Keys To Victory: When the New England Patriots are on Offense in Super Bowl LX

The New England Patriots’ 2025 turnaround has been one of the greatest in NFL history.

After a combined record of 8-26 in the previous two seasons (4-13 in both 2023 and 2024), Mike Vrabel took over and has now tied the NFL record for most wins in a head coach’s first year with a team, including the postseason (George Seifert, 1989 San Francisco 49ers).

New England has won 16 of their last 17 games after starting 2025 1-2, and they became the first team in NFL history to go 9-0 on the road with their victory in the AFC Championship Game.

The Patriots’ 416 games played by players in their first year with the team is the most by any team to make the Super Bowl, surpassing the previously held mark of 327 set by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021.

For much of the season, New England’s success could be attributed to their offense — led by 23-year-old sophomore phenom Drake Maye, whose 17 wins are the most by any quarterback in NFL history under the age of 24.

During the regular season, Maye put together an MVP-caliber performance with 4,844 total yards, 35 total touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a franchise record 72% completion percentage while leading the NFL in yards per attempt (8.9) and passer rating (113.5).

En route to becoming just the third quarterback in NFL history to start a Super Bowl at age 23, Maye also accomplished something in the postseason no other quarterback ever has: defeating three of the top-five highest-ranked NFL defenses in the same playoff run.

In a postseason run led primarily by the Patriots defense, Maye’s completion percentage has dropped to 55.8%, he’s averaging 6.9 yards per attempt, and he has been sacked 15 times and fumbled six times.

He’s the only quarterback in the Super Bowl era with five-plus giveaways and 15-plus sacks taken in a single postseason, but he has found ways to win in critical moments of the biggest games of his young career — even if the numbers haven’t been as eye-popping as they once were.

Now, with the opportunity ahead to become the youngest quarterback to win the Super Bowl in NFL history, Maye takes on perhaps his toughest test yet: the NFL’s number-one ranked scoring defense, the Seattle Seahawks (17.2 points against per game).

We’ve already taken a look at the chess pieces Seattle has on the board defensively in our previous Who’s Who? New England Patriots Offense vs. Seattle Seahawks Defense in Super Bowl LX. Now, it’s time to dive into the heart of the matchup.

How might Josh McDaniels, Drake Maye, and the New England offense devise a plan to overcome the Seahawks’ vaunted defense? Here are some keys to victory for the Patriots offense in Super Bowl LX:

It’s likely that the Seahawks defense will force New England’s hand in terms of play-calling script, putting more on the plate of Maye as the game moves along.

The key to Maye’s aggressiveness downfield will be the Patriots’ ability to hold up much better in pass protection than they have through this point of the postseason.

New England has allowed 15 sacks this postseason, and Maye has fumbled six times. Nine players in the NFL have allowed two-plus sacks during the playoffs this year, and four of them are Patriots: Morgan Moses (four), Will Campbell (four), Jared Wilson (two), and Hunter Henry (two).

When kept clean this season, Maye was an assassin: 78.1% completion percentage, 3,137 passing yards, 9.1 yards per attempt, 25 touchdowns, five interceptions, and a league-leading passer rating of 116.2.

Under pressure this postseason, Maye has still found ways to be effective: he’s completed 8-of-14 passes (57.1%) with 149 yards (10.6 yards per attempt, leads the NFL), one touchdown, no interceptions, and a league-leading passer rating of 117.9.

But that’s a tough way to live in a Super Bowl. And the rest of these keys are predicated on the Patriots’ ability to keep Maye upright.

Protecting Maye starts with a solid run game — which may be difficult to establish against Seattle.

The Seahawks were the NFL’s top-ranked unit against opposing rushing attacks, ranking first in EPA per rush (-0.19) and yards against per rush (3.7), second in rushing yards against per game (91.9), and third in success rate against the run (35.4%).

Over the course of the regular season, the Patriots showed a tendency to abandon the run early, rushing on just 41.3% of their offensive snaps (as compared to the Seahawks’ 47.4%). But that has changed in the latter stages of the season and into the playoffs.

Rhamondre Stevenson has excelled behind a McDaniels rushing scheme that has implemented a heavy dosage of jumbo personnel (six offensive linemen). That was highlighted in the second half of the AFC Championship Game, when New England had six offensive linemen on the field for over 41.2% of their offensive snaps while trying to grind out yardage and the clock.

