC Championship showdown. Quarterback Sam Darnold delivered one of the best performances of his career, throwing for 346 yards and three touchdowns. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford answered with 374 yards and three scores of his own in a back-and-forth duel.
Despite Seattle entering the game with the NFL’s top-ranked defense, the spotlight belonged to Darnold’s composure, precision, and leadership. Once selected third overall by the New York Jets in 2018 and later written off after stints in Carolina and San Francisco, Darnold resurrected his career with a breakout season in Minnesota in 2024. Sunday’s performance silenced lingering doubts about his ability to deliver in high-pressure moments.
Darnold leaned heavily on wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who recorded 10 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown. The former Ohio State standout consistently created separation and made critical catches throughout the game.
Seattle faced adversity late in the third quarter after cornerback Riq Woolen was flagged for taunting, extending a Rams drive that appeared destined to stall. On the very next play, Puka Nacua beat Woolen near the goal line to pull Los Angeles within four points.
Still, the Seahawks’ defense responded when it mattered most. A crucial goal-line stand with under five minutes remaining preserved the lead, and Seattle’s offense followed with a time-consuming drive to seal the victory.
Key Details for Super Bowl LX
The NFL’s 60th Super Bowl will kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. local time) on February 8, 2026, from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. NBC will broadcast the game, with Mike Tirico handling play-by-play duties alongside analyst Cris Collinsworth. Melissa Stark will report from the sidelines.
A win would place Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel in rare company. Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a player with New England, could become the first individual to capture a championship both on the field and on the sideline for the same franchise.
Bad Bunny set to headline Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show
Global music icon Bad Bunny will headline the Super Bowl LX halftime show. The three-time Grammy Award winner, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, was officially announced as the performer by the NFL, Apple Music, and Roc Nation in September.
The 31-year-old Puerto Rican superstar released his sixth studio album in January 2025 and finished the year as Spotify’s most-streamed artist worldwide for the fourth time, amassing more than 19.8 billion streams. While best known for performing in Spanish, Bad Bunny is no stranger to major sporting events, having previously appeared during the Super Bowl 54 halftime show alongside Shakira and Jennifer Lopez.
Notably, President Donald J. Trump announced he will not be attending Super Bowl LX in an interview with the New York Post.
“It’s just too far away. I would. I’ve [gotten] great hands [at] the Super Bowl. They like me,” Trump said.
Meanwhile, Bad Bunny has been a vocal critic of the Trump Administration. Trump hit back at the Puerto Rican performer.
“I’m anti-them,” Trump said. “I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible.”
The NFL has continued to back Bad Bunny since the September announcement.
“There’s a lot of people right now who don’t like Bad Bunny being in the Super Bowl halftime show,” said NFL chief marketing officer Tim Ellis. “Well, not everyone has to like everything we do. Bad Bunny is f—ing awesome.”
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