Super Bowl 60 live blog: Patriots face Seahawks for NFL title

The Super Bowl can’t come soon enough for supporters of the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots. New York Jets fans, however, might choose to skip the game altogether.

They’ll witness one of two scenarios play out Sunday: Either their former quarterback and presumed savior of the franchise, Sam Darnold, will lead Seattle to its first NFL championship since 2014 or New England, their hated rival, will add to its stuffed trophy case.

For Jordan Kamzan, a 34-year-old from Long Beach, New York, it’s not a difficult choice.

“It could be anyone playing the Patriots,” he said, “I would be cheering for him.”

Seahawks’ hybrid safety/linebacker/nickelback Nick Emmanwori is perhaps the key to this whole game.

Though only a rookie, Emmanwori’s ability to play the run and pass equally great has been the key to the Seahawks’ incredible defense. After tweaking his ankle during practice in the lead up to the Super Bowl, Emmanwori has since been taken off the injury report, but any hitch in his game would be a boon for the Patriots.

Otherwise, Emmanwori is the kind of player who can single-handedly wreck offensive drives. New England’s No. 1 objective may be trying to neutralize what Seattle does when its defense is in a nickel package on early downs.

There are few corners of the planet where you won't be able to watch today's big game.

Here's a guide of where to find the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.

The NFL has been aggressively pushing its product overseas, with games regularly held outside U.S. borders. There will be six such international contests next season.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has a message for NFL fans: "Don’t fumble the ball on Super Bowl tickets!"

The official posted to X last week urging people to do their research and purchase tickets from authorized vendors.

“We all enjoy going to live shows and games to see our favorite artists or sports teams, but unfortunately scammers prey on our excitement,” Bonta said in a statement. “Today I remind Californians: If you see hawking — or suspicious ticket reselling — protect yourself by following the tips we provide. If you have fallen victim to a scam or suspect fraudulent activity, be a patriot and submit a complaint. You can file a report with my office at oag.ca.gov/report as well as the Better Business Bureau and the FBI’s Internet Complaint Center.” 

Retired cornerback Malcolm Butler said his circle of friends — and even his family tree — have inexplicably grown over the past 11 years. 

Perhaps it’s due to his famed interception on Feb. 1, 2015, stealing a Super Bowl trophy for his New England Patriots and sending Seattle Seahawks fans into despair.

The play made for a cherished lifetime memory, put Butler on long-term financial security and as he put in an interview with the Patriots website: “You got new cousins, you got new friends!”

A father and daughter from Bellingham, Massachusetts, have been to every New England Patriots Super Bowl, and they are back this year — with a third generation in tow.

The Murray family duo has not missed a Super Bowl that New England has been in, including the six they won in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2015, 2017, and 2019.

John Murray started this tradition when his daughter, Shayna, was a kid.

“I’ve been a season ticket holder since 1971,” he explained to NBC10 Boston. “In 1986 we made the Super Bowl, she was 7 years old.”

This Super Bowl will be the 12th for Shayna and John Murray, and they have a new team member with them -- now almost 7-year-old Savanna.

Veteran DE Leonard Williams sits down with Chris Simms ahead of the Super Bowl, diving into the "Dark Side" defense origins, why playing in Seattle has made football "fun" again, and how he "bought into" Mike Macdonald.

On Thursday, the NFL announced that Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford had won the league's MVP award. But he just barely edged out the Patriots' Drake Maye in the closest MVP race since 2003, when Peyton Manning and Steve McNair shared the award. Here's how this year's voting broke down:

Stafford: 366 total points, 24 first-place votes

Maye: 361 total points, 23 first-place votes

There were three other first-place votes that went to other players: the Bills' Josh Allen (2), and the Chargers' Justin Herbert (1).

Matthew Berry, Jay Croucher, and Connor Rogers share how bettors can get involved with Super Bowl LX novelty props, with looks at DraftKings Sportsbook's markets beyond regular player props.

