The Post staff makes their Super Bowl predictions ahead of Sunday’s game between the Seahawks and Patriots.
Super Bowl staff predictions
VINNY BONSIGNORE: Seahawks 24, Patriots 17
The Patriots will keep it close, but Sam Darnold will finally exorcise the ghosts with a game-winning, fourth-quarter drive to put it away.
MARK CANNIZZARO: Patriots 27, Seahawks 23
Seattle has more firepower. But the Patriots, who are so well-coached by Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, will keep the game close with defense and running the ball. The key to a New England win will be Drake Maye, who hasn’t been a prolific postseason passer. He must be the better quarterback than Sam Darnold for the Patriots to win.
BRIAN COSTELLO: Patriots 21, Seahawks 17
I think this game will be dominated by the defenses, and the Patriots will pull it out in the fourth quarter. Mike Vrabel has infused his team with belief and confidence, and New England is playing well on defense. On offense, Drake Maye benefits from the two week break and regains his regular-season form just enough to lead the Patriots to another Super Bowl.
MICHAEL DUARTE: Seahawks 27, Patriots 20
For the Patriots, this might have been the easiest path to the Super Bowl I’ve seen in a long time. Seattle has been consistent all season and is excellent in all three phases of the game. I think Sam Darnold has saved his best for last. He throws for multiple touchdowns and Jaxon Smith-Njigba goes for over 100 yards and a score. The Seahawks defense clamps down, especially on their front line, and the second coming of the Legion of Boom is born.
RYAN DUNLEAVY: Seahawks 27, Patriots 20
If the Patriots’ two-headed backfield can run the ball against the stingy Seahawks defense, the entire complexion of the game will change. If not, there are not enough playmaker weapons on the field to keep “The Dark Side” secondary honest. Sam Darnold finally exorcises some ghosts with a tie-breaking, fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp, and Julian Love seals the win with an interception.
PAUL SCHWARTZ: Seahawks 23, Patriots 19
There is no doubt the Patriots feasted on the least-demanding schedule in the league to amass wins, and they certainly did not have to get through a gauntlet in the playoffs. They are tough and resourceful, though, and extremely well coached. The Seahawks are more dominant, especially on defense, but their offensive firepower is modest, for the most part. Does Drake Maye’s youth or Sam Darnold’s past issues become a storyline and the deciding factor?
Betting on the NFL?
STEVE SERBY: Seahawks 23, Patriots 20
No shootout between Sam Darnold and Drake Maye. An old-fashioned knockdown, drag-out slugfest dictated by elite defenses where one mistake will prove deadly. Drake Maye makes that mistake.
MIKE VACCARO: Seahawks 27, Patriots 21
Sam Darnold writes the final chapter on one of football’s great storybook tales. A tough week for Robert Kraft gets just a little bit tougher. But the Pats will be back.