The NFL’s 60th Super Bowl was on Feb. 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots met again at the Super Bowl after 12 years.
Here’s a quick recap of how the Seahawks and Patriots made it to Super Bowl 60:
AFC – Wild Card
The Denver Broncos ended the regular season record 14-3 and as AFC West champions, the Denver Broncos had a first-round bye during the Wild Card round (because they had the best regular season record in the conference) and advanced to the divisional round.
Two out of the three games in the Wild Card ended in upsets.
The first AFC Wild Card game was the Buffalo Bills (6) vs the Jacksonville Jaguars (3). The Bills kept a lead against the Jaguars from the first to third quarter, ending at a 13-10 score. With two touchdowns from both teams in the fourth quarter, the Bills ended up winning 27-24 and proceeded to the divisional round to play against the Denver Broncos.
The Houston Texans (5) beat the Pittsburgh Steelers (4). The Steelers maintained a 0-3 lead throughout the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Texans scored a touchdown, and the Steelers received another field goal, keeping the score at 7-6. In the fourth quarter, the Texans scored three touchdowns and a field goal to win 30-6, and advanced to the divisional round.
The New England Patriots (2) beat the Los Angeles Chargers (7) in the only non-upset game of this round. There was no scoring in the first quarter. The Patriots got three field goals in the second and third quarters, and the Chargers got one in the first quarter. In the fourth quarter, with four minutes left in the game (9-3), the Patriots scored the only touchdown of the game and extended the lead, finishing the game 16-3. The Patriots advanced to the divisional round to face the Houston Texans.
NFC – Wild Card
The Seattle Seahawks ended the regular season with a 14-3 record and as NFC West champions. They also skipped the Wild Card round and went on to the divisional round.
Playing the first playoff game of the season, the Carolina Panthers (4) lost against the Los Angeles Rams (5) in a close game. By the end of the third quarter, they were down 20-17. After two touchdowns from each team, the game ended at 34-31 with a win for the Los Angeles Rams.
Later that day, the Chicago Bears (2) beat the Green Bay Packers (7). In a game that the Packers basically had secured, they were up 21-6 to end the third quarter. In the last five minutes of the game, the Bears scored two touchdowns and won the game 27-31. They went on to the divisional round to play against the Los Angeles Rams.
The San Francisco 49ers (6) beat last year’s Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles (3). They played a close game and were down 17-16 after the 49ers scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Eagles made one field goal, but with the 49ers scoring another touchdown, they won the game 23-19 and proceeded to the next round to play against the Seattle Seahawks.
AFC – Divisional Round
The Bills and the Broncos played a close game, but the Broncos kept a consistent lead throughout. With two minutes left in the second quarter, they tied until the Broncos scored a touchdown and a field goal and ended it at 10-20. By the end of the fourth quarter, they were tied, 30-30, and went into overtime. The Broncos won with a field goal 30-33.
The Texans held a brief lead in the second quarter against the Patriots 10-21, with the Patriots taking the lead. The Texans made two more field goals in the third quarter but didn’t manage to catch up. The Patriots increased thier lead with a touchdown and won the game 16-28.
The Broncos and the Patriots faced each other in the AFC Championship game.
NFC – Divisional Round
With two touchdowns and a field goal in the first quarter, the Seahawks led the game against the 49ers 0-17. In the second quarter, the 49ers scored two field goals, and the Seahawks scored another touchdown, ending the quarter 6-24. By the end of the fourth quarter, the Seahawks won 6-41 against the 49ers.
The Rams and the Bears played a very close game. In the first quarter, the Rams scored a touchdown and kept the lead until the Bears scored a touchdown in the second quarter. Both teams made field goals and ended the quarter at 10-10. Neither team managed to score in the third quarter. With a touchdown from each team, they ended the fourth quarter at 17-17 and went into overtime. The Rams took the win with a field goal of 17-20.
The Seahawks and the Rams then faced each other in the NFC Championship game.
AFC Championship Game
The last time the Broncos made it to the AFC Championship was in 2016, where they beat the Patriots and proceeded to win Super Bowl 50 against the Carolina Panthers.
This time around, the Patriots and the Broncos played a close game. The Broncos maintained a lead through the first quarter from scoring a touchdown but the Patriots tied it in the second. In the third quarter, the Patriots made a field goal, and the score remained the same for the rest of the game. The Patriots won the game 10-7.
