The New England Patriots enter Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks as underdogs, but unlike Super Bowl XX, when the Chicago Bears KO\u2019d New England 46-10, the Patriots do have more than a puncher\u2019s chance against the Seahawks.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what New England will have to do Sunday to pave a path to victory:<\/p>\n
Improve on offense<\/h3>\n
Quarterback Drake Maye looked like an MVP candidate during the regular season<\/a>, when he directed a New England offense that was second among NFL teams in points per game (28.8) and third in yards per game (379.2). That offense hasn\u2019t been nearly as effective in the postseason, however.<\/p>\n The Patriots are averaging 18 points per game in the playoffs. That point total includes a defensive TD New England scored during its 28-16 victory over Houston in the AFC\u2019s divisional round.<\/p>\n Many of the offense\u2019s problems in the playoffs have come on third down and in the red zone. The Patriots have converted on 13 of their 43 third-down attempts, and entered the end zone twice in six trips inside their opponents\u2019 20-yard line. Maye has also been sacked 15 times in the three playoff games.<\/p>\n Some of the issues can be explained by the snowy and windy conditions in Denver during the second half of the AFC championship game, but that still leaves 10 quarters of lackluster offense.<\/p>\n Maye passed for 4,394 yards with 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions during the regular season. Since New England will be facing a Seattle defense that ranked first in points allowed during the regular season (17.2), any chance of an upset on Sunday starts with Maye and the offense\u2019s ability to revert to regular-season form.<\/p>\n \u201cWe’ll have to stay balanced,\u201d New England coach Mike Vrabel said. \u201cOur best games we were able to provide some semblance of run game and were able to kind of marry some of the play-action passes. I don\u2019t think in this league you want to turn things into a drop-back passing game. That makes things really difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If the Patriots can be stingy<\/a> against the run they can turn Seattle into something close to a one-dimensional offense and force quarterback Sam Darnold to beat them. That might be the best recipe for the defense to have success Sunday.<\/p>\n New England ranked fifth in rush defense during the regular season (101.7 ypg), a number that would have likely been even better if defensive tackle Milton Williams hadn\u2019t missed five games with a high-ankle sprain.<\/p>\n Seattle\u2019s offense averaged 123.3 yards rushing per game this season (tied for 10th), but running back Zach Charbonnet tore an ACL in the divisional round against the 49ers and won\u2019t play Sunday. If the Patriots can bottle up Kenneth Walker they can focus more resources on Seattle\u2019s passing game, meaning more pressure on Darnold and giving extra attention to wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who led the league with 1,793 receiving yards.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll need our best effort (defensively) on Sunday to help us win the football game,\u201d Vrabel said.<\/p>\n The Patriots don\u2019t have to win the special teams battle, but they can\u2019t lose it \u2013 at least not by a significant margin.<\/p>\nLimit Seattle\u2019s running game<\/h3>\n<\/section>\n
Oct 6, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) returns to the locker room following pregame warmups against the New York Giants at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
Don\u2019t allow big plays on special teams<\/h3>\n