As Super Bowl LX approaches, the stage is set for a classic clash of strengths: the New England Patriots’ high-powered offense versus the Seattle Seahawks’ punishing, top-tier defense. And if the Seahawks are going to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, it’s going to start-just like it has all season-with their defense setting the tone.
Seattle’s defense has been the backbone of their success from the jump. They’ve made a habit of overwhelming opponents, and now they’re staring down a Patriots offense that doesn’t flinch easily.
Led by quarterback Drake Maye-who’s firmly in the MVP conversation-New England finished the regular season ranked third in total offense, averaging 379.4 yards per game. They’re not just flashy through the air either.
This is a balanced attack that can beat you in multiple ways.
Maye and the Patriots’ passing game ranked fourth in the league, putting up 250.5 yards per contest. But what often gets overlooked is how effective their ground game has been, accounting for nearly 129 rushing yards per game. That’s where Seattle’s defense has a real opportunity to flip the script.
The Run Wall: Seattle’s Defensive Identity
Stopping the run has been Seattle’s calling card all year. They allowed just 91.9 rushing yards per game-third-best in the NFL-and no running back cracked the century mark against them all season.
The closest? Kyren Williams of the Rams, who managed 91 yards in mid-November.
That’s as good as it got for opposing backs.
Now, with Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson lining up in the Patriots’ backfield, Seattle’s front seven will be tested again. But if they play to their standard, they could force New England into a one-dimensional game plan.
That’s exactly what some analysts are predicting. The idea is simple: if Seattle shuts down the run, Maye will be forced to carry the offense with his arm-and maybe his legs. That’s no small ask on the biggest stage in football, especially considering Maye hasn’t quite replicated his regular-season magic during the playoffs.
Seattle did allow 5.3 yards per carry to quarterbacks this season, so Maye might find some daylight if he takes off. But if Stevenson and Henderson are bottled up, the Patriots lose a key part of their offensive balance. And that’s when Seattle’s defense can really start to feast.
Blitz with Purpose, Pressure with Precision
Here’s where things get even scarier for New England: Seattle doesn’t blitz often, but when they do, it’s devastating. The Seahawks ranked among the bottom of the league in blitz rate-only bringing extra pressure about 21 percent of the time.
But when they did send heat, they generated pressure at a jaw-dropping 56 percent clip. That’s the highest in the league.
Only the Houston Texans even came close, and no other team cracked 50 percent.
This isn’t just about volume-it’s about efficiency. Seattle’s blitzers are surgical.
Linebackers Ernest Jones IV and Drake Thomas, rookie sensation Devon Witherspoon, and safety Nick Emmanwori have all shown they can explode through gaps and disrupt plays before they even get started. They don’t just get to the quarterback-they get there fast and with purpose.
That kind of selective aggression is a nightmare for a young quarterback like Maye, especially if he’s forced into obvious passing situations. If Seattle can take away the run and pin their ears back on third down, it’s going to be a long day for the Patriots’ offense.
The Blueprint for a Championship
This is the formula that’s carried Seattle all season: stop the run, create pressure without overcommitting, and let their athletes make plays. Against a Patriots team that thrives on balance, disrupting that rhythm could be the key to everything.
Drake Maye is talented-no doubt about it. He can make all the throws, and his mobility adds another layer to the Patriots’ offense. But if Seattle forces him to win the game on his own, under constant duress, with a run game that’s stuck in neutral, it plays directly into the Seahawks’ hands.
This isn’t just about one defensive front versus one offensive line. It’s about a complete, cohesive unit that’s been dominant all year, now stepping onto the biggest stage with a chance to finish the job. If the Seahawks’ defense shows up like they have all season, there’s a real shot that they’ll be the ones celebrating when the confetti falls.