.jpg?w=1280 "Rams Seahawks Football")
Who Has the Edge at Each Position in Patriots vs. Seahawks Super Bowl LX Matchup?
We knew the date and location for Super Bowl LX. Now, it's time to break down the contenders. From a roster perspective, who has the edge between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots?
Based on accolades, the Seahawks are the more established team with five Pro Bowlers and five first- or second-team All-Pros. The Patriots have a couple of Pro Bowlers and second-team All-Pros.
With that said, we must also consider regular-season and playoff production. Some players have cranked it up a notch for the postseason or hit their stride in January.
Let's dissect the depth charts for both clubs, giving the advantage to one team based on the talent at each position. Edge-rushers are included among the defensive linemen, and off-ball linebackers, whose primary responsibility isn't rushing the passer, have a separate category.
Keep in mind, this isn't a prediction of who will hoist the Lombardi Trophy in Santa Clara, California, on February 8, but rather which team has the better roster ahead of the game.
Quarterback
1 of 10.jpg?w=684 "Patriots Broncos Football")
Recency bias means many will give the easy nod to Sam Darnold, who had one of his best career performances in the NFC Championship Game, throwing for 346 yards and three touchdowns against the Los Angeles Rams.
Darnold comes into this game with a hotter hand, but don't forget Drake Maye is an MVP finalist, who led the league in passer rating, QBR and completion rate this season.
In the playoffs, Maye faced three top-seven pass defenses. Meanwhile, Darnold played against the San Francisco 49ers' injury-riddled defensive unit, and he didn't have to throw much against their 25th-ranked pass defense in a 41-6 blowout. Los Angeles ranked 19th in pass defense.
Maye is a dynamic playmaker with both his arm and legs. The second-year signal-caller has rushed for at least 65 yards in two of his three postseason outings.
Darnold has played better against mediocre and below-average pass defenses, though Maye showed he can be efficient against a stingy unit when he threw for three touchdowns against the Houston Texans in the divisional round. Also, the Patriots quarterback will be harder to defend off-script.
Advantage: Patriots
Running Back
2 of 10.jpg?w=684 "Seahawks Football")
Kenneth Walker III is the best running back in football right now. He's eclipsed 110 scrimmage yards in four of his last five outings, scoring five touchdowns in that span.
The Seahawks' backfield took a significant hit when Zach Charbonnet tore his ACL in the divisional round, but Walker has been a workhorse, showing off his burst and elusiveness on the ground and reliable hands in the passing game.
The Patriots have a one-two combination with Rhamondre Stevenson and rookie TreVeyon Henderson, but neither of the two has scored a touchdown in the playoffs. You could argue that Drake Maye has been the Patriots' most impactful ball-carrier in the postseason.
Without a doubt, Walker is the top running back in this matchup, and he's performing at an optimal level with more touches in Charbonnet's absence.
Advantage: Seahawks
Wide Receiver
3 of 10.jpg?w=684 "Rams Seahawks Football")
New England did a good job in revamping its receiver unit, signing Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins last offseason. Kayshon Boutte made strides in his third year.
However, the Seahawks' receiver unit features Offensive Player of the Year finalist Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who led the league with 1,793 receiving yards for the regular season. He's racked up more receiving yards than Diggs and Boutte combined and recorded just as many touchdown receptions (10).
As a first-year All-Pro, Smith-Njigba is a rising star, and the Seahawks have complementary receivers behind him on the depth chart. At this stage in his career, Cooper Kupp is a down-to-down chain-mover, and Rashid Shaheed brings uncanny speed on the perimeter. Both Kupp and Shaheed made big plays in the NFC Championship Game, and Jake Bobo found the end zone.
Although Diggs commands a lot of attention in coverage, and New England has depth at this position, the Patriots' defensive coaches will spend a little more time figuring out how to slow down Smith-Njigba and Co.
Advantage: Seahawks
.jpg?w=256 "Bills Football")
.jpg?w=256 "Texans Steelers Football")
.jpg?w=256 "NFL Combine Football")
Tight End
4 of 10.jpg?w=684 "Texans Patriots Football")
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner finished second on the team in catches (52) and touchdown receptions (six). Yet over the last three weeks, he's become an afterthought in the aerial attack, catching four passes for 27 yards.
In the first half of the season, rookie tight end Elijah Arroyo flashed his pass-catching ability, but he faded in November and hasn't suited up since Week 14 because of a knee injury.
Hunter Henry is the clear-cut No. 2 option in New England's aerial attack with the second-most catches and receiving yards on the team. He leads the club with seven touchdown receptions. Austin Hooper is a decent backup tight end who's also involved in the passing game, recording 21 catches for 263 yards and two touchdowns.
Drake Maye can trust either one of his top two tight ends to haul in passes between the 20s and in the red zone. The Seahawks don't have that luxury right now.
Advantage: Patriots
Offensive Line
5 of 10.jpg?w=684 "49ers Seahawks Football")
This one is a close call, so recency is a big factor in which team comes into this matchup with an edge in the offensive trenches.
Yes, Drake Maye has played in more postseason games than Sam Darnold and faced tougher defenses, but it's alarming that he's taken five sacks in all three games.
While we must acknowledge that Maye takes some sacks because he tries to turn dead-end plays into gains with his legs, it's fair to say that rookie first-rounder Will Campbell and Jared Wilson have experienced struggles in pass protection on the left side of the offensive line.
Against Seattle's aggressive front, Maye could continue to face immense pressure on his blind side.
