February 11, 2026
Providence College's Student-Run Newspaper Since 1935
by Greg Lahr ’26 and Izzy Mignardi ’27 on February 5, 2026
The Seattle Seahawks are finally back in the Super Bowl where they will meet a familiar opponent: the New England Patriots. It has been 11 years since Seattle was in the big game, and the last Super Bowl they played in is not one that Seahawks fans will remember too fondly.
Up against the same team, the New England Patriots, Seattle suffered a heartbreaking defeat on a play that every football fan remembers vividly. With 34 seconds left, they were down four and on the Patriots’ goal line. On second down, instead of going to All-Pro running back Marshawn Lynch, quarterback Russell Wilson threw the game-ending interception to Malcolm Butler.
Now, Seattle is back for its revenge. While none of the current players were on either team when they met 11 years ago, they will definitely be reminded of the history. Led by quarterback Sam Darnold, the Seahawks are one of the most complete teams in the NFL. Both the defense and offense are at the top of their respective rankings this season and will certainly be the toughest test the Patriots have had in the postseason.
With New England’s stout run defense, the Seahawks will have to rely on the arm of Sam Darnold, who is the only quarterback besides Tom Brady to have back-to-back 14-win seasons. Head Coach Mike Macdonald, in his second year with the team, has been preparing the team all season. There is no doubt that he will have to get top receivers Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba going early to get Darnold comfortable. If Macdonald can keep the nerves from getting to Darnold, this Seattle offense will not be easy to contain.
While the Seahawks have one of the top offenses in the NFL, they also have a top defense led by DeMarcus Lawrence and Leonard Williams. Although the Patriots have an elite run defense, Seattle’s may be even better. If they can stop New England running backs Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson, they will force Drake Maye to throw the ball, which could be the key to shutting down the shaky Patriots offense and leading Seattle to its second Super Bowl victory.– Greg Lahr ’26 Sports Writer
While the Seattle Seahawks have almost everything they need to win the Super Bowl, football fans aren’t counting the New England Patriots out just yet.
Many argue that Seattle will win the championship because of their dominant defense. However, it’s important to note that the Patriots haven’t allowed more than 16 points in a playoff game this year.
What will motivate the Patriots to win Super Bowl LX is the fact that so many people doubted their ability to come this far. Repeatedly, the team and fans alike heard claims that their “easy schedule” was the reason for their success. There’s more on the line for the Patriots here. They’re one game away from shutting down those comments once and for all.
Additionally, the team chemistry with Coach Mike Vrabel is unmatched. As a former Patriots player, he knows what it’s like to wear that uniform and have millions of eyes on him and expectations of him. Anyone can watch a game and realize that Coach Vrabel is more than a coach to these players. He emphasizes individual connections with each player and encourages them to form these connections among themselves. This coaching style is what allows the team to work so seamlessly together on the field.
And of course, at the head of this team is none other than second-year quarterback Drake Maye. He’s an MVP finalist and leads the league in completion percentage. Not only is he a skilled player, but he maintains his composure during high-stress situations and maintains humility when winning. Maye is exactly the type of quarterback who is capable of leading his team all the way to a Super Bowl win. – Izzy Mignardi ’27 Sports Writer
