This week, the New England Patriots head to Santa Clara, CA, to face the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. Both teams have proved they belong on this stage, but there are a few areas where the Patriots may have an advantage.
In a game of this magnitude, playing to your strengths can make the difference.
Patriots Have the Better Quarterback
The Patriots enter the Super Bowl with an advantage at the game’s most important position. Drake Maye, who earned second-team All-Pro honors, hasn’t been flawless, but he has provided the Patriots with steady play. He has turned the ball over at times, but New England has continued to trust him with the game in his hands.
In the AFC Championship, Maye picked up the game-winning first down on a bootleg. The coaching staff trusted him to execute the play himself despite playing with an injured right shoulder. Unfortunately for the Patriots, that injury has lingered beyond the conference title game. On Friday, Maye missed practice and was listed as questionable for the Super Bowl.
It is expected that Drake Maye will play. Veteran offensive tackle Morgan Moses went as far as to say, “I don’t think anybody’s worried about the nooks and crannies of what’s going on,” said Moses. “I think, you know, a lot of guys, when those lights turn on and that national anthem is going, they’ll forget about all the pain because it’ll be worth it at the end.”
On the opposing sideline, Sam Darnold will, in all likelihood, suit up at quarterback for the Seahawks. Darnold, who injured his oblique in practice on Jan. 15, was a limited participant on the Seahawks injury report. The injury did not hold Darnold back, though. He had perhaps his best performance of the season in the NFC Championship game, throwing for 346 yards and three touchdowns.
While both quarterbacks are expected to play, New England enters the Super Bowl with more certainty at the position. Maye, an MVP finalist, could be the deciding factor in a Patriots victory.
Great Receivers vs Better Cornerbacks
The Patriots will have their work cut out for them defensively. Seattle comes into the game with the betting favorite for NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Jaxon Smith-Njigba. This season, Smith-Njigba has been a secondary’s worst nightmare. In the NFC Championship, he had a monster performance, reeling in 10 catches on 12 targets for 153 yards and a score.
The Patriots will hope to lock down Smith-Njigba with Pro Bowl cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who has had a great postseason. In the AFC Championship game, Gonzalez sealed New England’s victory with a late interception in the snow. His ability to make big plays in critical moments should give the Patriots confidence against Seattle’s passing attack.
New England’s receiving core has been one of the more underrated groups in the NFL. Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte, and DeMario Douglas will all go up against a tough Seattle secondary with lots of talent. Nick Emmanwori and Devon Witherspoon will both be challenges that the Patriots will have to gameplan for.
Diggs is the Patriots’ most established option in their passing attack. He has proven to be capable of drawing extra attention and creating openings elsewhere. Douglas gives New England a reliable target underneath and has performed well this postseason. Boutte has shown the ability to make contested catches deep down the field. Explosive plays will put New England in a great position offensively.
Who Has the Better Running Game?
Managing and controlling the tempo of the game has been important to the Patriots throughout the postseason. The running game has played an extremely important role in that. In their three playoff wins, New England has outran their opponents by an average of 59.3 yards per game.
That production has come from a variety of places. Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, and Drake Maye have all contributed to the Patriots’ rushing attack. Stevenson has continued to be a tone setter by running with physicality. Henderson has struggled, but he gives the Patriots’ backfield an advantage with his speed and acceleration, which can help an offense change pace.
The Seattle run defense has been a dominant force all season, ranking third in rushing yards allowed. New England can still find an advantage by taking modest gains to dictate the pace of the game, like they have all postseason.
This approach directly plays to the Patriots’ strengths. In the playoffs, New England has shown that they have no problem with running the ball outside. By doing that, they make the defense move horizontally. Seattle’s run defense is very disciplined and one of the more physical units in the league. However, strong defensive lines like Seattle’s can be weakened when they have to constantly change direction.
If the Patriots can manage to break through the Seahawks’ tough front, they will have a tremendous advantage.
Conclusion
Though they may be underdogs, the Patriots have a real shot. If they can capitalize on their strengths and attack Seattle’s weaknesses, then they have a great chance at bringing the Vince Lombardi Trophy back to 1 Patriot Place.
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