The Patriots became AFC Champions and went on to the Super Bowl.
This is the Patriots’ first Super Bowl appearance since 2018, when they beat the Rams, 13-3.
NFC Championship Game
The Seahawks kept the lead from the first quarter, ending at 3-10 against the Rams. In the second quarter, the Rams scored a field goal and a touchdown and maintained a brief 13-10 lead. The Seahawks scored another touchdown and ended the quarter at 13-17. The third quarter ended with two touchdowns from each team, but it was not enough for the Rams to win. The game ended at 31-27, a win for the Seahawks.
The Seahawks became NFC Champions and went on to play against the Patriots in the Super Bowl.
The last time the Seahawks made it to the Super Bowl was in 2015, where they lost against the Patriots, 28-24.
Three NC State Alumni played in this year’s Super Bowl. Patriots center, Garrett Bradbury (#65), and defensive tackle Cory Durden (#94). For the Seahawks, linebacker Drake Thomas (#42). This is the 13thyear in a row that Wolfpack alumni have participated in the Super Bowl.
The Super Bowl kicked off at 6:30 pm EST. It was a big night for Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (#5) and their defense, but it wasn’t such a great night for Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (#10).
In the first quarter, Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (#14) threw an incomplete pass to wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (#22). With one down left, Myers completed a field goal, marking the first points of the Super Bowl and a 3-0 score.
Quickly setting the tone for the Seahawks defense, linebacker Derick Hall (#58) broke down the Patriots’ play, sacking Maye and bringing the Patriots back 10 yards. With four minutes left in the first quarter, Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (#21)sacked Maye again. They ended the quarter at 3-0.
The Seahawks moved in a similar fashion during the second quarter. Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (#9) also had an impressive run this quarter with back-to-back rushes.
With two more incomplete plays, Myers scored two more field goals for the Seahawks. They extended their lead to 9-0. Despite not scoring, the Patriots still managed to hold the Seahawks to only field goals by the end of the first half.
This year’s Bad Bunny performed the Apple Music Halftime Show, featuring performances by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. Other stars Karol G, Cardi B and Jessica Alba were also present throughout the performance, showcasing Puerto Rico through the various set designs and songs performed.
After halftime, the Patriots continued their struggle against the Seahawks’ defense. The Seahawks are again extending their lead, 12-0, through a field goal.
Towards the end of the third quarter, Maye was sacked again by Derick Hall, and the ball was recovered by Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (#91).
Things finally changed in the fourth quarter for both teams.
Darnold passes the ball 16 yards to tight end AJ Barner (#88) and marks the first touchdown of the game. Myers completed the extra point (19-0).
With a good 24-yard pass by Maye to wide receiver Mack Hollins (#13), the Patriots were set up for their first touchdown and first time scoring during this game. Maye passed the ball 35 yards to Hollins, and he scored a touchdown. Kicker Andy Borregales (#36) completed the extra point (19-7).
The Seahawks made another field goal, marking Myers’ fifth field goal of the game (22-7).
Maye intended for the ball to make it to wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (#9), but was taken down by Witherspoon and intercepted by Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (#7). Nwosu then took the ball 45 yards and scored a touchdown, and Myers kicked the extra point, extending the Seahawks’ lead (29-7).
After a 10-yard penalty during their play, Maye passed the ball to running back Rhamondre Stevenson (#38) and scored the Patriots’ second touchdown. In a two-point conversion attempt, Maye’s pass to tight end Hunter Henry failed, and left the score at 29-13.
With the end of the fourth quarter, the Seattle Seahawks officially became two-time Super Bowl Champions. Their first Super Bowl win was in 2013 against the Denver Broncos (43-8).
In this intense defense-heavy game, the Seahawks made up for their Super Bowl loss against the Patriots in 2015, where they lost 28-24.
After an impressive run in this Super Bowl game, Kenneth Walker III was named MVP. Walker rushed a total of 135 yards and 27 carries.
Myers ended the game with five field goals made through the entire game, setting the record for most field goals in a Super Bowl.
This was an impressive game for the players but also for Seahawks Head Coach Mike Macdonald, who is in his second year with the team, now Super Bowl champions.
Now that the NFL season has officially wrapped up, we look forward to next year’s lineup of matchups and see if the Patriots will be able to make up for their Super Bowl loss.
