Seahawks vs. Patriots Super Bowl Predictions: Expert Analysis and Score Picks

Welcome to Super Bowl weekend! It has been a long season, and sadly, it is coming to an end.

The two weeks between Conference Championship weekend and the Super Bowl sometimes feel longer than the entire season, especially as we know it's all over after that. It's not a surprise that so many people watch the big game; it's our last chance at NFL football for six months.

The experts at FantasySP wanted to share their thoughts on what to expect on Super Bowl Sunday. Morgan Rode and Daniel Hepner answered five questions about the final game of the NFL season and gave their pick for a winner.

Use FantasySP's Fantasy Assistant to link your teams and get advice on roster moves, lineup decisions, and more!

What will the game look like if the Seahawks win?

Daniel: Seattle is favored by around 4.5 points depending on the platform you're looking at, so a win probably means simply what the Seahawks have done all season. They allowed the fewest points this year (17.2 per game) while scoring the third most (28.4 per game), dominating work and the best point differential in football. If Seattle wins, it will be because they showed up and controlled the game the way they have all season, and there will probably be a deep shot to Jaxon Smith-Njigba mixed in.

Morgan: I think Seattle can win the Super Bowl in a couple different ways. I think the defense could dominate and help the team win a low-scoring game. I also think Seattle can rack up enough points to win a high-scoring game, just like it did in the NFC title game against Los Angeles.

What will the game look like if the Patriots win?

Daniel: This would be an uglier game. It's unlikely that this one turns into a shootout; New England allowed the fourth-fewest points this season. For them to win, the Patriots likely need to keep this a low-scoring game, and that could mean an ugly defensive struggle, like the Pats/Rams Super Bowl that ended 13-3 after the 2018 season. Even if more points are scored in this one, it could follow a similar path if New England walks away with the upset.

Morgan: I agree with Daniel on the low-scoring prediction. I don't see New England getting into a shootout in the big game - I don't think they have enough offensive firepower to hang with Seattle. It would need to be a very low-scoring game, and the Pats would need to create a couple takeaways and not turn the ball over themselves.

Outside of the quarterbacks, who is the biggest X-factor on either team who could factor most into the outcome of the game?

Daniel: Smith-Njigba is the best skill player in this game on either team. He just won a well-deserved Offensive Player of the Year award, and he has 13 catches, 172 yards, and two touchdowns in two playoff games. If New England gives up multiple deep shots, they might not be able to keep up with Seattle, making Smith-Njigba a potential game-winning player.

Morgan: The obvious answer is JSN, but I'll switch it up and say Kenneth Walker. He's the workhorse back for the Seahawks now, and he's starred in that role the past couple weeks. He can impact the game as a ball carrier and a pass catcher, and if New England keys in on JSN, Walker could be the difference in the final outcome.

Which unit will be the most important in this game? (Offense, defense, or special teams for Seattle or New England)

Daniel: New England's defense. I mentioned above that I see a low-scoring game as their best chance, maybe with Drake Maye making a play at the end to give his team the victory. The offense will likely gut out a few scores, but if the defense can help out with a short field or two and hold down Seattle's offense, then this game will be well within range for the Patriots to win.

Morgan: I'd say it's the New England offense. Yes, the defense is important, but if the offense cannot score, then even the best defensive effort probably won't matter. The Pats need to control the ball, tire the Seattle defense out, and score plenty of points - it's a tall task.

Give us your pick for the Super Bowl, including the score.

Daniel: I'm going with the upset: Patriots 17-13. Seattle will have a three-point lead until Maye leads a final drive, and instead of settling for the tying field goal, he will punch it into the end zone, giving his team the victory and winning the Super Bowl MVP after coming up short for the season-long award.

Morgan: I have the Seahawks winning this weekend. Seattle seems to be peaking at the right time, while New England kind of limped into the big game. It's just one game, and anything can happen, but it'd take an offensive disaster from Seattle/Sam Darnold to lose I think. I think Seattle wins 24-13, and it won't even feel that close.