About a decade ago, the last time the Seahawks and Patriots played in the Super Bowl, Michael Gervais stood on the Seattle sideline as the final moments played out: the Seahawks marching downfield, Malcolm Butler’s shocking interception, Seattle left slack-jawed as New England celebrated.

Gervais isn’t a player or a coach. He’s a performance psychologist. After that game, he played an important role: helping the Seahawks process the gut-wrenching loss. Gervais had been hired a few years prior by Pete Carroll, then the Seahawks’ head coach, who believed in developing players mentally, not just physically, at a time when sports psychology wasn’t as mainstream.

“He made it part of the water we were drinking,” Gervais told NBC News. “It was part of the air we were breathing. It was embedded through the culture.”

This season, the Seahawks’ culture had a new project: the redemption of quarterback Sam Darnold.

The Federal Aviation Administration reminded Bay Area drone pilots that flying near Levi’s stadium could cost them.

The agency posted a notice to X, which included a map of the restricted zone. The temporary flight restriction will begin this morning and runs until after the game. The post came with a warning that violators could face fines. 

The Pats might have their "Eyes on 7," but the number in mind here might really be 1, as in the number of titles they hope to have without Tom Brady on the field.

The team's six titles all came between 2002 and 2019 with TB12 under center.

With Drake Maye calling the signals today, this will be New England's second Super Bowl appearance without Brady in charge. The 1985-86 squad that lost to the powerful Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl were led by Steve Grogan.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Ben VanHouten / AP file

On Thursday, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle's top wide receiver, was named NFL offensive player of the year. In his third season out of Ohio State, Smith-Njigba emerged as a bona fide star, catching 119 passes for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns. His precise route-running set him apart; he always seemed to get open.

In the playoffs, Smith-Njigba has elevated his play even more. In the NFC Championship game, a close win over the Rams, he caught 10 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown.

As dawn broke over Northern California, ticket prices to today’s game appear to be falling — but are still more than $3,000.

Shortly after 7:00 a.m. PST, the cheapest pair of seats via secondary sellers StubHub and Ticketmaster were at $3,789 apiece.

A week ago, the lowest prices were close to $5,000.

Since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, a Super Bowl has never featured two opponents that each rank in the top-four in both scoring offense, and how many points they allow on defense. Until this year.

The Seahawks rank third offensively (28.4 points per game) and first defensively (17.2 allowed).

The Patriots are a tick better offensively, ranking second at 28.8 points per game, while allowing 18.8 points (fourth).

Michigan native and veteran NFL referee Shawn Smith will be officiating his first Super Bowl later today.

Smith's crew is set to include umpire Roy Ellison, side judge Eugene Hall, back judge Greg Steed, down judge Dana McKenzie, line judge Julian Mapp and field judge Jason Ledet.

And if there are any questions on the calls, Andrew Lambert is set to help out as the replay official.

The 54-year-old Smith is a corporate manager for a major health insurer near Detroit, according to Football Zebras.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold will be playing on his sport’s biggest stage — and he might have basketball to thank for it? 

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold. Nick Wass / AP

In an age of sports specialization, with elite young athletes being increasingly pushed to concentrate on just one craft, Darnold said putting down the pigskin in favor of the roundball every winter played a key role in his development.

His tape as a basketball player at San Clemente High School, in California, helped draw interest from USC football recruiters, who were impressed with his overall athleticism. 

“I feel like playing multiple sports was huge for me,” the 6-foot-3 Darnold told reporters at the team's headquarters in San Jose. “I loved playing basketball. I always say basketball was kind of my first love, especially being close to L.A. and (late basketball legend) Kobe (Bryant) being a huge inspiration.”

He added: “So yeah, I love basketball and I’m just grateful that USC saw that film and was able to offer me (a scholarship) for football.”

Watch Bad Bunny talk about tonight's show during a press conference last week.

Bad Bunny ahead of Super Bowl halftime show: 'I'm excited'

02:10

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye sits down with Maria Taylor to reminisce on attending Super Bowl 50 at Levi's Stadium as a child, discuss what family means to him, react to messages from his teammates, and more.