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Bill Barnwell
Multiple Authors
NFL teams with emerging talents in crucial roles fear the unforeseen. With a two-week gap between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl, experienced coaching staffs like New England’s can meticulously analyze tape and prepare second-year quarterback Drake Maye for everything the Seahawks have displayed on film, especially from their recent performances. I firmly believe that Maye and his offensive team anticipated the Seahawks’ strategies for Sunday, but understanding what the Seahawks planned and effectively countering it are distinctly different challenges.
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As soon as Maye thought he was prepared, Seattle coach Mike Macdonald shifted the narrative. The Seahawks introduced a game-altering element into their defensive strategy. even if Seattle likely had enough talent to secure a win without this addition, the unexpected tactic designated for the championship game bewildered the Patriots, creating chaotic moments for New England’s offense and culminating in a defensive touchdown.
An experienced quarterback or one with superior protection might have adapted swiftly. Maye, however, struggled, and the Patriots found themselves perplexed by a look the Seahawks hadn’t revealed for almost two months. The final tally: Seahawks 29, Patriots 13. Here’s an analysis of the events that transpired during Super Bowl LX.
Jump to:
Witherspoon | D-line | Walker
Dickson | Darnold
The Witherspoon pressure wrinkle
I have no objections to Seattle running back Kenneth Walker III earning MVP in this matchup, but I would have preferred to see Devon Witherspoon receive the accolades for his defensive contributions. The Seahawks cornerback excelled in coverage, making several impactful plays, including the one that led to Seattle’s game-clinching defensive touchdown in the latter half.
To achieve this, Macdonald deviated from a previously established pattern and presented the Patriots with something they either weren’t ready for or greatly underestimated. Throughout the regular season, the Seahawks blitzed merely 20.7% of the time, ranking fifth lowest in the NFL. yet, that figure actually dipped to 15.1% on Sunday—split heavily by halves. Macdonald blitzed Maye 33.3% of the time in the first half before cutting back to just 8% in the second half.
More critical than the overall blitz percentage was the identity of the player the Seahawks sent after the quarterback. Witherspoon is a formidable blitzer and a robust presence near the line of scrimmage, yet Macdonald had largely refrained from deploying him against the QB. The third-year defender had rushed the passer only 33 times over 12 regular-season games. In fact, in Seattle’s past four contests—two regular season and two postseason—Witherspoon hadn’t been sent on a single blitz.
yet, in the Super Bowl, Witherspoon rushed Maye on seven occasions, one of which was nullified by an offside penalty on a teammate. His six other pass-rushing snaps resulted in one sack, and what could essentially be classified as a strip sack on another play, with the ball airborne before landing in Uchenna Nwosu’s hands for a pick-six. Those pressures didn’t solely secure Seattle’s victory but set the stage for significant plays and seemingly infiltrated Maye’s mindset throughout the game.
Let’s begin with the initial Witherspoon blitz. The Patriots faced a third-and-9 in the first quarter, positioned at the Seattle 44-yard line. A couple of yards here could place New England in a long field goal attempt range. Macdonald aimed for a negative play or outright stop to force a punt, dialing up one of the more intricate pressures the Seahawks showcased this season:
Devon Witherspoon’s blitz on third-and-9 forces a Drake Maye throwaway. The Patriots punt from the Seahawks side of the field with 7:23 to go in the first quarter and don’t make it back onto Seattle’s side of the field until the fourth quarter. pic.twitter.com/VJ5SK6nYiF
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) February 9, 2026
A lot was in motion here. Witherspoon (No. 21) appeared to be covering DeMario Douglas (No. 3) in the slot, but as the play clock wound down, he transformed into a blitzer. The Seahawks projected a two-deep zone coverage, but those safeties ultimately matched the two remaining receivers in man coverage. The Seahawks overcrowded the line of scrimmage, rendering their interior linemen covered, and the Patriots responded by having their five linemen block the five most dangerous rushers. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson was also in pass protection when his assignment approached, resulting in six blockers for six potential rushers.
