The Patriots are on to Super Bowl LX after grinding out a snowy, bruising AFC Championship win in Denver over the Broncos.
It was a win that showcased the team's resilience and ability to make the critical plays in the harshest playoff environments. Now comes the final test: the Seattle Seahawks, owners of the No. 1 defense in football. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald's defensive unit ranks atop the league in DVOA, EPA, points allowed, and third-down conversion rate. After already facing three top-10 defenses on their way to the Super Bowl, the Patriots will now see their toughest test yet.
On the other side of the ball, the Seahawks feature a physical and explosive offense led by quarterback Sam Darnold and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who led the league in receiving yardage (1,793) and caught 10 touchdowns. Combined, Seattle's offense, defense and special teams make them one of the most well-balanced teams in the NFL.
Here are three keys to watch that will determine whether the Patriots can complete one of the most unexpected and impressive Super Bowl runs in franchise history.
1. Drake Maye vs. Seahawks Defense
If Drake Maye plays like the MVP candidate he was for most of 2025, the Patriots should make this a highly competitive game. But this will be another elite defense and likely the best of the bunch that Maye has faced this preseason, and they do it with discipline, speed, and suffocating structure.
This is the biggest test of Maye's young career on the game's biggest stage.
The Seahawks have depth and talent along their defensive line, often creating enough pressure with just four rushers. They rarely blitz (28th in blitz rate), but when they do, they usually get home and force mistakes. Led by Pro Bowlers Demarcus Lawrence (51 QB pressures) and Leonard Williams, who was also a second-team All-Pro, the Seahawks feature four players with 40-plus QB pressures. They're deep and they can all get after the passer.
Behind the front, the linebackers and secondary rally to the football, quickly closing space and limiting yards-after-catch, with second-team All-Pro cornerback Devon Witherspoon and dynamic rookie Nick Emmanwori heavily involved around the line of scrimmage. Linebacker Ernest Jones covers a lot of ground, earning a second-team All-Pro nod this season while picking up a team-leading five interceptions. They'll heavily disguise their intentions as well, giving Maye plenty to digest at the line of scrimmage pre-snap.
While Maye has delivered some elite postseason moments like his four touchdown tosses or the damage done with his legs, he has also taken 15 postseason sacks and put the ball on the ground six times while playing in weather that ranged from cold to impossible. Sacks and turnovers will not result in a favorable outcome against Seattle.
Maye made positive strides in the AFC Championship by eliminating the turnovers, and he'll get a break from the cold, stormy weather in the California climate. Those are signs for optimism against the potent Seahawks, but he'll need his best protection to establish any comfort in the pocket.
If Maye reclaims his regular-season form by taking the easy completions to set up accurate deep shots, timely scrambles and spreading the ball around to all of his weapons, the Patriots can threaten a defense most teams have failed to dent.
2. Can the Patriots Defense Make Darnold See Ghosts (Again)?
Sam Darnold has rewritten his narrative over the last two seasons, resurrecting his career in Minnesota, then parlaying it into a huge year for the Seahawks. He's been poised, decisive and aggressive, and Seattle's scheme and surrounding talent have maximized him. But he is still a quarterback who can be influenced by pressure and disguise. He threw 14 interceptions this year, a reminder that mistakes are still baked into his game when he's forced to process late or throw off platform.
Darnold's weapon of choice is Jaxon Smith‑Njigba, who has compiled a standout season with 1,793 yards, 10 touchdowns, and countless mind-blowing catches. He is a player New England must account for on every snap.
But the Patriots defense is peaking at exactly the right time. They've played three of their best games of the season in the playoffs, tightening up their red-zone execution and benefiting from the return of Milton Williams, who has been a playmaker and game-sealer for New England this season.
Seattle was third in rushing attempts this season, while New England's run defense has been a season-long strength. If the Patriots can contain Kenneth Walker on early downs and then put the pressure on Darnold, it could be a winning formula.
3. Clutch Underdogs
It's been only six seasons since the Patriots were last in the Super Bowl, but they're a completely different team with a completely different cast of characters. No, this 2025 team far more resembles the upstart underdogs from 2001 than the heavily-favorited dynasty Patriots, and they should embrace that mentality.
The Seahawks have the gaudy rankings and have played their best football of the year in knocking off two divisional rivals in the playoffs. They're favorites for good reason.
For years, we heard the Patriots teams of the dynasty claim that no one believed in them, that they got no respect. But when you're winning three Super Bowls in four seasons, those words can ring a bit hollow.
Now, the 2025 Patriots can lean into being the underdogs; lean into the talk of their easy schedule, of the opponent injuries that helped pave their way to the Super Bowl, of anything that puts the focus and pressure on the Seahawks. Nothing is more dangerous with a team that plays like they have nothing to lose. That's a big reason why every one of the last nine Patriots Super Bowls was still up in the air in the fourth quarter.
Super Bowl LX should come down to the very end as well if the Patriots play with the giant chip that has been building on their shoulders all season long. Then, it will just take one more score or one more stop at the end for a seventh Super Bowl title.
DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer
