If the Seattle Seahawks end up hoisting the Lombardi Trophy on February 8, don’t be surprised if it’s their defense-the so-called “Dark Side”-leading the charge. And if they do, it likely means they made life miserable for Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye in Super Bowl LX.
Now, Maye's had a strong postseason, but he's also taken a beating along the way. Through three playoff games, he’s been sacked 15 times-that’s five sacks per game.
To put that in perspective, the next closest quarterback in this postseason, Matthew Stafford, has been sacked just six times. That’s a massive gap, and it paints a clear picture: New England’s offensive line has been leaking pressure, and Maye’s been feeling it.
This isn’t just a playoff trend either. During the regular season, Maye was sacked 47 times-only three quarterbacks were brought down more. That’s a red flag heading into a matchup with a Seattle defense that tied for seventh in the league in sacks during the regular season with, you guessed it, 47.
Now, Seattle’s playoff sack numbers haven’t jumped off the page-just three in two games-but that doesn’t tell the whole story. This is a defense that can heat up in a hurry, especially if they find a matchup to exploit. And they just might have one.
The Patriots’ offensive line has been solid in stretches, but there’s a potential soft spot: rookie left tackle Will Campbell. Taken fourth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft out of LSU, Campbell’s had a decent year by the numbers-five sacks allowed isn’t terrible for a rookie.
But in the AFC Championship Game against Denver, he showed some cracks. And if you’re Seattle, that’s the kind of thing you circle in red ink on the game plan.
That’s where edge rushers like Uchenna Nwosu and Boye Mafe come in. If either of them gets rolling off that edge, it could be a long night for Maye. Nwosu’s got the veteran savvy and motor to disrupt timing, while Mafe’s burst and power make him a handful for any tackle, let alone a rookie still adjusting to the NFL’s biggest stage.
And here’s the thing: Maye’s been excellent this season. He led the league in both QBR and passer rating, threw for over 4,000 yards with 31 touchdowns and just eight picks.
The talent is obvious, and his poise has been a big reason the Patriots are even in this game. But even the best quarterbacks need time to throw.
And right now, that’s the one thing Maye hasn’t consistently had.
The Seahawks know that. They know if they can collapse the pocket and keep Maye under pressure, they can tilt the game in their favor.
It’s not just about sacks-it’s about disrupting rhythm, forcing hurried throws, and maybe even creating turnovers. That’s how defenses win championships.
So, while all eyes might be on the quarterbacks in this Super Bowl matchup, keep a close watch on the trenches-specifically, Seattle’s edge rushers against New England’s rookie left tackle. If the “Dark Side” shows up the way they’re capable of, the Seahawks could be the ones celebrating under the confetti.