Crucially, left tackle Will Campbell (No. 66) was occupied by DeMarcus Lawrence (No. 0), leaving Witherspoon’s blitz off the edge unblocked. The Seahawks also dropped two defensive tackles into coverage, meaning the two guards had no opponents to engage with, placing defenders in Maye’s throwing lanes if he intended to release the ball quickly. With Maye under pressure from the left, he needed to get the ball out prior to Witherspoon’s arrival. Unfortunately, he lacked time and options, leading Maye to scramble and throw the ball away. The Patriots punted from inside Seattle’s territory and wouldn’t cross midfield again until the fourth quarter.
Witherspoon secured his sack on the next series. Facing third-and-15, the Patriots were aware that the left side of their line, specifically Campbell, was susceptible. The Seahawks deployed three potential rushers to that flank, and the Patriots kept Stevenson in to assist in blocking. yet, Seattle sent just two.
Seahawks dial up a blitz and CB Devon Witherspoon sacks Maye!
Super Bowl LX on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/JHDpGoeTrq— NFL (@NFL) February 9, 2026
From the opposite side, Macdonald sent four rushers against three blockers. The Seahawks executed a twist among their interior linemen to engage the center and right guard. Lawrence was positioned far outside the tight end, requiring right tackle Morgan Moses to move quickly to block him. Witherspoon flowed inside with minimal resistance, resulting in a sack. Maye had Hunter Henry as an outlet option, but even hitting him wouldn’t have been enough to convert on this third-and-long.
In the third quarter, the Seahawks utilized Witherspoon on a couple of simulated pressures, rushing just four while dropping a lineman into coverage. Maye reacted immediately to these pressures. During the first, he made several uncharacteristic strides to his right and missed a simple slant to receiver Kayshon Boutte from an angle he likely hadn’t faced before. During the second pressure, Maye quickly threw to running back TreVeyon Henderson, avoiding a sack, but the pass fell into a covered zone and garnered only three yards on a second-and-10.
Maye connected on a 7-yard out on the following Witherspoon blitz, but the sixth one effectively ended the Super Bowl party. With Seattle leading 21-7 and 4:37 remaining, Macdonald had another creative call ready. The Seahawks appeared to present a standard defensive look before the snap, but with the Patriots moving quickly to score, Maye barely had time to declare a straightforward protection scheme before the Seahawks completed their set, as the Patriots slid four linemen to the left.
Devon Witherspoon brings the heat and Nwosu finishes the play 🔥
Super Bowl LX on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/kvQIdjdPgs— NFL (@NFL) February 9, 2026
After the snap, the Seahawks adjusted their formation entirely. Only two rushers approached from the left side, while Boye Mafe dropped into coverage against Henry, and Nick Emmanwori traversed the entire formation to bracket Stefon Diggs on the opposite side, eliminating Maye’s read and potential quick completion through the middle. Both Ernest Jones IV and Witherspoon blitzed from the right side, leaving Maye with two blockers against three defenders. Stevenson engaged the defender with the clearest path, Jones, but Witherspoon surged through and eventually caught up to Maye, who had to release the ball before he was reached.
This time, Maye couldn’t throw the ball away. even if Witherspoon missed out on a strip sack, Nwosu—who had beaten Moses—capitalized on the play, resulting in an interception returned for a touchdown.
Macdonald effectively dictated and anticipated the Patriots’ responses in pass protection, taking full advantage of their strategies. Coordinating this with an athlete of Witherspoon’s caliber ramped up the difficulty for Maye. An experienced quarterback might have been able to swiftly reset protections, recognize Witherspoon’s impending rush before the snap, or release the ball more quickly. yet, considering how blindsided the Patriots were by Witherspoon’s pressure prior to the game, it’s likely that they wouldn’t have had a plausible response, even with a more seasoned quarterback.
Throughout the blitz-heavy first half, Maye appeared disoriented. His ball placement—impressive throughout the regular season and during key postseason moments—was erratic. He seemed to focus solely on receivers and/or hurried his throws, fearing he might not have enough time to release the ball.
