In the AFC Championship Game, Will Campbell finally looked like the player the Patriots had been missing - and he knew it, too.
After battling through a nagging MCL sprain that sidelined him for five weeks and kept him off the field for all of December, Campbell returned to form in Denver, allowing just two pressures in the win. That’s a significant drop from the four pressures he gave up in each of New England’s previous playoff games, and it wasn’t by accident.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the 22-year-old left tackle admitted that the AFC title game was the first time since the injury that he felt like himself again.
“I didn’t play for five weeks,” Campbell said. “When I did get hurt, I felt like I was playing pretty good ball.
Obviously I was disappointed to get hurt. I just felt like last week (at Denver) was the first week that I felt like myself back out there.
Just moving around, I had everything: my timing, everything down. I was just excited.”
That excitement showed. Campbell’s footwork was sharper, his balance steadier, and his punch more decisive - all signs that the rust was finally gone and the confidence was back. For a young offensive lineman protecting the blind side in the postseason, those details matter.
And they’ll matter even more in Super Bowl LX.
Campbell is about to face one of his toughest assignments yet. Seattle’s defensive front is loaded with edge rushers who thrive on disruption.
DeMarcus Lawrence, Uchenna Nwosu, and Boye Mafe each racked up over 50 quarterback pressures during the regular season, according to Pro Football Focus. That’s a trio built to test even the most seasoned tackles - let alone a second-year player just getting back to full speed.
Lawrence and Nwosu bring not just pressure but production, finishing with six and seven sacks, respectively. They’re relentless off the edge, and they don’t just rely on speed - they mix in power, hand technique, and a veteran’s sense of timing. Campbell will need to be dialed in from the first snap.
But if the AFC title game was any indication, he’s trending in the right direction at exactly the right time. For New England, that’s a huge boost. A healthy, confident Will Campbell anchoring the left side could be the difference between giving their quarterback the time he needs - or letting Seattle’s pass rush dictate the flow of the game.
Campbell’s return to form isn’t just a feel-good story. It’s a critical piece of the Patriots’ Super Bowl puzzle.