Super Bowl LX — a rematch from 2014.
New England rode the right arm of Drake Maye, an MVP finalist, in the regular season. In the playoffs, it has been defense that has carried the Patriots, allowing just 8.7 points per game to opponents.
While Seattle was -3 in turnover differential (28 giveaways to 25 takeaways) in the regular season, in two playoff games, they forced four turnovers and didn’t put the ball in harm’s way.
They had only given up over 25 points twice all year as they led the league in defensive points per game surrendered (17.2). While Seattle’s defense allowed 27 points in the NFCCG to the Los Angeles Rams, their offense was flawless, and that sent them to the Super Bowl.
Let’s look at the film between these two powerhouses:
The Quarterbacks
Sam Darnold
New England played man-to-man coverage on 28 percent of their defensive snaps (ninth-highest rate).
Sam Darnold is sixth in EPA against man coverage with a 65 percent completion percentage. He has thrown for 13 touchdowns to four interceptions and added four rushing touchdowns.
Here’s a play from the NFCCG where Darnold beats man coverage:
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The outside corners trailing the receivers indicate that the Rams are playing man coverage. Notice No. 20 on the Rams creep down — he’s playing robber coverage, meaning he’s jumping any intermediate throw over the middle.
Also, notice No. 14, cornerback Cobie Durant, on the left side of the screen, standing at the 30-yard line before sprinting towards the deep half of the field post-snap. This indicates that the Rams are running cover one robber.
Once Darnold sees the robber coverage, he knows he has Rashid Shaheed one-on-one downfield before Durant can provide help over the top. The speedy Shaheed beats press coverage, and Darnold drops the ball into the breadbasket for a big play.
Darnold in Play Action
Another key for Darnold is his utilization of play-action. He has the fourth-best EPA (57) on play-action and has thrown 14 touchdowns (second most) to five interceptions.
On this rep, Seattle runs a naked bootleg — the QB runs opposite the pass protection. This is also another play where Darnold beats man coverage; a defensive back chasing a wide receiver across the field clearly indicates it’s man-to-man.
The safety, Marques Sigle (No. 36), doesn’t bite on the fake handoff. Despite pressure on the rollout, Darnold places the ball away from the safety help and makes a “jimmies and joe” play — throwing to only where Jaxon Smith-Njigba can catch it on a dead sprint.
In this split-second frame, you can see Darnold has his eyes on Smith-Njigba, who has his hand up. Darnold is ready to throw the ball early and lead Smith-Njigba to the back of the end zone with a step on his defender.
Drake Maye
Seattle plays zone coverage on 80 percent of their defensive snaps (third-highest rate).
Maye had the highest EPA against zone coverage, with a 75 percent completion percentage while throwing 11 touchdowns and four interceptions.
In the AFCCG, while Maye struggled mightily in the dropback game, he was effective with his legs. New England dials up a QB draw — where the quarterback goes right up the middle:
Sometimes, when the quarterback goes right up the middle immediately, that would signal the play may have originally been a pass play, but he sees an open lane and decides to take off. In this case, the play appears to be a run by design.
On the snap, the center, Garrett Bradbury (No. 65), goes past the line of scrimmage to make a block. If Maye threw the ball with Bradbury downfield, there would have been a flag for an ineligible man downfield. So, clearly, this was a run by design, and Maye goes in untouched.
While it’s difficult to scramble against zone coverage because the defenders have their eyes in the backfield, New England can still call design runs or option runs for Maye on early downs to keep the defense honest.
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On first-and-goal, the Patriots call up a zone read, where Maye reads the unblocked defender, AJ Epenesa, and sees who he commits to.
Epenesa loses his leverage, and Maye makes the correct read by keeping it himself. Maye finds the angle to the sideline and punches it in for a touchdown.
These are the plays where Maye has opportunities to make the “jimmies and joes” plays.
Patriots Rushing Scheme vs Seahawks Vaunted Rushing Defense
In the regular season, the Patriots averaged 128.9 rushing yards per game (sixth most) while the Seahawks surrendered 91.9 rushing yards per game (third fewest).
Mike McDonald’s unit never allowed a 100-yard rusher in the regular season. In the playoffs, the highest total of rushing yards that they surrendered was 55 yards to Blake Corum.
Seattle’s defense puts them in a second-and-3 jam against the 49ers, but they figure out a way to get out of it.
On the first play of the sequence, it’s Boye Mafe’s (No. 53) pursuit that makes the play. Playing a wide-nine technique — lining on the outside shoulder of the right tackle — it’s a tougher angle to contain an outside run. Mafe immediately recognizes the toss to the running back and engages with the tight end. From there, he remains horizontal and makes first contact on the ball carrier for a two-yard gain.
On the second play, it’s third-and-1, so now it’s an expected run. The Seahawks put four defensive linemen to aggressively cover up the A-gap, between the center and guard, and the B-gap, between the center and tackle. Byron Murphy (No. 91) makes a nice swim move to evade the left guard, penetrate the backfield early, and the result is a tackle for no gain.
The last play is all Demarcus Lawrence (No. 0). He’s in a six-technique — head-up of the tight end. Lawrence can spill the ballcarrier to the outside with his leverage, and that’s exactly what he does. He sheds off the right tackle’s block, and there’s nowhere for the ballcarrier to run to.
Patriots’ Run Game is Vital to Their Success
Now to the Patriots’ rushing offense.
On the first play, the Patriots call a “duo” concept — double team blocks on the defensive linemen while Rhamondre Stevenson reads the unblocked linebacker to see where the open lane is.
New England successfully makes a pair of double-team blocks to clear the lane for Stevenson. He follows his lead blocker, Jack Westover (No. 37), and reads the weakside linebacker — Jordyn Brooks (No. 20). Stevenson makes the right read, goes up the gut before bouncing it outside at the second level for a big gain.
Next play, the Dolphins put four defensive linemen to aggressively cover up the A-gap and the B-gap. New England attacks the C-gap — between the tackle and tight end. Once Stevenson bounces off his blocks, he sees grass and pops off for 20 yards.
X-factor: Marcus Jones vs Rashid Shaheed Return Game
This Super Bowl matchup presents the top two returners in football: Marcus Jones and Rashid Shaheed.
With their ability to flip the field, they are, without a doubt, the x-factors. Return specialists are truly where the “jimmies and the joes” are showcased.
Jones has two punt returns for touchdowns in this regular season.
Jones chooses to run back a punt caught on his own 6-yard line. It’s his vision that sees two Giants coming to his right, so he bolts to the left sideline to find open grass for the touchdown.
Shaheed has one punt return touchdown and one kickoff return touchdown in the regular season. He also housed the opening kickoff in the playoff matchup versus San Francisco.
Once he gets near his own 25-yard line, Shaheed shows his ability to maintain speed on a turn. He only has 15 yards to clear the 49ers’ special teams unit before the only man he has to beat is the kicker for a score.
Final thoughts
Even if Maye makes mistakes, New England can find other ways to win. Seattle has the tools for Darnold and the receivers to counter New England’s lockdown defense. The kick return aspect will shift the game — especially if it’s a low-scoring game and field position becomes critical.
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