Left tackle Charles Cross' return for the playoffs gave the Seahawks' offensive line a boost. At left guard, rookie first-rounder Grey Zabel steadily improved in the second half of the season and carried that momentum into the playoffs.
Advantage: Seahawks
Defensive Line
6 of 10.jpg?w=684 "Rams Seahawks Football")
The Seahawks field arguably the league's best defensive front with Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II on the interior and DeMarcus Lawrence and Uchenna Nwosu on the edge. This season, Seattle finished sixth in pressure rate at 26.1 percent and tied for seventh in sacks (47).
Seattle's defensive front isn't all pass rush, though. It's also part of the reason the club allowed the third-fewest rushing yards in 2025.
The Patriots' defensive front is stout like the Seahawks' unit, but it doesn't compare in generating pressure. New England ranked 24th in pressure rate for the regular season.
Furthermore, the Patriots' sack leader, Harold Landry III, has battled a knee injury over the past month, limiting his workload and production. The 29-year-old edge-rusher didn't suit up for the AFC Championship Game.
Sam Darnold will have time to throw downfield. You can't say the same about Drake Maye. To make matters worse for New England, its running backs may not be able to carry the offensive workload against a run defense giving up the fewest yards per carry.
Advantage: Seahawks
Off-Ball Linebackers
7 of 10.jpg?w=684 "Seahawks 49ers Football")
New England made a good decision to match the Las Vegas Raiders' offer sheet for Christian Elliss. He's paired well with Robert Spillane, who was signed in free agency.
They're the club's leading tacklers, though Spillane makes more plays in the backfield, logging four tackles for loss, and he hasn't allowed a touchdown in coverage.
Ernest Jones IV and Drake Thomas are a complementary duo playing on another level.
As a second-team All-Pro, Jones leads the Seahawks with 126 tackles and five interceptions. He's also logged seven pass breakups while allowing an impressive 54 passer rating (out of a possible 158.3). The 26-year-old is one of the league's top cover linebackers.
Like Jones, Thomas hasn't surrendered a touchdown in coverage, and he's allowing an 81.8 passer rating. The 25-year-old also makes plays at and behind the line of scrimmage, recording 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
The Seahawks' do-it-all linebacker duo won't allow big plays in the middle of the field, and they're equipped to supplement the run game and the pass rush as downhill defenders.
Advantage: Seahawks
Cornerbacks/Slot Defenders
8 of 10.jpg?w=684 "Seahawks Falcons Football")
Both teams have rising stars and quality depth at these positions, which makes it a tough call.
Patriots' lead cornerback Christian Gonzalez has become a household name. Carlton Davis III is an established veteran. Marcus Jones earned second-team All-Pro recognition for special teams, though he's made splash plays in coverage and against the run, recording career highs in pass breakups (11), interceptions (three) and tackles for loss (eight).
However, Davis and Jones have allowed 11 touchdowns in coverage combined, which is one of the difference-makers between these cornerback groups.
Devon Witherspoon, Josh Jobe, Riq Woolen and Nick Emmanwori are more consistent on a down-to-down basis. Jobe and Woolen allow passer ratings below 78.
Witherspoon and Emmanwori are permitting passer ratings above 90, but they have only allowed five touchdowns combined in coverage.
Seattle can rotate four starting-caliber defensive backs on the boundary and in the slot. Witherspoon and Emmanwori have the skill set to play in the slot. This group has rare depth and versatility.
Advantage: Seahawks
Safeties
9 of 10.jpg?w=684 "49ers Seahawks Football")
Seattle's safety tandem features a budding ball hawk in Coby Bryant, who has recorded seven interceptions over the past two seasons, and a versatile defensive back, Julian Love, who can also line up in the slot.
Love missed October and November action, but he's made his presence felt in December and January with an interception, run stops and a fumble recovery. The 27-year-old knows how to find the ball on any given down, while Bryant can flip the field with takeaways.
The Patriots have a respectable duo with Jaylinn Hawkins developing into an impact coverage defender. He registered four interceptions this season. On the other hand, rookie fourth-rounder Craig Woodson is a liability in coverage. When targeted, he's allowed seven touchdowns and a 133.9 passer rating.
Don't be surprised if Sam Darnold targets Woodson downfield. Maye will find it difficult to isolate the weak link in the Seahawks' secondary, let alone their safety unit.
Advantage: Seahawks
Special Teams
10 of 10.jpg?w=684 "Rams Seahawks Football")
This matchup could come down to a field goal, putting the kickers in the spotlight. In terms of field-goal percentage, they're just about even, though Jason Myers hasn't missed an extra point. Andres Borregales missed two.
This season, Seahawks punter Michael Dickson is a second-team All-Pro, though, in fairness, Patriots punter Bryce Baringer has comparable punting yard averages and a higher percentage of punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
Seattle gains the slight advantage in the return game because of Rashid Shaheed's contributions.
Marcus Jones is a second-team All-Pro with two punt returns for touchdowns, one for 87 yards and another for 94 yards. Shaheed is a Pro Bowl special teamer with a 100-yard kick return and a 58-yard punt return for touchdowns.
This season, Shaheed has returned both kicks and punts. Jones, who's developed into a starting cornerback, hasn't returned a kick since the 2022 season.
In a battle of field position, Shaheed will have more opportunities to impact the game on special teams than Jones.
Advantage: Seahawks
.jpg?w=480 "Bills Football")
.jpg?w=480 "Texans Steelers Football")
.jpg?w=480 "NFL Combine Football")
.jpg?w=600 "Mike Vrabel Makes Statement")
.jpg?w=600 "Tyson Compared to JJettas 👀")