Sunday night brings American sport’s most watched spectacle back into focus, and this year it arrives without a script. Super Bowl LX pitches the Seattle Seahawks against the New England Patriots, two franchises shaped by recent reinvention rather than nostalgia, meeting in California with very different kinds of history on the line.
For New England, this is a chance to stand alone. Six Super Bowl titles already place the Patriots among the NFL’s elite, tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but victory at Levi’s Stadium would give them an unprecedented seventh ring. For Seattle, the story is about return and renewal. This is their first Super Bowl appearance in more than a decade, and the feeling around the Seahawks suggests unfinished business rather than novelty.
It has been one of the most open NFL seasons in years, and the final reflects that unpredictability. No dynasty, no clear favourite, and no assumption that experience alone will decide the outcome.
Kick off comes late on Sunday night UK time, but the intrigue stretches far beyond the game itself.
New England Patriots: Rebuilt, Not Rebranded
The Patriots’ presence here would have seemed improbable twelve months ago. A 4 and 13 season, the post Brady hangover still lingering, and questions about identity dominated last year’s narrative. That has changed quickly.
Mike Vrabel’s arrival has reset the franchise without trying to relive its past. The emphasis has been on control, physicality and decision making, rather than spectacle. New England finished the regular season 14 and 3, one of the sharpest single season turnarounds in modern NFL history, and crucially they did it without leaning on nostalgia.
At the centre of it all is quarterback Drake Maye. At 23, he becomes one of the youngest Super Bowl starters ever, and his rise has been measured rather than flashy. Maye reads pressure well, manages tempo intelligently, and has shown a rare calm for someone still early in his career. This is not a quarterback being carried by circumstance, he has actively shaped New England’s run.
The Patriots defence has quietly followed suit. It lacks the fearsome reputation of past units, but it is disciplined, efficient, and difficult to exploit. In tight games this season, New England has been comfortable winning ugly, which matters in Super Bowls where mistakes are punished brutally.
If they win on Sunday, it will not feel like a throwback. It will feel like a franchise proving it can evolve.
Seattle Seahawks: Defence With Teeth, Offence With Belief
Seattle arrives with momentum and clarity. The Seahawks were strong throughout the season, emerging from one of the league’s most competitive divisions, and have looked increasingly assured as the stakes have risen.
Quarterback Sam Darnold’s story has been one of redemption. After stops that promised more than they delivered, Seattle offered him structure rather than pressure. The result has been a composed, confident quarterback who has delivered back to back 14 win seasons, something no player had achieved with different teams before him.
Darnold’s connection with wide receiver Jaxon Smith Njigba has been central to Seattle’s success. Smith Njigba led the league in receiving yards, but more importantly, he has become reliable in moments when games slow down. Third downs, red zone situations, late drives, Seattle has had answers.
Defensively, the Seahawks have rediscovered an identity. The unit has allowed the fewest points per game this season, and while comparisons to the Legion of Boom era are tempting, this version feels more adaptable. Less swagger, more awareness.
Head coach Mike Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde have built a system that reacts quickly, disguises intent, and forces quarterbacks into second guesses. Against a young quarterback like Maye, that could be decisive.
Seattle are favourites with bookmakers, but not by much. This feels like a matchup where belief matters as much as execution.
The Game Beyond the Game
Super Bowl LX carries weight beyond football. The half time show will be headlined by Bad Bunny, marking the first solo male Latin artist to take the stage, with the performance expected to be delivered entirely in Spanish. It is a cultural moment as much as an entertainment one, reflecting a sport increasingly aware of its global audience.
There is also the quiet presence of British influence on the sidelines. Aden Durde’s rise within the NFL coaching ranks has been closely watched, and a Seahawks victory would mark the first time a British coach played such a central role in a Super Bowl winning team.
Off the field, the event arrives amid wider political tension in the United States, with discussions around immigration enforcement and public safety intersecting uncomfortably with a broadcast that regularly draws well over 120 million viewers domestically.
As ever, the Super Bowl sits at the intersection of sport, culture and power.
How to Watch Super Bowl LX Live in LibertyShield Supported Countries
Super Bowl LX kicks off at 23.30 GMT on Sunday 8 February, with extensive build up across television, radio and streaming platforms.
United Kingdom
UK viewers are well served this year. The game will be broadcast live on Channel 5, offering free to air coverage, as well as on Sky Sports for subscribers who want in depth analysis and extended build up. DAZN is also carrying the game, with streaming access available across supported devices.
BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra will provide live radio commentary, with additional coverage on BBC Sounds and live text updates via the BBC Sport website and app.
Ireland
In Ireland, coverage mirrors the UK closely. Sky Sports will broadcast the game live, with DAZN providing streaming access. Radio coverage is available via UK based stations, which remain widely accessible across Ireland.
United States
In the US, NBC is the host broadcaster for Super Bowl LX. Coverage will be available on NBC’s main television network, with streaming provided via Peacock. This year’s broadcast is expected to be among the most watched in American television history once again.
Canada
Canadian viewers can watch live via DAZN, which holds exclusive NFL streaming rights in the country. Traditional television coverage is also available through CTV and TSN, depending on region and subscription.
Spain, France and Germany
Across continental Europe, Super Bowl coverage remains accessible via a mix of free to air broadcasters and streaming platforms. DAZN continues to play a central role, particularly in Germany and Spain, while free to air coverage is often available through national broadcasters in France and Germany, usually with local language commentary.
Coverage quality has improved significantly in recent years, with full studio analysis and pre game programming now standard across most major European markets.
Watch live Super Bowl LX free from anywhere
One of the realities of global sport is that coverage varies by country. Broadcast rights, platform access and streaming availability often change depending on location, which can complicate viewing plans for people travelling during major sporting events.
This is where tools like LibertyShield VPN are commonly used. By securely connecting back to a home country server, viewers can access the same streaming services they would normally use, whether that is Channel 5, BBC radio coverage, or DAZN subscriptions, while maintaining privacy and security on public networks.
LibertyShield offers a 48-hour free trial, which can be useful for short trips or one-off events, without committing to long-term subscriptions.
What to Expect on Sunday Night
This Super Bowl does not feel like a coronation. It feels like a contest.
New England brings composure, structure and a quarterback learning fast. Seattle brings balance, defensive aggression and a sense that this moment has been building for some time. Neither side relies on myth. Both rely on preparation.
If the Patriots win, it will mark one of the most impressive rebuilds in recent NFL history. If the Seahawks lift the trophy, it will confirm that their return to relevance is no accident.
Either way, Super Bowl LX reflects a league in transition, and that may be what makes it compelling. No script, no certainty, just two teams that earned their place.
For viewers settling in late on Sunday night, that uncertainty is exactly the point.