The NFL is denying the now-viral conspiracy theory that a graphic released in September revealed the matchup for Super Bowl LX.
This year’s Super Bowl will feature a matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, who will face off on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. But many online believe that the NFL actually revealed the matchup back in September.
The Patriots are headed back to the big game after a “long” six year drought that no doubt had to be tough on spoiled fans who were used to winning every year with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
It’s also the team’s first year under new head coach Mike Vrabel, who was fired by the Tennessee Titans following the 2023 season, and the first full season for Drake Maye as starting quarterback.
It didn’t look good for the Patriots early on in the AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos, with the game tied going into halftime thanks pretty much entirely to a turnover that led to an easy score for New England.
But heavy snow began to fall on Mile High Stadium in the second half that made moving the ball difficult and scoring nearly impossible. The Patriots managed to get a field goal on their opening drive of the third quarter, which ended up being the difference in the game as New England would go on to secure their spot in the Super Bowl with a 10-7 win over Denver.
On the other side of the league, the NFC Championship Game was a high-scoring shootout between two powerhouse offenses, with the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks combining for 58 points. Ultimately though, a muffed punt by Los Angeles led to a quick Seattle score that proved to be the difference in the game, with Sam Darnold throwing three touchdown passes to lead the Seahawks to a 31-27 victory.
The Super Bowl appearance is a redemption of sorts for Sam Darnold, who was drafted by the New York Jets in 2018 and since then has played for the Carolina Panthers, the San Francisco 49ers and most recently, the Minnesota Vikings.
After the matchup was set though, fans noticed what they thought was a clue in a graphic posted way back in September.
Notice the two players standing side by side, directly in front of the Lombardi Trophy? Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold.
Naturally, that led to all kinds of conspiracy theories (or jokes about them) that the NFL is scripted and that the Super Bowl matchup has been planned all season long:
I’m sure the NFL thought they were done with these allegations, after the viral logo color conspiracy that’s surfaced in years past seemed to die off this year. But here we are yet again.
Well NFL Vice President of Communications Brian McCarthy quickly put out a statement on social media shooting down the “rigged” allegations, issuing a pretty brief – and blunt – statement:
“Re: the “controversy” over this image – no.”
That settles it, right? Surely everybody will calm down now, resting assured that the league has denied any funny business going on.
Yeah, that’s never going to happen. But it’s still hilarious that they addressed it.
