Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold has played through an oblique injury the past two weeks, and head coach Mike Macdonald acknowledged he would be “sore” following the NFC Championship win over the Los Angeles Rams in Monday's press conference.
With Super Bowl LX not until Sunday, February 8, how does Darnold’s injury impact the NFL odds ahead of his meeting with the New England Patriots in the big game?
Is Sam Darnold playing in Super Bowl LX?
With oodles of time to rest and recover, I fully expect Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold to be behind center for Super Bowl LX.
Enjoying Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account
Sam Darnold's season-to-date performance
The injury hasn’t prevented Darnold from playing at an elite level this postseason, and he’s paced all quarterbacks in adjusted EPA per play, success rate, and completion percentage during the playoffs.
Darnold also strung together sterling statistics during the regular season while leading the Seahawks to the No. 1 seed in the NFC and throwing for a career-high 8.5 yards per attempt and 67.7 completion percentage.
Who do I bet on if Sam Darnold doesn't play?
Seattle would turn to backup Drew Lock if Darnold is unable to suit up, and this spread would move considerably to the New England Patriots side.
While Lock started two games for the Seahawks in 2023 and another five last year with the New York Giants, this would still be his first career postseason start and on the biggest stage.
Lock has shown off excellent arm strength and athleticism, but his career 59.6 completion percentage and 40.7 passing success rate are troublesome marks. He’d struggle against a New England defense trending in the right direction.
As a result, the total for Super Bowl LX would also plummet, and we’d likely see the receiving yards totals for the Seattle wideouts and tight ends also dip.
In the hypothetical (and unlikely) situation that Darnold is ruled out, I’d look to a first-half Under bet — depending on the total — because I expect the Seattle defense to hold New England quarterback Drake Maye in check early, while both offenses also try to establish the running game early.
I’d also expect the Seahawks to start ultra conservatively if Lock were behind center to start Super Bowl LX, which would further help keep the total Under the number in the opening half.
How to watch Super Bowl LX
| Location | Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, CA |
| Date | Sunday, February 8, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 6:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | NBC |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
