The Patriots travel to Seattle this Wednesday for a Super Bowl rematch against the Seahawks, but New England is hoping to avoid any sense of déjà vu after a disappointing performance in February.
“We will have to block them better,” HC Mike Vrabel told reporters this week. “We will have to be able to run the football better. We will have to be able to stop the run better. There are a lot of things that we are going to have to do better based on the personnel that they have.”
The Patriots added several offensive reinforcements after an anemic playoff run, headlined by shiny new weapons like WR A.J. Brown, WR Romeo Doubs, and FB Reggie Gilliam. The defense returns most starters from its impressive late-season stretch, though All-Pro Kevin Byard III could be seen as an upgrade over current Raven Jaylinn Hawkins.
The Seahawks have incredible continuity for a Super Bowl champion, returning 90% of their Super Bowl roster, but they did lost key contributors in CB Riq Woolen, SAF Coby Bryant, and HB Kenneth Walker III. Top FB Robbie Ouzts is also on short-term injured reserve.
Many have tabbed this as a revenge game for the Patriots, and that’s certainly true to an extend. But for Drake Maye, it’s more about turning the page on a new season.
“You like to think it’s a new year,” Maye said. “You like to think that, but at the same time, you could go against an opponent that you just lost a Super Bowl against. In the last game that I played and was out there, we lost to them in the biggest game. That’s why you play the game for. So there’s definitely, I would not say extra, just a little bit of, man, this is our chance to start the season off strong on a good foot and knowing that the opponent that we have. You get to say, you get a little bit of a, you get your revenge game, but I would not say revenge game. They won the big one, and we got to start the season off. You cannot get that game back that we lost, so we are onto something new.”
Here’s how the Patriots can put up a tougher fight in round two against HC Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks.
Establish the Run
Facing Seattle’s defense is tough enough without tying one hand behind your back. That’s what the Patriots did in the Super Bowl by quickly abandoning their ground game and, with it, any sense of unpredictability. During training camp, Maye acknowledged the need for more diversity when asked about the Seahawks’ success bringing pressure.
“I think just finding ways to not have the score put into a pass, dropback game, where we can use play action, we can use running the football and not just having a dropback game where they can kind of pin their ears back and fire at us,” Maye said.
During the Super Bowl, New England’s running backs combined for a season-low 42 rushing yards while tying a season-low with 13 carries. They were also held to their third-fewest yards after contact per rush and zero explosives. The raw stats were unimpressive, but efficiency metrics show the run game largely stayed on schedule when called upon.
Rhamondre Stevenson was successful on four of his seven of his carries, including three positive runs behind RG Mike Onwenu and/or RT Morgan Moses. TreVeyon Henderson found success on just two of his six carries, but both of those plus gains came on wide runs to the left early in the third quarter.
One major key in the rematch will be getting a hat on LB Ernest Jones, who was unblocked to end or disrupt several carries. An improved performance from Jared Wilson—who is at his natural center spot after spending last year at guard—will also be crucial, and LT Will Campbell and LG Alijah Vera-Tucker’s blooming chemistry will also be tested against Seattle’s blitzes and stunts.
As the saying goes, it’s about the Jimmys and Joes, not the Xs and Os, but more scheme diversity will also be a big boost for the Patriots. The offense used 11 personnel on over 80% of Super Bowl snaps while almost exclusively running while in base groupings.
Deploying heavier groupings will test S Nick Emmaowori’s “iffy” ankle if the slot defender is active. If he isn’t, it could force Seattle into more base defenses or place a bullseye on whoever replaces Emmanwori inside. Either way, staying multi-dimensional must be a top priority.
Protect Drake Maye
The Patriots’ pass protection had its worst outing of the year against Seattle, allowing pressure on nearly 50% of dropbacks. Campbell and former Patriots C Garrett Bradbury each gave up half a dozen pressures, while Wilson and Onwenu tied with four pressures allowed.
Campbell was walked back multiple times while playing on a sprained MCL, though he also suffered quick outside losses against DeMarcus Lawrence and Uchenna Nwosu. That blindside inconsistency, combined with minimal room to step up and poor stunt pickups, was largely to blame for the offense’s slow start. And while the Seahawks only blitzed 11 times, their pressure schemes were devastatingly effective.
After ranking third in the NFL with a 116.7 passer rating against the blitz last regular season, Maye was held to a ghastly 8.3 rating when blitzed in the Super Bowl, 13.2 worse than his previous career low from Week 12, 2024 in Miami. Those numbers were reflected on the field, as Maye was forced to throw quickly or face instant pressure.
By sending Jones and Emmanwori to occupy Stevenson, or dialing up well-timed creepers with an unconventional four-man rush, Seattle was able to scheme free runways for CB Devon Witherspoon out of the slot. The league’s current highest-paid corner came unblocked for a sack and two hits, including one that led to a late pick-six. Even when protections were sound, the offense failed to capitalize and move the ball.
The offensive line should take a step forward with interior upgrades and healthier tackles, but communication will be tested in a raucous environment, and Campbell and Wilson must prove they can be sturdier and more technically sound with a full season under their belts.
Maye must also do his part to get the offense into its best plays, set the right protections, get the ball out on time, and lead receivers into space. Fortunately, this season’s emphasis on tempo and a wider menu of pre-snap adjustments should better equip Maye to put Seattle’s defense on the back foot than he was in year one with McDaniels.
Minimize Explosive Runs
The Patriots’ defense put forth a valiant effort in the Super Bowl, holding the Seahawks to their second-lowest success rate of the season (35.2%) despite playing a whopping 71 snaps, their second-most in a game all year.
However, playing from ahead allowed Seattle to commit to their run game and keep Sam Darnold in a supporting role. It wasn’t a consistently effective strategy, but Walker III managed to find a handful of explosives in his 27 attempts.
Walker used his patience to find late creases up the middle, but the run defense’s most glaring issues came on the perimeter. Walker bounced an outside zone carry outside of Jennings against a 4-3 stack, caught New England sleeping on pin-pull against a rush front, and raced to the edge on a toss against a six-man line.
Walker has since been replaced by Notre Dame product Jadarian Price, and while he may not have Walker’s rare feel, the rookie brings plenty of explosiveness and vision to the Seahawks’ backfield.
“I know that Jadarian’s got great speed,” Vrabel said. “He’s a slasher. He’ll test edges. He’s got great patience. … So, the speed, I think, is real.”
The Patriots are hoping ED Dre’Mont Jones will provide sturdier edge-setting than predecessor ED K’Lavon Chaisson, but Elijah Ponder must step up for both Harold Landry III (knee, PUP) and former teammate-turned-Saint Anfernee Jennings after being a rotational player as an undrafted rookie. Second-rounder Gabe Jacas could pitch in from time to time, but the preseason showed he might need some time before being trusted on more than a select number of snaps a game.
The defensive interior also can’t be overlooked, as depth will be tested behind Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, and Cory Durden, who’s stepped up for Khyiris Tonga as the top nose tackle. Leonard Taylor III and Joshua Farmer flashed throughout the summer, but Farmer was inconsistent during the preseason. There also isn’t a clear backup at nose tackle behind Durden. There are also several new faces at linebacker—including rookies Khalil Jacobs and Namdi Obiazor, and waiver claims Darius Muasau and Erick Hunter—whose knowledge of the system will be tested in a tough road environment.
