Five Takeaways From the Patriots Loss to the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX

Although the Seahawks won the day, Maye hit back-to-back big plays that got the Patriots on the board. First, he hit WR Mack Hollins on a deep dig pattern for 24 yards and then connected with Hollins again for a 35-yard touchdown. However, the next two drives weren’t as fruitful when Maye got a tad too aggressive looking for the big play. Following their first scoring drive, the defense got the Patriots the ball back down 19-7 with 10:40 left, so the game was still there for the taking. Unfortunately, Maye started big-play hunting and threw a pick that led to a Seattle touchdown, which broke the game back open for the Seahawks.

A very emotional Maye, who was choked up at times while answering questions post-game, spoke about how he hopes to grow in OC Josh McDaniels’s system with more experience, adding that he hopes there aren’t any major changes to New England’s offense. Maye and McDaniels will need to find answers to cover six and DB blitzes, which became a blueprint against the Pats offense in the postseason.

2. Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker Wins Super Bowl MVP with 135-Yard Performance

The other disappointing development in Sunday’s loss was that the Patriots run defense faltered against Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker, who was named the game’s MVP. With standout DT Milton Williams healthy, New England’s run defense had been dominant, but that wasn’t the case in the Super Bowl.

Seattle didn’t do anything out of the ordinary with their zone runs, sequenced off play-actions, screens, and limited drop-back passing. The Seahawks seemed to be determining run types at the line of scrimmage based on coverage shell and defensive front, cycling through inside and outside zone schemes with the occasional changeup (pin-pull sweeps). Walker did most of his damage on the edges, rushing for 114 yards on 21 carries that hit outside the tackles, setting up bounces and winning foot races to the edges.

Although they only had a 25% rushing success rate (14th percentile), Walker had five 10-plus yard runs and forced eight missed tackles, as the most consistent threat for either team. He was the best offensive player in the game and that’s why he went home with the Super Bowl MVP.

3. Patriots O-Line Losses Battle with the Seahawks Dominant Defensive Front

Coming into Super Bowl LX, the prevailing thought was that the game would be decided in the trenches and that the Patriots O-Line would need to at least hold up against the Seahawks front.

New England’s offensive line, which started two rookies on the left side for the first time in Super Bowl history, didn’t need to win the matchup. However, they couldn’t let it be lopsided in Seattle’s favor, either, and unfortunately, that’s the way it unfolded. By the numbers, Maye was under pressure on 52.8% of his drop-backs. Some of that was on Maye holding the ball with an average time to throw of 2.83s, but the Seahawks also overloaded the protection several times and won 1-on-1 matchups on other occasions. In particular, the Pats all-rookie left side had some struggles. According to NextGen Stats, LT Will Campbell allowed a sack and 14 total pressures, the most in a single game by any player this season, while first-year LG Jared Wilson allowed two sacks.

Campbell seemed to struggle with his set points and strike timing, allowing Seattle’s edge rushers into his chest to generate power. Wilson also lost to power on a bull-rush sack by Seahawks DT Rylie Mills. Campbell has the makeup and athleticism to remain outside at left tackle. Still, he’ll need to become a true technician at the position, which will help him better manage length disadvantages. That said, we have to acknowledge the possibility that Campbell and Wilson both move one spot to their right in the future.

4. CB Christian Gonzalez a Bright Spot in Matchup vs. Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Looking at a few bright spots for the Patriots in Super Bowl LX, Gonzalez was absolutely terrific, covering Smith-Njigba on 15 routes and only allowing one catch for 16 yards on three targets.

Gonzalez registered three pass breakups in the game, including knocking away a would-be touchdown intended for Smith-Njigba and a deep post route intended for WR Rasheed Shaheed. On both pass breakups, the Pats were in cover six, leaving Gonzalez 1-on-1 on the backside with two of Seattle’s best receivers, including the Offensive Player of the Year.