Josh McDaniels’ Super Bowl Game Plan Falls Flat as Patriots Offense Fizzles
When the Patriots brought Josh McDaniels back into the fold as offensive coordinator under Mike Vrabel, it felt like a homecoming that could reignite New England’s offensive firepower. Fans had visions of the McDaniels-Brady glory days, and after a remarkable regular season that saw Drake Maye finish second in MVP voting behind Matthew Stafford, it looked like those dreams might become reality.
The Patriots finished 14-3, won the AFC, and punched their ticket to the Super Bowl-an outcome few predicted heading into the year. McDaniels helped elevate Maye’s game in a big way during the regular season, and the offense clicked with precision and confidence. But when the lights were brightest, that same offense came up short.
In the Super Bowl, Maye’s postseason struggles continued, and he wasn’t alone. Rookie left tackle Will Campbell had a rough night, repeatedly overwhelmed by Seattle’s defensive front. Campbell later revealed he’d been playing through a torn ligament in his knee-an injury that clearly impacted his performance-but to his credit, he didn’t offer it as an excuse.
Still, the situation called for adjustments. And that’s where McDaniels’ game plan raised serious questions.
Seattle’s defense was aggressive and relentless, and Campbell was visibly laboring. In that scenario, you’d expect a seasoned play-caller like McDaniels to shift gears-maybe lean into heavier protection packages, bring in a second tight end, or use a running back to chip and help the edge. Instead, the Patriots leaned heavily on 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end, three wide receivers), running it on 79.1% of their offensive snaps, according to Dan Pizzuta.
That’s a stark contrast to what we saw all season. New England hadn’t used 11 personnel at that rate in any regular season game, and in the Super Bowl, they abandoned the more versatile looks-like 21 personnel (two backs, one tight end)-that had helped them control tempo and protect their young quarterback. They also didn’t run a single play out of an empty set.
The result? Campbell allowed 14 pressures in the game and 29 total during the postseason, per Next Gen Stats. The Seahawks dictated the flow, and New England never found a rhythm.
And that’s the part that stings. McDaniels had two weeks to prepare for Seattle.
He knew his quarterback was banged up. He knew his rookie left tackle was gutting it out through injury.
Yet the game plan didn’t reflect that reality. There was no pivot, no in-game adjustment to slow down the Seahawks' pass rush or simplify the reads for Maye.
This wasn’t just a missed opportunity-it was a miscalculation. The Patriots’ defense did its part, holding Seattle to field goals and keeping the game within reach. But the offense couldn’t hold up its end of the bargain.
Now, as the Patriots head into the offseason, the narrative around McDaniels shifts. The regular season success was real, and he deserves credit for helping Maye take a major leap in Year 2. But the Super Bowl exposed a critical flaw: when the situation demanded flexibility and adaptation, McDaniels stuck to the script.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that looked so well-prepared all year long. The goodwill McDaniels built during the regular season won’t carry over forever. If this team wants to take the next step in 2026, the offensive play-calling has to evolve-especially when the stakes are highest.