3 Keys to Victory for the Patriots in Tremendous Bowl LX

[ad_1] The Patriots usually are not shying away from the underdog label in Tremendous Bowl LX.

"Any individual has to [be]," coach Mike Vrabel mentioned Monday throughout opening night time festivities. "I don’t assume we dislike it."

However schematically, what's going to it take for the Patriots to really topple the favored Seahawks within the battle for the Lombardi Trophy?

Listed below are three keys to victory for New England:

1. Drake Maye should use his legs With 1:57 left within the AFC Championship Recreation, the Patriots confronted a third-and-5 and had been seeking to ice a grind-it-out 10-7 victory over the Broncos. Drake Maye faked a handoff to operating again Rhamondre Stevenson on his proper after which booted to his left. Within the open discipline, the Patriots quarterback outraced Broncos outdoors linebacker Jonah Elliss to the sideline, the place he secured the game-clinching conversion. It capped a 10-carry, 65-yard dashing efficiency.

Maye’s legs had been pivotal in getting New England previous Denver, and they are going to be simply as important in getting the Patriots their seventh Tremendous Bowl title.

Whereas he’s most lauded for his environment friendly throwing and deep-ball prowess, the MVP finalist can also be one of many league’s most cellular quarterbacks. He led the league in scramble first downs (27) and ranked third in whole scramble rush yards (423) throughout the common season, in line with Subsequent Gen Stats.

Maye averaged 26.5 dashing yards per recreation for the yr, however since Week 15, that’s as much as 38.9 dashing yards per recreation (on 6.6 carries per contest). Within the common season, the Seahawks allowed 5.3 dashing yards per carry to opposing quarterbacks, the fourth-most within the league, per NGS. In order that’s one thing for the Patriots to take advantage of.

The Patriots aren’t a heavy blitzing group — they blitzed on 26.6% of dropbacks within the common season, which tied for 18th within the NFL — but it surely’s a viable choice for slowing down the Seahawks quarterback, who performed the perfect recreation of his profession within the NFC Championship Recreation.

Darnold accomplished 62.5% of his passes when blitzed throughout the common season, posting a 10-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio with a 93.6 passer score, per NGS. Not dangerous, certain, however definitely not as lethal when defenses despatched 4 or fewer passer rushers at him. Below these circumstances, Darnold posted a 15-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio with a 102.1 passer score.

Within the wild-card spherical final season, the Rams bounced Sam Darnold out of the playoffs when he performed for Minnesota. In that recreation, the QB took 9 sacks and threw an interception in a 27-9 L.A. rout. (Picture by Bruce Yeung/Getty Photos)

So blitzing at a better charge than regular could present New England with the perfect alternative to get Darnold to cough up the ball, which he did at a excessive charge throughout the common season. He had a league-high 7.2% turnover charge on pressured dropbacks in 2025, per NGS.

Patriots defensive backs Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III and Marcus Jones have all made a play on the ball on a better share of their targets within the playoffs than within the common season, in line with Subsequent Gen Stats. Gonzalez, Davis, Jones and security Craig Woodson have 4 move breakups apiece this postseason.

3. Use a number of operating again units Taking part in Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson collectively within the backfield is a means for the Patriots to each shore up Drake Maye’s safety and put stress on the Seahawks’ vaunted protection.

New England has struggled to maintain Maye upright within the playoffs. He’s been sacked 15 occasions this postseason (5 occasions apiece within the wild card, divisional spherical and AFC title recreation), probably the most by any participant to succeed in a Tremendous Bowl since 1970, per Subsequent Gen Stats.

Two operating again units would give Maye an additional chipper/blocker up entrance in opposition to Seattle’s sturdy move rush and an outlet within the fast/brief passing recreation to discover a rhythm. That would carry up Maye's passer effectivity, which is down considerably within the postseason.

The Patriots want operating backs TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson to assist QB Drake Maye keep upright and work his magic in Tremendous Bowl LX. (Picture by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photos)

Jumbo formations, with a number of operating backs and tight ends, might be an ideal choice for New England in short-yardage conditions as nicely.

Stevenson and Henderson thrived in jumbo throughout the common season, averaging 9.8 and 5.8 yards per keep it up such rushes, respectively, per NGS. Of gamers with at the least 20 carries in such formations in 2025, Stevenson ranked first within the NFL in yards per carry and Henderson ranked fourth. The Patriots had a league-high 10 touchdowns out of jumbo formation this season.