Jaxon Smith-Njigba Is the Seahawks’ Offensive Engine - Can the Patriots Find a Way to Slow Him Down?
All season long, defenses have thrown everything they’ve got at Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Double teams, bracket coverage, jam at the line, drop into zone - you name it, he’s seen it. And more often than not, he’s torched it.
Now, the third-year wideout is heading into the biggest game of his career - the Super Bowl - coming off a monster season that’s already etched his name into the NFL record books. Smith-Njigba led the league with 1,793 receiving yards during the regular season, the eighth-highest single-season total in NFL history.
That’s not just elite - that’s historic. And it wasn’t empty yardage either.
He accounted for 44.1% of Seattle’s total receiving output and over 30% of their total offensive yardage. That’s the kind of production that turns a good offense into a dangerous one.
And if there was any doubt about his playoff readiness, Smith-Njigba erased it in the NFC Championship Game. Ten catches. 152 yards.
One touchdown. And a whole lot of headaches for the Los Angeles Rams’ secondary.
His performance was a clinic in route running, timing, and trust with his quarterback - and it was a major reason why the Seahawks are back in the Super Bowl.
But now comes the real test.
Standing between Smith-Njigba and a Lombardi Trophy is a New England Patriots defense that’s been dialed in all postseason. This is a unit that thrives on game-specific schemes and thrives even more on taking away what you do best. And right now, what Seattle does best is feed JSN.
The Patriots’ secondary is no joke. Pro Bowl corner Christian Gonzalez has emerged as a true No. 1 shutdown guy.
Carlton Davis III brings physicality and veteran savvy. And Marcus Jones has been one of the most effective nickel corners in the league.
All three graded out among the top 25 cornerbacks in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.
So how do you defend a guy who’s been virtually uncoverable all year?
That’s the chess match everyone’s watching heading into Super Bowl Sunday.
Former NFL quarterback and analyst Nate Tice recently joined Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy, and he zeroed in on that very question: What’s the Patriots’ plan for JSN?
“They’ve been such a heavily game-planned defense this playoffs,” Tice said. “They blitz a ton on third and fourth down, which could be a little thorn in Seattle’s side. But if you blitz, that might leave one-on-one opportunities for JSN.”
And that’s where things get interesting. Blitzing creates pressure, sure.
But it also creates space - and Smith-Njigba has made a living finding that space and punishing defenses for it. If New England gets aggressive, they’ll need to trust their corners to hold up in man coverage.
That’s a dangerous bet against a receiver with JSN’s route precision and after-the-catch ability.
So do the Patriots back off and play it safe? Maybe roll out some of the classic Belichick-style double coverage looks, bracket him with a corner and a safety, and force Seattle to beat them elsewhere?
That’s the million-dollar question.
There’s no doubt that Smith-Njigba has been the heartbeat of this Seahawks offense. He’s not just putting up numbers - he’s dictating coverage, opening up the field for others, and consistently coming through in big moments.
The Patriots know that. And they’ll come into this game with a plan to take him away.
But executing that plan? That’s another story.
Because right now, JSN isn’t just playing at a high level - he’s playing like a star who knows exactly how to take over a game. And if the Patriots can’t find a way to contain him, it might be a long day for their defense - and a championship night for Seattle.