It seemed at times that the NFL MVP runner-up was not in sync with his receivers as they navigated coverage; Maye would expect a receiver to pause, while they continued to run, and vice versa. On one third-and-3 back-shoulder attempt, Boutte found himself nearly a yard out of bounds by the time the ball arrived, nullifying a possible completion. Mack Hollins slipped out of his route on a deep post, leading to a near interception on a Maye throw. (Hollins did a commendable job breaking up the pass.) Later in that drive, Maye stepped up, only to throw a pass between his two eligible receivers, missing both. Julian Love then intercepted Maye’s pass.
No blitz, no problem
even if the blitz was an entertaining aspect of the strategy, the Seahawks would have still confounded Maye even if they employed a typical approach like Philadelphia Eagles DC Vic Fangio did last year, without sending extra defenders after the quarterback. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Maye faced pressure almost 48% of the time even when Seattle rushed four or fewer players, marking the highest pressure rate recorded while sending four or fewer defenders by any team in this postseason, surpassing the Texans’ barrage against Aaron Rodgers in the wild-card round.
Every member of the Patriots’ offensive line had their share of struggles in pass protection, but Campbell was particularly targeted throughout the night. The rookie left tackle faced a daunting array of elite pass rushers since his return from a late-season knee injury, yielding four sacks and 15 pressures across his first three playoff appearances, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Macdonald clearly aimed to isolate Campbell one-on-one against Lawrence and Seattle’s other pass rushers.
In Sunday’s defeat, Campbell was charged with one sack allowed but conceded an astounding 14 pressures, a season-high for any player I’ve seen. Four of those pressures occurred quickly, tying him with Seahawks rookie Grey Zabel for the highest total in the game. While some of Maye’s 28 pressures were attributable to him, Campbell simply couldn’t withstand the rush and didn’t perform admirably in run blocking either.
Seattle overwhelmed him with bull rushes and physically dominant opponents. Lawrence shrugged off a Campbell block with one arm, simultaneously stuffing Henderson at the line with the other. Derick Hall pushed Campbell back into Maye for the initial sack of the night when Hall was 254 pounds, overpowering a 320-pound left tackle. Such instances happen, but it was rare to witness what transpired in the fourth quarter, when Hall accomplished the same with one arm instead of two.
It’s plausible that Campbell was still feeling the effects of the MCL injury he sustained near the end of the season during what is shaping up to be a grim postseason for him. yet, his performance on Sunday seemed to validate predraft skeptics who questioned whether the fourth overall pick had the length required for a left tackle position at the professional level. Campbell has certainly provided an upgrade compared to the various left tackles New England utilized last season, but serious doubts will linger all offseason concerning his viability as the long-term solution for Maye’s blind side.
While Seattle boasts a solid, talented defensive line, they didn’t field a Will Anderson Jr. or Nik Bonitto, the kind of edge rusher who achieves exceptional dominance and is nigh impossible to block. Even the substitutes were productive. Rookie Seahawks defensive tackle Rylie Mills spent the majority of the season recovering from a torn ACL, only seeing one defensive snap across Seattle’s preceding two playoff games. Nevertheless, he bull-rushed Jared Wilson into Maye for a sack during one of his five snaps.
There are few effective solutions for countering a formidable defense when faced with a jittery quarterback and an offensive line that struggles to handle a four-man rush. Focusing on the run game could be one way to alleviate pressure; unfortunately, the Patriots managed only 42 yards on 13 carries from Stevenson and Henderson, with not a single run exceeding 10 yards. The Seahawks consistently utilized their second-level defenders—predominantly Drake Thomas—to execute run blitzes into the B-gap, compelling New England’s guards to react quickly. This strategy produced an early tackle for loss by Thomas and a few unblocked tackles for Ernest Jones when the Pats faltered against the run blitzes.
0:41
Herm Edwards: The Seahawks’ defensive front took over the game
Herm Edwards asserts that Seattle’s defensive front overwhelmed the Patriots.
Minor adjustments from New England’s offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels proved effective occasionally. The Patriots turned to outside pitches to evade B-gap run blitzes, achieving a single 9-yard gain. They also executed a jet sweep to Henderson, capitalizing on an aggressive Seahawks defense to run past an unblocked defender at the end of the line. Maye even managed a quick out for a 7-yard completion, avoiding the Witherspoon blitz.
yet, in the broader context, it appeared the Patriots lacked the schematic variations necessary to challenge the Seahawks or make meaningful adjustments to ease Maye’s task as the game progressed.
For instance, in utilizing jumbo personnel, the Patriots brought in tackle Thayer Munford Jr. as an extra offensive lineman. I pointed out in my preview that Munford had been used about 15 offensive snaps per game from Week 15 onward, serving as an additional run blocker and creating explosive opportunities in the passing game. The Seahawks generally matched well against varying offensive personnel, and the sixth lineman could have given New England a chance to outmuscle a smaller Seahawks linebacking group.
In the first quarter, Munford entered for his first offensive snap of the game, with the Patriots executing play-action to hit Boutte for a 21-yard gain. He didn’t see any more offensive snaps thereafter. even if Munford had been battling a knee injury recently, he was off the injury report and returned late in the fourth quarter to block on New England’s only extra point attempt. If he was healthy enough to be active, it raises questions as to why the Patriots didn’t deploy that six-lineman look more frequently.
The Patriots did not run a single play from an empty formation throughout the game, where the Seahawks had previously struggled due to their defensive setup during the regular season. While leaving Campbell one-on-one would have been a daunting gamble, they would have needed to have faith in Maye (who ranked second in QBR from an empty set during the regular season) to get the ball out quickly, a less daunting task with five eligible receivers. Altering the launch point could have lightened his load, but Maye was only outside the tackle box for four pass attempts throughout the game. There were no trick plays either from a coach known for inserting one or two in games where New England badly required to generate momentum.
Choosing to run on third-and-5 could also have been a method to attempt an explosive play in a situation where the opposition anticipated committing to stopping the run, especially if you have confidence to convert on fourth-and-2 or less following an incompletion. The Patriots opted for a run on their own 37-yard line on third-and-5 … but neglected to block defensive tackle Jarran Reed, who stifled Stevenson for no gain. so, the Patriots punted.
Attempting a pass on third-and-1 also offers the chance to create an explosive play when the opposing side is fully focused on halting the run, especially if you feel at ease about moving forward on fourth-and-1 even after an incompletion. The Patriots took a downfield chance on third-and-1 in the third quarter from their own 41-yard line, having a receiver open, but Maye overthrew him. You can afford to take that risk if you’re confident in converting a fourth down, but Vrabel opted to punt, costing the Patriots 2.3 win probability points in the process.
While I understand why Vrabel mistrusted his offense to gain a yard, considering the Seahawks’ performance to that point, punting with the expectation that his offense could traverse the field for a touchdown didn’t exactly represent an optimal game plan either.
Now, let’s discuss the MVP. In what would be his last game before free agency, Walker showcased a quintessential performance reflective of his era in Seattle. While I found some commentary on his shortcomings during the game overly critical (especially for an MVP winner), to be fair, he did drop a pass and failed to properly block on a pass attempt that led to New England’s singular sack of the game. Of Walker’s 25 carries, only eight were successful according to EPA (expected points added), yielding a 29.6% success rate—still a figure surpassing the Patriots’ backs, who averaged 3.2 yards per carry.
even so, this became inconsequential because Walker was a dynamo when he had the ball in his hands. He had five runs exceeding 10 yards, including 29- and 30-yard runs on the same drive, plus a 20-yard catch on a screen pass. The fourth-year player totaled 135 rushing yards and 26 receiving yards. For a good portion of the day, he bore the burden for a Seahawks offense struggling to find a rhythm in the passing game.
Walker demonstrated the ability to generate far more than was blocked for him. The Patriots’ defensive containment faltered, enabling him to break free and find the open field. He achieved 30 yards while following a pulling Zabel in the first quarter; Zabel effectively neutralized K’Lavon Chaisson, who was unable to redirect the play back inside. Walker managed to reach the corner and subsequently powered through a Marcus Jones ankle tackle along the sideline for an extra 20 yards.
Later on that series, Walker expertly ran behind center Jalen Sundell into a vacated gap for a significant gain. He added yardage at the end of the run by weaving around Christian Gonzalez, who was caught in a precarious position in the open field. even if Gonzalez prevented a touchdown, Walker’s efforts positioned the Seahawks within striking distance for one of their several field goals.
