Now that winter break is over, class is back in session, and the snow continues to fall. However, for some students and staff, the most wonderful time of the year is about to begin. Super Bowl LX will be taking place in Santa Clara, California. The wild card has just concluded this weekend and the stakes continue to grow.
The 2025-2026 regular season is over, and with that, 14 teams remain with a chance to win it all. Chatter between students and staff rings throughout the halls about the number one seeds, Denver and Seattle. One of the most inspirational stories in sports has emerged this season as Sam Darnold, a former draft bust, leads the Seahawks to a first-round bye and potential title.
Picking a clear winner this year would surely prove difficult, given the absence of some of the best teams in recent years. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Students make their pick every year and try to predict their favorites. Even staff, including WMC English teacher Mr. Brawer, shared their favorites. “I think it’s hard to pick against Seattle. Defense wins championships…But I think it might be Buffalo’s year.” Brawer stated. Since the Seattle Seahawks are the number one seed this year, this pick makes sense.
While Seattle enters as the top seed, their climb to the top was not always this easy. Quarterback Sam Darnold and his journey to success have been inspiring not only to athletes alike but also to sports fanatics around the country. Following his first 3 seasons, Darnold attained a 13-25 record. Darnold still struggled to find success on 3 different teams. This year, Seattle earned a 14-3 record. Fans across the league were stunned. WMC history teacher Mr.Jacobsen gave his opinion on this comeback story. “ I think it shows that you never give up…If you have a hungry player, a hungry team, that kind of leads to success,” Jacobsen stated. This begs the question: Will Darnold’s drive for success take him all the way?
With the divisional round approaching, it is so hard to tell who is going to win. Ultimately, there is a divide in people preaching that certain teams are overrated. There are no statistics that prove right now that any remaining teams are overrated or underrated. “I just think they’re all so even. There’s no standout, and they all have flaws. So it’s hard to really overrate but also underrate” Brawer claimed. Each remaining team has seen success against challenging teams and easier opponents. This weekend will show where the winning teams remain in terms of rating.
As the postseason continues, there are fans whose team did not make the cut this year. Students and staff debate potential upsets and which team has the momentum to survive next year’s trip. “I’d like to see the Bengals in the Super Bowl”, Jacobsen said as an avid Bengals fan. Overall, it has become an annual tradition to tune into the NFL playoffs, regardless of who makes it. As the anticipation continues to grow, the Lombardi trophy could still belong to anyone.
