Who is going to win the Super Bowl?

The regular football season has ended, most people’s favorite teams (including mine) are out of contention, half of the league has fired and re-hired new head coaches and the final two teams’ fans’ egos are at an all-time high.

The Super Bowl is the one night a year when everyone pretends they’ve been watching football all season long, and the National Football League (NFL), who has exhausted their viewers emotionally, now asks them to care deeply about one more game. Lucky for them, I’ve watched this season as closely as Cris Collinsworth watches quarterback (QB) Patrick Mahomes’ every move.

For those who don’t know, here’s a mini history lesson: This is the 60th annual Super Bowl, which is the biggest football game of the year. Only two out of the 32 NFL teams have succeeded to play each other. This year, it’s the Seattle Seahawks against the New England Patriots.

The New England Patriots have mixed responses. Famously, Patriots Hall of Famer and arguably the best football player of all time, Tom Brady, played for the Patriots for 20 seasons. He led them to six Super Bowl victories before signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March 2020. 

On the other side, the Seattle Seahawks have one Super Bowl victory in their franchise history, back in 2014. They have reached the championship game three times and lost to the Patriots in 2015. These teams have seen each other here before. 

Unfortunately, my answer to this question is a no-brainer, as much as it pains me to say: The Seattle Seahawks are going home with the Vince Lombardi Trophy this upcoming Sunday.

Oddsmakers across sportsbooks have Seattle as the outright favorite to win, with both the moneyline and spread strongly leaning toward them. The spread has Seahawks at -4.5 and the moneyline set at -235. The general over/under for points is 45.5, the lowest line since 2016 due to strong defensive matchups. Despite this, Seattle seems to be favored by a field goal and a half, with most bets implying they’re most likely champions. 

I resent the Seahawks as much as the next person; the intense historical rivalry from 1977-2001, when my team, the Las Vegas Raiders and the Seattle Seahawks were American Football Conference (AFC) West divisional foes, has scarred me for a lifetime (despite not being alive to see it). I definitely don’t feel joy when they succeed. The ego of their fans is repellent enough to actually root against them in the playoffs. However, respect is due when they factually have the edge over the other team. 

They’ve been one of the best teams in the league and haven’t tailed off in the playoffs. Their dynamic playmakers — a top wide receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a lofty running game with running back Kenneth Walker III and a defense that makes life miserable for any QB they play — have all created the perfect concoction to dominate the league. 

They looked awfully strong in their 41-6 National Football Conference (NFC) divisional round game last month against the San Francisco 49ers, with wide receiver Rashid Shaheed returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown and using that momentum the rest of the game. Similarly, Seattle secured their trip to the Super Bowl in 31-27 NFC Championship victory against the Los Angeles Rams, primarily because of their explosive offense. Recently, watching the Seahawks has looked like an inevitable win; it’s been more than just taking big shots in Hail Marys down the field — from run-pass marriage to personnel usage to play design, the overall cohesion of the offense is impossible to miss. 

However, it’s football. As avid football fans understand, it’s “Any Given Sunday.” The truth is, the Super Bowl is unlike any other game in the season: there’s always a turnover, a blown coverage or a moment that seems to turn the script upside down. That’s why I have to pace around the TV the entire game.

Could the Patriots win? Sure. I love their starting QB, Drake Maye, and his newfound favoritism online, with the catchy nickname: “Drake ‘Drake Maye’ Maye.” Maye is likeable, and he’s broken records in the New England Patriots franchise that were previously held by Brady while also establishing new team highs in accuracy and efficiency. He has the most wins by a rookie and sophomore QB at 17 wins, the most games with 100+ passer rating at 13 games and the highest single-season completion percentage at 72%. 

He’s definitely earned his spot at Levi’s Stadium and on America’s televisions this Sunday, although the Patriots’ schedule was the softest road to the Super Bowl with minimal hard competition. It’s also hard to have faith in Maye, knowing how strong Seattle’s defense has consistently been. 

I would not be upset to see Maye take home the Lombardi Trophy, as I believe he should be considered for Most Valuable Player with the outstanding season he’s had. Yet, I would not be surprised to see Seattle’s QB Sam Darnold and his offense sweep the stage. 

Who did you wish to see in the Super Bowl?

I’m not mad at this matchup, per se, but I’m not thrilled at it. Thankfully I don’t have to see the Kansas City Chiefs monopolize my screen another year, as I will never hate another football team as much as I hate the Chiefs — but that’s a conversation for another time. 

To put it plainly, this matchup is safe. The Super Bowl is at its peak when it feels like fan bases couldn’t handle the outcome between either team or when fans are shocked at the matchup. This, however, feels like a performance review. A Buffalo Bills appearance would’ve meant collective catharsis. A Detroit Lions run would’ve felt biblical. Even a 49ers appearance would’ve come with chaos and spite, especially in their home stadium. 

Instead, this feels reasonable. This feels like it’s been done before (and has). I could’ve called a Seattle and New England matchup from miles away.

Why is this NFL season unorthodox?

In short terms, none of the league’s usual rules applied this year. For years, the NFL has been organized around a clear QB class system, but this season blurred that line. Established players looked conventional, backup-level QBs went on legitimate runs and teams stopped pretending that a single arm could carry structural flaws. This season, we saw QBs winning games by not losing them, making the league harder to predict and far less star-driven than usual.

The “best team” also changed every week — somewhat alarming, as there’s usually a consensus by the midseason. Two or three teams typically separate themselves and sports analysts can clearly see where the season is going. This year, that never really happened. Top teams, like the Indianapolis Colts at the time, lost to a bottom-tier opponent in the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Colts even being considered a top-10 team in the first place this season had its own shock factor. 

The playoff field also felt off. Even once the postseason picture was set, it still didn’t feel right. Familiar contenders, like the Chiefs, were eliminated early. Unexpected teams, like the Chicago Bears, hung around the playoffs for longer than expected. 

I can’t complain, though. It’s differences in the league, like these, that make the week-by-week games so interesting to tune into.  

Who is your NFL team?

I’m sad to say, the Las Vegas Raiders. 

This is not something I’m necessarily proud of. This is a confession. 

Being a Raiders fan is less about winning and losing, and more about character development. For the more important reason, the why, I was unfortunately born into my fate. I’ve seen them play at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum and shed my fair share of tears when they moved to Las Vegas. If this doesn’t prove my loyalty to things that treat me like shit, I don’t know what will. 

Despite their awful play calling, team management and overall decision making, I believe in them and our chances at being a playoff team in less than five years. It’s because my team is so quickly eliminated from playoff contention that I have enough time to analyze the actual potential Super Bowl contenders. So, thank you for being bad at football, Raiders. 

I love the Raiders, I just don’t trust them. Both things can be true.

Kira Logan is currently spending all of her savings account on Super Bowl bets right now.