Marshall Newhouse knows what it takes to win on the NFL’s biggest stage. The former offensive tackle carved out a 10-year career in the league, collecting a Super Bowl ring in his rookie season with the Green Bay Packers and later suiting up for the New England Patriots - the same Patriots team now preparing to face the Seattle Seahawks in Sunday’s playoff showdown.
And while most of the talk leading up to this matchup has centered on a potential Seahawks blowout, Newhouse isn’t buying the hype.
“I just don’t see that happening,” he said, speaking ahead of the game in San Francisco. “The Patriots are a really well-run organization, and I think the defense has come to play.”
Newhouse’s perspective carries weight. He spent time with seven different teams across a decade in the league - including stints with the Bengals, Giants, Raiders, Bills, Panthers, and of course, the Patriots. That kind of journey gives a player a unique lens on how teams are built and how they respond under pressure.
And pressure is exactly what he believes the Patriots need to bring - specifically to Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold.
“Everything comes down to how uncomfortable they can make Darnold,” Newhouse said. “Two weeks ago, in the NFC Championship, that was the best game I’ve seen him play. But there’s still that lingering memory of him struggling against certain defensive coordinators.”
That’s the key, according to Newhouse - force Darnold into two or three mistakes, and the Patriots could hang around long enough to steal this one. But if Darnold plays clean and replicates his performance against San Francisco, the road gets a lot tougher.
Offensively, Newhouse knows the Patriots don’t have the firepower to match Seattle blow-for-blow. Even with Drake Maye under center and Stefon Diggs as a weapon, New England’s offense isn’t built to win a shootout.
“They’re going to have to be more methodical,” he explained. “Lean on the run game, hit short passes to Diggs and the slot guys, and let Maye use his legs when it’s there. But most importantly, they’ve got to play a clean game - and get some takeaways.”
That’s the formula: control the tempo, capitalize on mistakes, and keep it close. If the Patriots can do that, they’ve got a shot. If not, and Seattle plays a clean, efficient game like they did in the NFC title matchup, Newhouse sees the Seahawks walking away with the win.
But for Newhouse, this game isn’t just about X’s and O’s - it’s also a chance to reflect on what it means to reach the mountaintop. That Super Bowl win with Green Bay still resonates deeply.
“It’s hard to put into words what it feels like,” he said. “As a kid, the dream is just to make it to the league. Then you get there and realize how hard it is to even play in a Super Bowl - let alone win one.”
Newhouse was just a rookie when the Packers hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, and at the time, he admits he didn’t fully grasp the magnitude of the moment. But looking back now, he understands what went into it - the preparation, the infrastructure, the grind, and yes, a little bit of luck.
“You need a good organization, good leadership, and a whole lot of hard work,” he said. “And once you win one, it connects you forever.”
That bond was on full display earlier this season when the 2010 Packers reunited in Green Bay during Week 1. For Newhouse, it was a reminder of the unique camaraderie that comes from playing in the trenches.
“As a lineman, you spend so much time in those meeting rooms, working together, building trust,” he said. “It’s one of the few positions where you have to work as one. And when you win a Super Bowl together, that bond is locked in.”
Of course, that Packers team was led by none other than Aaron Rodgers - a quarterback Newhouse still speaks about with deep respect.
“What a special teammate and special guy,” he said. “He made you feel like part of the collective. The standard was high - mentally and physically - but he made you feel like you belonged.”
Rodgers, Newhouse recalled, had the ability to balance intensity with levity. He understood the grind of an NFL season, but he also knew how to keep the locker room connected. And when it came time to perform, he delivered.
“He was the guy doing special things on the field,” Newhouse said. “Our job was to make him comfortable, give him the best chance to succeed. Because when he succeeded, we all did.”
Now, as the Patriots prepare to take their shot at a playoff upset, Newhouse’s insight offers a grounded, veteran perspective. He’s not predicting a blowout - not when he knows firsthand what a strong defense, a smart game plan, and a little belief can do in the postseason.
And if the Patriots can channel some of that same energy - the kind that bonds a locker room and fuels a championship run - don’t count them out just yet.