Super Bowl LX Preview: Seahawks’ Pass Rush vs. Patriots’ Protection - The Matchup That Could Decide It All
It’s officially Super Bowl week, and football fans everywhere are gearing up for a heavyweight rematch more than a decade in the making. The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks are set to clash in Super Bowl LX - a throwback to their unforgettable showdown 11 years ago, when Malcolm Butler’s goal-line interception sealed a 28-24 Patriots win and left fans wondering what might’ve been if Marshawn Lynch had gotten the ball.
Fast forward to 2026, and while the names have changed, the storylines are just as compelling. Seattle is once again bringing a ferocious defense to the big stage - and this year’s unit might be even more balanced than the one that terrorized offenses in the mid-2010s.
The Seahawks led the NFL in points allowed per game this season, holding opponents to just 17.1 on average. Their secondary has been lights out, blanketing receivers and forcing quarterbacks into uncomfortable throws all year.
But it’s not just the back end - this front seven can get after you, too.
That’s where things get interesting. Because across the field stands Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye - a talented young passer who’s taken more hits than any quarterback in football this season.
Including the playoffs, Maye has been sacked 62 times, the highest total in the league. Even in the regular season alone, he went down 47 times, which still ranked fourth-most.
The Patriots have been trying to fix their offensive line for years, and it’s been a work in progress. That’s why they invested the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on left tackle Will Campbell.
The rookie has shown flashes, but it’s been a bumpy ride. And now, with veteran right tackle Morgan Moses nursing a knee injury - one he’s been gutting through for weeks - Campbell could find himself under even more pressure to hold the line on Maye’s blind side.
Here’s the reality: if Campbell can’t keep Seattle’s edge rushers at bay, this game could tilt in a hurry.
Seattle's pass rush is deep, disruptive, and relentless. They finished the regular season tied for seventh in the league with 47 sacks, and they don’t rely on just one guy to get it done.
Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy, Demarcus Lawrence, and Uchenna Nwosu all recorded at least six sacks this year. That kind of production across the board makes them tough to scheme against - you can’t just double one player and expect to be safe.
And they’ve got to be licking their chops right now.
Maye hasn’t just been sacked a lot - he’s turned the ball over under pressure, too. In the Wild Card round against the Chargers, he fumbled twice and threw a pick.
A week later, he coughed up four more fumbles and added another interception. Of those six fumbles, five came on strip sacks - and four of them were from the blind side.
That’s Campbell’s territory.
If Seattle’s rushers can get around the edge and disrupt Maye early, it could be a long night for New England.
But here’s the twist: when Seattle doesn’t get home, things tend to fall apart on the back end.
We’ve seen it a few times this season. In a 38-35 loss to the Buccaneers, Baker Mayfield was sacked just once - and he carved up the Seahawks for nearly 400 yards through the air.
Later in the year, Matthew Stafford and the Rams exposed the same vulnerability. In one meeting, Stafford wasn’t sacked at all and torched Seattle’s secondary.
In the NFC Championship Game, he was only sacked once - and threw for 374 yards.
So, the formula is clear. If you can protect your quarterback, you can move the ball on Seattle.
And don’t sleep on the Patriots’ weapons. Stefon Diggs might not be the All-Pro he once was, but he’s still a technician who can make big plays.
Kayshon Boutte brings legit speed and can stretch the field. Mack Hollins is a physical mismatch in the red zone.
And tight end Hunter Henry remains one of the league’s more reliable pass-catching options at his position.
If Maye gets time - and that’s a big “if” - New England has the firepower to put points on the board. Combine that with a defense that’s been playing its best football down the stretch, and the Patriots have a real shot at bringing another Lombardi Trophy back to Foxborough.
But it all starts up front. Super Bowl LX might just come down to how well a rookie left tackle holds up against one of the most balanced pass rushes in the league.
If Will Campbell can keep Maye upright, we could be in for a thriller. If not?
Seattle’s defense might write the final chapter of this rematch.
Buckle up. This one’s got all the makings of a classic.