2:04
Sam Acho: Kenneth Walker ‘controlled’ the game
Sam Acho discusses how Kenneth Walker III secured Super Bowl LX MVP for the Seahawks.
The second half saw the NFL’s offensive evolution mirrored on a smaller scale. The Patriots began adopting a 6-1 front to thwart zone runs, daring the Seahawks to pass, reminiscent of their tactics against the Rams in Super Bowl LIII—a development I addressed in my preview. Following the Patriots’ demonstration of their six-man alignment, Seahawks offensive coordinator (and future Raiders head coach) Klint Kubiak countered by executing a pin/pull sweep, allowing Walker to gain 14 yards.
The emphasis on Walker’s patience in hitting holes drew comparisons to the legendary Le’Veon Bell. Some of this comparison results from schematic choices rather than style; the Steelers’ favored play with Bell was a counter run that naturally took time to develop. in the same way, the Seahawks run numerous duo plays with Walker, aimed at establishing a one-on-one matchup with the opposing linebacker, who he can steer toward blocking or elude. Zone runs require the running back to move immediately, allowing for quick cuts upfield.
Nevertheless, Bell’s post-Steelers performance is a cautionary tale for teams eyeing Walker’s game; Bell averaged only 3.3 yards per carry outside Pittsburgh, spending a lot of time in a struggling Jets offense and with a quarterback (Sam Darnold) who no longer features prominently in the NFL. It’s far simpler to exhibit patience with a reliable run-blocking line and a passing attack that keeps defenses guessing. mainly, Bell excelled as a receiver—something Walker does not rival.
even so, there’s an intense desire within the league to find players who can manufacture explosive plays against defenses determined to stop them. Hence, speedy, less notable wide receivers like Dyami Brown and Tutu Atwell secured one-year, $10 million contracts in the previous offseason. Walker would likely be seeking a deal in the $12 million range, which aligns closely with what those replacement-level wideouts were receiving last year. He is a more capable player than either.
This Super Bowl featured an erratic offensive display, with neither team consistently advancing the ball in large increments. Scoring opportunities primarily came from producing explosive plays. Through three quarters, there were seven such plays recorded; six belonged to Seattle. Walker was accountable for three of those six. Having a player of that caliber at your disposal is immensely valuable—even if his success rate was average and he occasionally dropped passes. Whether he re-signs with Seattle or moves elsewhere, Walker will attract attention as a playmaker this offseason.
Big boots
Seattle’s special teams played a pivotal role in this game, although their contributions weren’t essential in determining a close outcome. In their NFC West-deciding win over the Rams in December, Rashid Shaheed’s punt return touchdown sparked a fourth-quarter comeback. Conversely, the rematch in the NFC title game was likely decided when Rams returner Xavier Smith muffed his second punt, which Seattle recovered and quickly converted into a touchdown.
On Sunday, the return men for both teams were largely silent; however, Seattle’s specialists proved crucial. Jason Myers faced no particularly challenging kicks, as all seven of his attempts were within 41 yards, yet the veteran kicker converted 5-of-5 field goal tries and both of his extra points. Given the Seahawks only managed a 1-for-4 performance in the red zone against one of the league’s least effective red zone defenses from the regular season, those field goals were essential early on before Seattle pulled away late.
The standout on special teams was punter Michael Dickson, who arguably positioned himself right behind Walker and Witherspoon in the MVP conversation. Dickson executed seven punts in the game, yielding just four return yards to stellar Patriots returner Marcus Jones while collaborating with an excellent coverage unit. He managed to drop three punts inside New England’s 6-yard line and averaged 47.3 net yards per punt.
even with dominating the game, Seattle faced subpar field position at times. With the offense struggling for consistency, Seattle stalled on four of its first nine drives, starting deep within its own territory. Dickson’s punting minimized the Patriots’ chances of an explosive play yielding a field goal opportunity. With the Patriots unable to muster more than two first downs on any of their first 13 possessions, Dickson’s contributions prevented Seattle from facing substantial threats throughout the day.
