Who’s Going to the Super Bowl 2026? Odds & Picks

The New England Patriots are going to Super Bowl LX after defeating the Denver Broncos 10-7 in the AFC Championship Game on January 25, 2026. Under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel and star second-year quarterback Drake Maye, the Patriots orchestrated a historic turnaround from a 4-13 record in 2024 to a 14-3 regular-season finish in 2025.

The Seattle Seahawks advanced to Super Bowl LX, defeating the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in the NFC Championship Game on January 25, 2026. Led by quarterback Sam Darnold and head coach Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks finished the 2025 regular season with a 14-3 record to earn the NFC's top seed. 

Super Bowl 2026: Teams, Time, and Setting

Super Bowl LX will feature a historic rematch between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. This championship game marks the second time these two teams have met on the NFL's biggest stage, following their classic encounter in Super Bowl XLIX 11 years ago.

Super Bowl Time at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA is at 6:30 p.m. ET with broadcast coverage on NBC, Telemundo, Peacock, NFL+, and Tubi. 

The New England Patriots are the AFC Champions. The Patriots orchestrated a historic 10-game turnaround from their 4-13 record in 2024. Led by first-year head coach Mike Vrabel and star sophomore QB Drake Maye, New England advanced by defeating the Denver Broncos 10-7 in a snowy AFC Championship. A win would give New England its seventh title, the most in NFL history.

The Seattle Seahawks are the NFC Champions. Seattle returns to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2014 season. Quarterback Sam Darnold has revitalized his career, leading the Seahawks to the NFC's #1 seed and a 31-27 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in the conference championship. The Seahawks feature the NFL's top-ranked scoring defense, allowing just 17.2 points per game. 

Team Breakdown: Super Bowl 2026 Finalists

New England Patriots 

New England has covered the NFL spread in five out of its most recent six games. Additionally, New England went under the total in two of its last three matchups. 

In the regular season, New England was 14-3 straight up, 11-6 against the spread, and 11-6 over/under the total. 

New England Patriots stats include rankings of 3rd in total offense, 4th in passing, 6th in rushing, 2nd in scoring, and 10th in fewest turnovers. In turn, New England ranks 8th in total defense, 9th vs. the pass, 6th vs. the rush, 4th in fewest points allowed, and 20th in takeaways. 

The New England Patriots enter Super Bowl LX as one of the most remarkable stories in NFL history, having engineered a league-record 10-game turnaround from their 4-13 finish in 2024. The Patriots became the first team ever to go 9-0 on the road in a single season (including playoffs).

A victory would give New England its seventh Super Bowl win, breaking a tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most in NFL history. 

Several key starters are on the injury report heading into the bye week: 

• QB Drake Maye (Shoulder/Illness): Missed practice on Friday due to an illness, but had previously been limited by a right shoulder injury. Coach Mike Vrabel indicated Maye would have practiced Friday if not for the illness and expressed little concern over the shoulder.
• OT Thayer Munford Jr. (Knee/Illness): Did not participate (DNP) in practice all week.
• OT Morgan Moses (Rest): Listed as questionable but participated fully in practice.
• TE Hunter Henry (Rest): Full participant in practice; expected to play.
• WR Mack Hollins (Abdomen): Activated from IR recently and participated fully in practice. 

• LB Harold Landry III (Knee): The team's leading sacker (8.5 sacks) missed the AFC Championship and did not practice all week.
• LB Robert Spillane (Ankle): Did not practice after leaving the AFC Championship in the first quarter.
• DT Joshua Farmer (Hamstring): Currently on the injured reserve return list but was a full participant in practice. 

Seattle Seahawks 

Seattle has covered four out of its four most recent games. Seattle went over the total in two of its last two matchups. 

In the regular season, Seattle was 14-3 straight up, 12-5 against the spread, and 9-8 over/under the total.

Overall, Seattle Seahawks stats rank 8th in total offense, 8th in passing, 10th in rushing, 3rd in scoring, and 31st in fewest turnovers committed. Seattle ranks 6th in total defense, 10th against the pass, 3rd against the run, 1st in fewest points allowed, and 5th in takeaways. 

The Seattle Seahawks enter Super Bowl LX as the NFC's top seed, boasting the NFL's #1-ranked scoring defense (17.2 PPG). Under second-year head coach Mike Macdonald, Seattle set a franchise record for regular-season wins and is making its fourth Super Bowl appearance—its first since 2014.

Seattle features explosive playmakers in all three phases of the game, including elite defensive personnel and dynamic special teams threats. 

Several key starters are on the injury report heading into the bye week: 

• QB Sam Darnold: Limited in practice due to an oblique strain.
• LT Charles Cross: Nursing a foot injury suffered in the divisional round.
• LB Ernest Jones IV: Managing a chest injury; listed as limited.
• TE Eric Saubert: Sat out recent practices with a hamstring injury. 

How These Teams Earned Their Super Bowl Spot

The Patriots' journey to the 2026 Super Bowl was built on a complete organizational overhaul following the 2024 season.

