With just days to go until Super Bowl LX, EA has once again made its bold prediction for the NFL’s biggest game of the year. Using Madden NFL 26 for its annual simulation, the publisher has revealed how it believes the matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will play out.
The last time these two teams faced off in the Super Bowl was Super Bowl XLIX in 2015, when Madden famously nailed the outcome. It correctly predicted the Patriots’ 28–24 victory, including the exact final score. That perfect call has only added to the intrigue surrounding this year’s simulation.
This time around, Seahawks fans have reason to be optimistic. According to Madden NFL 26, Seattle is projected to defeat New England 23–20 in Super Bowl LX. Seattle Seahawks quarterbak Sam Darnold will silence critics once and for all with 289 passing yards and two touchdown passes, earning him MVP honors for Super Bowl LX.
Other notable predictions include six receptions, 84 receiving yards and one touchdown for Seattle standout wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Kenneth Walker III, the Seahawks running back, is predicted to rush for 76 yards, while catching four passes for 41 yards, including scoring the game-winning touchdown. Cooper Kupp is also expected to catch a touchdown pass in the game.
EA doesn't specifically mention Drake Maye's stat line, instead noting that wide receiver Kayshon Boutte posts five receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown. The only other Patriots touchdown is a fumble recovery return by Christian Gonzalez.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the simulation is that it calls for a dramatic echo of Super Bowl XLIX. Fans will remember that infamous moment in 2015, when the Seahawks had the ball at the one-yard line with 26 seconds remaining, only for Russell Wilson’s interception to seal a Patriots victory instead of a handoff to Marshawn Lynch.
According to EA’s Madden NFL 26 simulation, history nearly repeats itself in Super Bowl LX — but with a very different ending. Trailing by three points late in the fourth quarter, Seattle gets the ball back with just 42 seconds remaining. Sam Darnold then leads a frantic, last-second drive that moves the Seahawks to the five-yard line with time for only one final play.
Rather than settling for a game-tying field goal, Seattle opts to go for the win. This time, the ball is handed off, and Kenneth Walker punches it into the end zone as time expires, delivering a walk-off touchdown. Final score: Seahawks 23, Patriots 20.
For those who run casual pools like Super Bowl squares, here are the predicted score outcomes for the end of each quarter:
- End of the first quarter: Seattle Seahawks 7, New England Patriots 0
- At halftime: Seattle Seahawks 14, New England Patriots 3
- End of the third quarter: Seattle Seahawks 17, New England Patriots 17
- Final score: Seattle Seahawks 23, New England Patriots 20
"Every day, fans play up to 23,000 NFL seasons in Madden NFL, with more than 2 billion games played in a given year. Our ratings systems, locomotion data, and engine power an incredibly sophisticated simulation,” said Evan Dexter, VP of Franchise Strategy and Marketing. “Millions of fans wait for Madden to make the call, since our prediction is the only one that matters. We accurately predicted the Seahawks-Patriots matchup in 2015, and now, over a decade later, we're giving Seahawks fans a reason to get very excited.”
Madden has correctly predicted the winner of the previous two Super Bowls, but going back to 2017, the series hovers around 50% accuracy. For the past 10 Super Bowls, Madden has a prediction record of 5-4, so take this simulation with a grain of salt and don't go gambling away your life savings.