The matchup for Super Bowl 60 is officially set, and it brings a familiar pairing back to the NFL’s biggest stage. Eleven years after one of the most debated finishes in Super Bowl history, the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will meet again, this time on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The Patriots earned their return with a 10-7 victory over the Denver Broncos in the AFC championship game, leaning on a suffocating defense and timely plays from quarterback Drake Maye. New England finished the season 17-3 and is headed to its 12th Super Bowl appearance, seeking an NFL-record seventh Lombardi Trophy. Maye, just 23, will become the second-youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl, guiding a Patriots team that has allowed just 26 points across three playoff games.
Seattle punched its ticket with a 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC title game. Quarterback Sam Darnold threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover, continuing a resurgence that has carried the Seahawks to their fourth Super Bowl appearance. Seattle is seeking its second championship under coach Mike Macdonald, who has paired Darnold’s offense with one of the league’s stingiest defenses.
The rematch inevitably recalls Super Bowl XLIX in 2015, when New England rallied from a 10-point deficit and sealed a 28-24 win on a late interception at the goal line. This time, the spotlight will be on contrasting quarterbacks, defensive dominance and the legacy implications for a Patriots franchise that has clawed its way back after several lean seasons following Tom Brady’s departure.
Elsewhere in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers made a major coaching move, reaching a verbal agreement with Mike McCarthy to become the franchise’s next head coach. McCarthy brings extensive experience, owning a 174-112-2 regular-season record and an 11-11 postseason mark across stints with Green Bay and Dallas. His résumé includes a Super Bowl title with the Packers, and his hiring represents a notable shift for a Steelers organization that historically favored first-time head coaches. Pittsburgh will hope McCarthy’s experience can help return the team to championship contention.
The weekend also featured a full slate of NBA action. The Detroit Pistons topped the Sacramento Kings 139-116, while the Golden State Warriors cruised past the Minnesota Timberwolves 111-85. The New Orleans Pelicans edged the San Antonio Spurs 104-95. The Toronto Raptors narrowly defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 103-101, and the Miami Heat beat the Phoenix Suns 111-102. In Los Angeles, the Clippers dominated the Brooklyn Nets 126-89. Two games were postponed, including Denver versus Memphis and Dallas versus Milwaukee.
In the NHL, several decisive results highlighted the schedule. The Colorado Avalanche beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1, while the Seattle Kraken defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-2. The Ottawa Senators rolled past the Vegas Golden Knights 7-1. The Pittsburgh Penguins edged the Vancouver Canucks 3-2. The Florida Panthers downed the Chicago Blackhawks 5-1, and the Anaheim Ducks topped the Calgary Flames 4-3 in overtime.
Source: NBC, NPR, nba.com, nhl.com