Super Bowl LX: How Milton Williams and Christian Barmore Are Setting the Tone for the Patriots’ Defense
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - When Milton Williams landed in New England with the richest contract in franchise history, he didn’t just bring a paycheck-he brought a mindset. One of the first things he told Christian Barmore, his new partner in the trenches, was simple but powerful: “This defense is going to go as we go.”
Now, with Super Bowl LX just days away, that message has become more than just a rallying cry-it’s the identity of a Patriots defense that’s been downright dominant this postseason.
“We come in hungry,” Barmore said Wednesday. “We’re like lions.
We come to hunt. And the whole D-line, our goal is to dominate every time we’re out there.
Doesn’t matter who’s on the field. Just another day to line up and kick ass.”
That edge has defined New England’s playoff run. After a solid regular season, the defense has taken it to another level in January.
The numbers back it up: an 11.1% sack rate, 36.1% pressure rate, and just 8.7 points allowed per game against the Chargers, Texans, and Broncos. That’s not just good-it’s championship-caliber.
Williams, now fully healthy after an ankle injury sidelined him late in the season, has been a wrecking ball up front. His 17 quarterback pressures this postseason are the most by a Patriots defensive tackle in any playoff run this century, per Pro Football Focus. That’s not just production-it’s disruption.
“When he came back, it was just a really big, epic time,” Barmore said. “Because that man right there is a good player.”
But it’s not just about the numbers. It’s about the ripple effect.
With Williams and Barmore demanding double teams inside, the rest of the defense has been unleashed. The Patriots have upped their blitz rate, and it’s paying off.
Eight different players have recorded sacks in the postseason. Eleven have at least one quarterback hit.
Four have forced fumbles. It’s been a group effort, fueled by the chaos created up front.
“We talked about that when I first got here,” Williams said. “Our defense goes as far as we take it.
We can cause a lot of problems up front. They’ve got to double one of us, which means someone’s getting a 1-on-1.
And if you’re 1-on-1, you’ve got to win. That’s non-negotiable.”
And it’s not just about pass rush. Williams and Barmore are clogging lanes, keeping linebackers clean, and freeing up safeties to fly downhill. As Williams put it: “If we’re taking up four blockers, somebody’s free.”
Garrett Bradbury sees it every day in practice. The Patriots center doesn’t mince words when describing the duo.
“They’re animals,” Bradbury said. “They’re really good football players, and they play well together.
Coach Vrabel always talks about needing a relentless, coordinated rush. And those guys take it to heart.
It’s not about chasing stats-it’s about eliminating escape lanes and collapsing the pocket together.”
That cohesion has made life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. But the toughest test yet is coming on Sunday, when New England faces a red-hot Seahawks offense.
While the Patriots benefited from some key injuries to their opponents in the first three rounds, Seattle is coming in fully loaded-and on fire. The Seahawks have dropped 72 points in two playoff games, and Sam Darnold is playing the best football of his career.
Darnold, once haunted by “ghosts” in his Jets days, leads all quarterbacks in expected points added per dropback this postseason. He’s thriving under pressure too, with a 108.6 passer rating and zero turnovers when the pocket collapses.
Still, New England’s front is built to test that poise. Before this playoff surge, Darnold ranked 28th in EPA per dropback under pressure during the regular season, ahead of only a handful of struggling QBs. When pressured, he threw six touchdowns and six interceptions, with a passer rating of just 69.4.
If Williams and Barmore can turn up the heat, they may force Darnold back into old habits.
One matchup to circle: the Patriots’ interior rush versus Seattle’s young offensive line. Right guard Anthony Bradford, a third-year pro, has the lowest pass-blocking grade among any lineman with 20+ snaps in the postseason, according to PFF.
Left guard Grey Zabel is a talented rookie, but still learning on the fly. And center Jalen Sundell is in his first year as a starter.
Bradford knows what’s coming.
“They’re big, strong guys,” he said of Williams and Barmore. “Great at the point of attack.
Can move for a big guy. All the things you want in an interior D-line.
So it’s going to be a good challenge, but we’re up for the challenge.”
Williams’ response? He doesn’t need to say much-his play does the talking. But if the Patriots’ defense is going to carry them to another Lombardi, it’ll be because the big men in the middle kept hunting.
And right now, the lions are hungry.