• Sophomore QB Drake Maye emerged as an NFL Power Rankings "inner-circle" MVP candidate, leading the NFL in completion percentage (72.0%), passer rating (113.5), and QBR (77.1) during the regular season.
• Hiring Mike Vrabel immediately shifted the team's culture; he brought in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who refined Maye's dual-threat skill set.
• New England utilized a league-high salary cap to sign 19 free agents, including impactful veterans like Stefon Diggs (WR), Harold Landry (LB), and Milton Williams (DT).

Seattle's path was defined by a historic rebuild led by General Manager John Schneider, who became the first GM to reach multiple Super Bowls with the same franchise after a complete overhaul of the coaching staff and roster. 

• No. 1 Scoring Defense: The unit allowed a league-low 17.2 points per game during the regular season, anchored by All-Pros at every level: Leonard Williams (DL), Ernest Jones IV (LB), and Devon Witherspoon (CB).

• Offensive Efficiency: Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak revitalized Sam Darnold’s career; Darnold achieved personal bests in completion percentage (67.7%) and yards per attempt (8.5) while feeding Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who led the NFL in receiving yards (1,793).

Roster Breakdown: Star Power on the Super Bowl Stage

Offensive Playmakers to Watch 

Seattle Seahawks players on offense:

• Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR): A first-team All-Pro who led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards and 119 catches during the regular season. 

• Sam Darnold (QB): After a career turnaround, Darnold led the Seahawks to 14 regular-season wins and has been elite in the postseason, posting a 122.4 passer rating with 4 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
• Kenneth Walker III (RB): An explosive runner who averaged 89 rushing yards per game in the postseason.
• Rashid Shaheed (WR/KR): A trade-deadline addition who acts as a "field-stretcher" and gadget player. He is a significant special teams threat, having scored a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown in the divisional round. 

New England Patriots players on offense:

• Drake Maye (QB): The 23-year-old MVP candidate became the first player in NFL history to lead the league in both completion percentage (72.0%) and yards per attempt (8.9) in the same season. Despite a recent illness and shoulder injury, he is expected to start.
• Stefon Diggs (WR): The veteran leader of the receiving corps and one of only two Patriots receivers to rank in the top 70 for receiving yards this season.
• Rhamondre Stevenson (RB): The engine of a rushing attack that ranked 6th in the NFL. He provided a steady presence in the Wild Card round with 128 total yards.

Defensive Matchups That Will Decide the Game

Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs. Christian Gonzalez 

This is widely considered the "must-see" matchup of the game. 

• Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards this season. He faces New England’s shutdown corner Christian Gonzalez, who allowed only 25 receiving yards per game during the regular season.

• Smith-Njigba has 100+ yards in 10 of 19 games this season. If Gonzalez can replicate his postseason success (four pass breakups and a late interception in the AFC Championship), he can neutralize Seattle's most dangerous offensive weapon. 

Leonard Williams & Byron Murphy II vs. Patriots Interior O-Line 

New England's ability to protect Drake Maye against Seattle’s four-man rush is a critical factor. 

• The Seahawks boast a top-three defensive line featuring All-Pro Leonard Williams and rookie Byron Murphy II. Williams is a three-down threat who recorded one of the highest pressure rates among interior linemen this year.

• The Patriots rank 29th in pressure rate allowed when opponents rush four or fewer players. If Seattle can generate pressure without blitzing—something they do at the NFL's 4th-highest rate—Maye may be forced into the checkdowns that Seattle's scheme is designed to induce.

What Kind of Game Should We Expect?

Expect Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026, to be a low-scoring, defensive battle between two teams with remarkably similar identities. Both the Seahawks and Patriots are led by defensive-minded head coaches—Mike Macdonald and Mike Vrabel—who have built units that rank among the league's top four in scoring defense.

Analysts expect a game where both teams prioritize field position and ball security. Seattle leads the league in run defense efficiency, while New England ranks third, suggesting both rushing attacks will face a "brick wall."

Expect heavy pressure on the QBs. The Patriots’ offensive line has been a weakness, allowing five sacks in each playoff game so far. Seattle’s defensive front, featuring Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II, ranks fourth in pressure rate and is expected to force New England's Drake Maye into shallow targets and checkdowns.

Betting Perspective: What Changed Once the Teams Were Set

Since the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots secured their berths in Super Bowl LX, betting markets have shifted in favor of Seattle due to heavy public action and emerging injury concerns for New England's star quarterback.

Since the matchup was set, roughly 67% to 75% of early bets and handle have backed the Seahawks to cover the spread. This heavy leaning pushed the line from an opening of -3.5 to the current -4.5.

Analysts have noted that the Seahawks reached the Super Bowl by beating NFC West rivals on a "gauntlet" path. In contrast, the Patriots are perceived to have benefited from a weaker regular-season schedule and injury-affected playoff opponents.

However, underdogs have covered the Super Bowl spread in five consecutive Super Bowls and won four of those outright.