With Seattle seemingly allergic to running base personnel onto the field (just 45 snaps in base this season), the Patriots will be incentivized to support Maye with larger bodies on the field and a power run game that can open up opportunities for chunk plays via play-action in the zones behind it later on.

At 4.6 yards per carry this season, Stevenson is having one of the more efficient outings of his career, and his growing confidence as a rusher has shown with each passing week. He’s accounted for 280 yards during New England’s playoff run, and his production will be essential in maintaining offensive balance around Maye in the Super Bowl.

Key #1: Pound the rock. Getting going on offense will begin with a strong foundation running the football.

Stevenson has looked rejuvenated since returning from a toe injury that kept him sidelined from Weeks 9-11, rushing for 518 yards on 5.28 yards per carry since returning and adding 23 receptions for 262 yards (11.3 yards per reception) during that timeframe.

And he’s been as reliable a pass protector as he’s been toting the rock.

On 93 pass-blocking snaps, Stevenson has allowed just six pressures and one sack. His 6.5% pressure rate is sixth-lowest among all running backs, including the postseason. That led to him seeing all but four offensive snaps in the AFC Championship Game, and that’s likely to continue in the biggest game of the year.

The Patriots could look to get Stevenson going with the use of larger personnel packages featuring multiple tight ends, a fullback, and/or an additional offensive lineman to create mismatches against a Seahawks defense that runs over 90% of their total snaps in nickel or dime personnel.

Seattle has been stout against zone rushing attacks with their four down-linemen all season long, but New England’s gap schemes and larger bodies could force them into running more base personnel than they’re used to.

When they do, that’ll open up shots downfield for the Patriots’ passing game — and provide Maye with some extra time to throw.

With the passing offense struggling to find a rhythm this postseason, it’s been Drake Maye’s scrambling ability that has kept New England alive in several critical moments. Maye has accounted for 141 yards rushing in the playoffs, with 125 of those coming off scrambles.

That may be one area where the Seahawks defense can be had.

During the regular season, Seattle ranked just 24th in success rate against quarterback scrambles while allowing the second-most scramble attempts (43) and ranking last in EPA per play in those situations. The Seahawks also allowed the most passing yards in the league to quarterbacks (414 yards) on plays outside of structure — another area where Maye excelled in 2025.

If the Patriots are to find consistent success moving the ball down the field against Seattle, it’s more probable than not that Maye’s mobility will once again be on display.

That’ll start with the run game, but advance in the latter portions of the game to a play-action scheme designed to move the launch point for Maye — slowing the pass rush and giving him the ability to push the ball downfield or take off with it himself.

Maye has been highly efficient in play-action this season, using it on nearly 25% of total dropbacks and completing 74.6% of his passes at 9.8 yards per attempt, with 11 touchdowns, just one interception, and a passer rating of 128.8.

He’s gained 547 of his 591 rushing yards off scrambles this year, but with McDaniels calling plays, it’s also likely that Maye has a package of plays built around designed quarterback runs as well.

That was evident in the AFC Championship Game, when Maye scored the Patriots’ only offensive touchdown on a quarterback draw in the second quarter, and then booted outside on a keeper to gain a first down and seal the victory late in the fourth quarter. The touchdown was Maye’s second score of the season on a quarterback draw, with the other coming in Week 15 vs. Buffalo.

Key #2: Get Maye on the move. Maye’s mobility has been an offensive x-factor for New England during their postseason run — and it’s been a hidden weak point for the Seattle defense.

In the Seahawks’ Divisional Round win over the 49ers, Brock Purdy’s most effective plays came with his legs, scrambling four times for 34 yards.

Maye is much more adept at making plays with his legs, scrambling five times for 60 yards in the Patriots’ Wild Card win over the Chargers and three times for 57 yards in the AFC Championship Game.

More than just making a broken play work with his legs or arm, expect Maye to be involved in the run game in critical situations.

We’ve seen New England enjoy offensive success in the low red zone and in short yardage on the rare occasions they’ve used Maye as a designed runner — and their limited usage of him in those situations overall could make that a tendency-breaker in the Super Bowl.

We’ve seen McDaniels scheme up quarterback-designed gap-scheme runs in the past with Cam Newton under center, and even pull out a college-style speed option during this playoff run.

There’s certainly more in the bag that has yet to be unveiled — and all of those things will be on the table for the Patriots on Sunday.

Seattle’s coverage grades rank near the top of the league this season with star corner Devon Witherspoon (90.4 overall grade on PFF, 1st of 112 corners) and safety Nick Emmanwori (81 tackles, 11 pass breakups, nine tackles for loss) blanketing the X receiver and the slot.

