It’s somewhat curious when you consider the 2025 NFL season. Often, you can make a claim on how well a team has done by comparing their record to the SoS (strength of schedule) that was laid out before them.
Both the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots had an easier-than-average SoS, with the Seahawks opponents clocking in at a .474 win record in 2024, and the Patriots (deemed one of the easiest in the league) at .429. Both teams finished with a 14-3 record, but there has been a slightly critical element thrown at the Patriots, suggesting they had things much easier.
The Seahawks are favored to win in the Super Bowl game odds from DraftKings, coming in at -230 with the Patriots at +130. And one of the big reasons for that is an assumption that the Seahawks have come through tougher tests.
The Seahawks’ season was tougher on paper
On one hand, you can see where it comes from. The Seahawks beat more playoff-bound teams on the way to the postseason than the Patriots, and they also came through the Playoffs with seriously impressive wins over the 49ers and Rams. The victory over the latter is exactly what you want to look for with the phrase “battle-hardened”.
The Patriots, meanwhile, had the benefit of that 10-game stretch from September to December, where the level of opponent was mostly weak. The Jets, Giants, Falcons, Browns, Bengals, Saints, and Titans were all beaten down by that 10-game winning streak. Not all terrible teams, but let’s say that Mike Vrabel would have been happy looking at the schedule.
The perception of the Patriots having a bit of luck extended to the Playoffs. The Texans were really limp in offense over the Wild Card round, CJ Stroud was like a deer caught in the headlights in the divisional round, and they had the luxury of playing Denver without its starting quarterback in a strange game in the snow in the AFC Conference Final.
Vrabel has made the Patriots highly adaptable
So, yes, you can argue that the Seahawks are the most battle-hardened, but one should not consider that alone. In fact, the Patriots have had a knack – and all credit to Vrabel for this – of adapting to different teams’ styles. Yes, it’s going to be a huge challenge against the most balanced team in the NFL this season, but it can be done.
And that perhaps is our point. The Patriots have 17 wins so far this season, and they have arrived at the Super Bowl on merit, not luck. You can only beat what is put in front of you in sports, and the Patriots have done that, rarely looking like they were under threat at most points of the season after hitting their stride. They have grown into the season, learning game management and nous as the campaign has worn on.
The Seahawks fully deserve to be the favorites for Super Bowl LX. As mentioned, they have been the best all-around team in the NFL this season, and they, too, grew into the campaign, getting better across the winter. But we have seen predictions for Seattle across the board, and it might not just be as simple as that.
Main Image: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