Most Super Bowl analyses don’t reach this point without discussing the winning team’s quarterback, yet Darnold wasn’t the story of the game. The Patriots clearly aimed to put the championship on Darnold’s shoulders, jumping on nearly every throw early and blitzing the veteran quarterback almost 57% of the time.
Darnold deserves credit for maintaining possession during these circumstances. He did not yield a single turnover against a resolute Patriots defense—marking the only time he led four critical games (two against the 49ers, one against the Rams, and this Super Bowl) without any turnovers. It also represented just the second instance in Darnold’s career where he started four consecutive games in a season without turning the ball over at least once, and he achieved this during the most significant stretch of his tenure.
Nevertheless, it’s realistic to acknowledge that Darnold squandered several opportunities in this game. He had Jaxon Smith-Njigba open for what could have been a long touchdown during a scramble drill in the first quarter, only to overthrow the wide receiver by a couple of yards. besides, when Smith-Njigba got past Gonzalez for what should have been a TD reception on a post route at the end of the first half, Darnold’s throw fell behind him, offering Gonzalez an opportunity to break up the pass. (Gonzalez played remarkably well, but Darnold let him escape unscathed on that play.)
In key situations, the Patriots presented Darnold with Cover 0 (man coverage without safety help), and they survived the experience. On a critical third-and-9 just outside the red zone, Darnold had Cooper Kupp open on an out route against the blitz for what should have been a first down, but he mis-fired against the incoming rusher. The most agonizing miss likely occurred during the following possession when Shaheed sprinted past Carlton Davis III in Cover 0, presenting a potential 59-yard touchdown opportunity. Darnold overthrew him by a yard.
even so, Darnold contributed significantly in ways not anticipated. The narrative ahead of the Super Bowl focused on Maye’s capacity to impact the game with his legs; however, Darnold proved far more valuable in the game actually played. He was adept at evading Patriots’ sack attempts, frustrating Milton Williams, who shined but could only register one quarterback takedown. Darnold managed to convert plays that should have resulted in sacks into throwaways or short completions. He nearly pulled off a touchdown pass during the early scramble, and he also added an 11-yard scramble for a first down after eluding Williams, who surged through the A-gap.
Darnold concluded the day with a 53.0 Total QBR, a figure I found reasonable. even if there were moments in the regular season when he was both the best and worst quarterback in football, when including his postseason stats, Darnold finished 13th in Total QBR— which seems appropriate. He experienced a period in which he was exceptionally valuable by generating numerous explosive plays—though he also inclined toward turnovers. In the postseason, his value predominantly stemmed from protecting the ball, with the exception being the NFC Championship Game against the Rams, when Seattle required a substantial passing effort from their quarterback, and he delivered.
The narrative surrounding Darnold over the past year has been extensive. Just like last season with the Vikings, there may have been an excessive emphasis on him as the quarterback of a somewhat average offensive group, given the underlying strength appraised in his teams’ defensive efforts. yet, it’s also worthwhile to ask the Vikings whether they miss having Darnold around.
0:50
Sam Darnold calls Seahawks ‘special’ after Super Bowl win
Seahawks QB Sam Darnold emphasizes the importance of offensive balance in Seattle’s achievement.
The Seahawks didn’t capture the Super Bowl solely due to Darnold. yet, they might not have reached the Super Bowl without him, considering his stellar performances during the first half of the season when the running game struggled. He was crucial in the fourth quarter and overtime against the Rams, leading the Seahawks to clinch the NFC’s top seed, and he excelled in their playoff rematch to eliminate the Rams, who posed a unique challenge to Seattle’s formidable defense.
Darnold stepped up when the Seahawks required him most—a trait indicative of a worthy teammate and a critical component of any Super Bowl-caliber roster. For a quarterback once labeled a bust due to untenable situations with the Jets and Panthers, Darnold serves as a generational reminder of the importance of not giving up on quarterbacks before they find the right conditions to flourish. After starting games for four different franchises across four years, I suspect Darnold has established enough credibility to return as the starter for the Seahawks as they raise their second Super Bowl banner in 2026.