With Julian Love (90.1 overall grade on PFF, 3rd of 91 safeties), Ernest Jones IV (six interceptions), and Coby Bryant (four interceptions) also hovering over the middle of the field, Maye is likely to have a difficult time looking for underneath routes to Stefon Diggs based on the matchup.

Diggs has been quiet this postseason, hauling in 11-of-16 targets (68.8% catch rate) for 73 yards (6.6 yards per reception) and one touchdown. In the regular season, he became the first Patriots receiver since 2019 with 1,000-plus yards receiving, catching 85-of-100 targets (85% catch rate, led the NFL) for 1,013 yards (11.9 yards per reception) and four touchdowns.

If the Seahawks continue a trend of blanketing Diggs, look for Hunter Henry to be available in the zone openings created behind him.

Running the NFL’s third-highest percentage of Cover 2 (31.7% of defensive snaps), the Seahawks allowed 105 receptions (fifth-most in the league) and 1,080 yards (sixth-most in the league) to tight ends during the regular season.

Henry (31) is having a career year with the Patriots this season, tying his career high in receptions (66) and setting a new best mark for receiving yards (849, 12.9 yards per reception) while finding the end zone eight times.

Seattle’s Cover 2-heavy zone scheme will also open opportunities for Maye to pick spots to be aggressive.

During the regular season, Maye was the NFL’s highest-rated passer against zone coverage (110.2) and specialized against Cover 2.

Maye played two games against one of the only teams to run Cover 2 at a higher rate than the Seahawks: the Miami Dolphins (34% of defensive snaps were based in Cover 2, second-highest mark in the NFL).

In Week 2, Maye completed 14-of-16 passes with 184 yards passing against the Dolphins’ zone. In Week 18, he completed 14-of-18 passes with 191 yards and a touchdown against them.

Some of Maye’s best throws this season have come against Cover 2 shells: the Week 5 hole shot to Kayshon Boutte on the game-winning drive in Buffalo, the lob over the top to Mack Hollins in Tennessee, the long-yardage conversion to Efton Chism III in the Wild Card Round, and the fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Henry later that game.

Key #3: Pick apart the zone. New England will need to be selective when they take their shots, but if they’re able to protect Maye, Seattle’s coverage scheme may present favorable matchups for the Patriots to generate explosive plays in the passing game.

Maye will target Henry or Diggs frequently in critical situations, and both have been reliable. Henry may get more volume based on game script, but Diggs will certainly have an impact when New England is in “gotta have it” situations.

When Seattle does get caught in Cover 2, look for Maye to aggressively target Kayshon Boutte 18-22 yards downfield in the defense’s “honey hole.” Boutte has been superb on plays 20-plus yards downfield this season, hauling in 10-of-14 targets of 20 or more yards during the regular season for 266 yards (26.6 yards per reception), five touchdowns, and a passer rating of 153.3 when targeted.

If Witherspoon is able to take Boutte out of the game, it’s been back-side digs over the middle from Mack Hollins that Maye has commonly turned to against zone.

Hollins’ wide catch radius has been on display all year, as the 6’4”, 221 lb. receiver has wrangled in 43-of-53 targets (81.1% catch rate) with 471 yards receiving and two touchdowns from 0-19 yards downfield. He boasts a PFF grade of 97.6 on targets 10-19 yards downfield, and has a contested catch percentage of 85.7%, wrangling in 6-of-7 targets with less than one yard of separation.

Now that we’ve dissected both sides of the football for both teams and presented keys to victory, only one thing remains: Super Bowl Sunday.

Seattle will assuredly be New England’s toughest test of the season — and it’s only fitting that it comes in Super Bowl LX.

The Patriots will need to embody the road warriors’ spirit one last time if they’re to return to Foxboro with a Lombardi Trophy.

Need even more of a preview ahead of Sunday? Check out this week’s Patriots Roundtable Podcast, where we break down all of the most important matchups in Patriots vs. Seahawks.

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Related Articles:

- Keys To Victory: When the New England Patriots are on Defense in Super Bowl LX

- Who’s Who? New England Patriots Offense vs. Seattle Seahawks Defense in Super Bowl LX

- Who’s Who? New England Patriots Defense vs. Seattle Seahawks Offense in Super Bowl LX

- What a Super Bowl LX Berth Means For the 2025 New England Patriots

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