How both the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots can build on strong defensive performances from the conference title games in Super Bowl LX.
Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba came up big on multiple occasions for the Seattle Seahawks in their NFC championship win over the Los Angeles Rams...
But it was a significant fourth-down stop in the red zone that kept potential MVP Matthew Stafford and the Rams behind on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks' top-ranked defense held the Rams' high-powered offense to just 1-8 conversion on third down in the game to ultimately advance.
Meanwhile, it was the New England Patriots gritting out a low-scoring affair where the wintry weather and altitude on the road in Denver played as much of a factor as anything earlier in the day on Sunday. The Patriots allowed just one score in the Broncos' second drive of the game before an interception from star cornerback Christian Gonzalez sealed a 10-7 win to win the AFC.
Like it was in the conference championships, defense will define Super Bowl LX when the Seahawks and Patriots line up at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara on the night of Feb. 8.
Here's what to expect from both units as they begin to prepare to face one another in the big game.
Seahawks Pair Stout Front Seven with Blossoming Cornerback Duo
The Seahawks and Rams got in a second-half shooting match that saw four consecutive touchdown drives in the third quarter. But despite both quarterbacks routinely carving through the opposition, it was Seattle's defense that came up big when it was most needed.
All-Pro cornerback Devon Witherspoon broke up back-to-back passes from Stafford to turn Los Angeles over on downs and allow Seattle to begin draining time off the clock in the fourth quarter.
Witherspoon rebounded from a shaky start to the game guarding Puka Nacua (who posted an astounding 163 receiving yards) to match the production from the cornerback opposite him for Seattle in standout rookie Nick Emmanwori.
The second-round draft pick showed off his length and physicality with a team-high three passes defensed, with many of them coming in crucial line-to-gain situations in the direction of either Nacua or Davante Adams.
On the inside, LA's starting running back Kyren Williams was limited to just 3.9 yards per carry against a Seahawks front that has given opposing ball-carriers fits all season.
Entering Sunday, Seattle was one of just five teams to allow less than 100 rushing yards per game during the regular season. Overall, the Seahawks' 17.2 the lowest opponent points-per-game average in the NFL.
Seattle hopes to find a similar advantage against young quarterback Drake Maye and another two-headed rushing attack of Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson.
Patriots Lean On Backup QB and Snow Storm, But Come Up Clutch in the End
The Denver Broncos were at an immediate disadvantage when it was confirmed that starting quarterback Bo Nix had suffered a broken bone in his ankle that required surgery after the AFC Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills.
Jarrett Stidham, who had not played a snap all season, took the ball for the AFC's top seed, but ultimately the weather played too much of a factor, and a game-sealing play from the All-Pro Gonzalez pushed the Patriots to their 12th Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.
Stidham was sacked three times by the Patriots' defense that was top-10 against the pass and the run this season. Two missed field goals also killed Denver's chances of sticking around as wind swirled throughout Empower Field at Mile High, blanketing the field in thick white snow.
However, the most critical moment ended up being when Broncos coach Sean Payton chose not to send out the kicking unit.
At the beginning of the second quarter, Denver led 7-0 when a 12-play drive ended empty on a turnover on downs from the Patriots' 14-yard line. Rather than going up two possessions on a chip-shot field goal, Stidham's pass fell incomplete to running back R.J. Harvey on fourth-and-1.
The next possession was another costly mistake by the Broncos' inexperienced signal-caller ... and a clutch recovery by New England.
Stidham tried evading pressure deep in the backfield and shoveled a pass backwards to the left, making it a live fumble. The loose ball was recovered by Patriots linebacker Elijah Ponder. Maye ran in the game's only touchdown two plays later, fully shifting momentum in the direction of New England.
From there, the Gonzalez interception was the second official turnover and iced the Broncos for good.
The Pats allowed just over 100 yards passing on 17-of-31 completions for Stidham and just 79 total yards rushing through the sloppy conditions.
The Seahawks, however, present a more formidable challenge offensively.
Darnold enters Super Bowl LX after a near-350-yard performance through the air - a supreme performance in the biggest game of his life, which shows he's ready for whatever lies ahead.
With Maye and Darnold both making their Super Bowl debuts, both the Seahawks' and Patriots' defenses will be pinning their ears back ready to dictate their teams success yet again.