Super Bowl 2026: Seahawks will dominate if they can beat 5 key Patriots players

The Seattle Seahawks will take the big stage as overwhelming Super Bowl favorites this year. If Bleacher Report is to be believed, they are the most popular bet in Super Bowl history. Sheesh.

While I think the Seahawks should win— and I say that with respect to a worthy championship contender (Mike Vrabel dragged this team from 4-13 last year to the title game in one year!), but they stand no chance on paper.

In football, we know that the game is not played on paper. if so, the 2007 New England Patriots would be known as the greatest team of all time. Let’s take a look at the two previous opponents that the Patriots faced in this year’s playoffs and why they aren’t on Seattle’s statistical level.

The Houston Texans were without Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Joe Mixon and still had chances to win in the divisional round against the Pats. The run game produced a muted 2.2 yards per carry for H-town. The Texan defense finished second to the Seahawks in points allowed and went on to sack Maye five times and force him to cough up four fumbles. I expect a similarly dominant performance from Mike Macdonald’s Hawks unit, and better results for the No. 3 ranked scoring offense. The Texans were 13th in that regard, with Collins.

The Denver Broncos were 14th in points scored, with Bo Nix. They were 4th in points allowed, while the Seattle Seahawks are 1st in that category. Jarrett Stidham (who’s QB Rating of 63 was higher than Maye’s 58.8), in a half-snowy game kept this game to a 3-point difference!

Denver was two bad 1st-half FG situation decisions (going for it on 4th and 1 in the red area, then Stiddy scrambling for a loss of 2 instead of throwing away just before a FG miss) away from a lead before the white dusting gave New England camouflage in their all-white unis. That’s two FG’s that could’ve meant the difference in a potential Super Bowl berth.

Seattle, meanwhile, has the best defense in EPA per play since the previously mentioned 2019 Patriots. This team is special. If we compare it to these Patriots setting marks for lowest-scoring 3-game postseason run in Super Bowl history and top three easiest schedules in the past 50 years of Super Bowls, it feels like this could be a major mismatch.

As we make comparisons to the ’07 Patriots and the ‘19 Patriots while Seattle gets ready to battle the new models, it’s perhaps a great reminder that special squads can get the hands too. Nothing is given; it’s earned.

Here are the New England players of the 2025 team who will need to be instrumental if the Patriots want to stage one of the largest Super Bowl upsets we’ve seen. Seattle will need to have plans for all.

Drake Maye, QB

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Drake Maye had the top Passer Rating of all the quarterbacks. Sounds like the ideal situation you’d want from your quarterback. The young sophomore phenom was one vote short of winning MVP in his second season at the controls. IF he would’ve won, he would’ve joined current or future Hall of Famers in Dan Marino, Kurt Warner, Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson.

That’s a hypothetical but impressive alternate reality. What is irrefutable, is that Maye threw for 4.4k yards and 31 TDs against 8 INTs during the regular season and will look to ignite another New England title run. He is public enemy number one. The Seahawks’ Dark Side defense will be charged with stopping the return of the empire behind a new young leader (one who can scramble).

Christian Gonzalez, CB

All-Pro Cornerback, Christian Gonzalez filled the stat sheet in the AFC Championship game with a 6 tackle, 1 sack, 1 INT performance, and can blanket receivers in the passing game. He will apparently shadow JSN, according to Carlton Davis, which will be a get your popcorn ready matchup at times.

Unfortunately for him, he may be in hell trying to keep up with the man who lines up outside, in the slot, and even out of the backfield.

Milton Williams, DT

This dude is capable of destructive activities from the defensive interior. The disruptive defensive tackle put on a show as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles in last year’s Super Bowl. Seahawks guards, Grey Zabel and Anthony Bradford will need to be on their P’s and Q’s in order to keep he and teammate Christian Barmore out of the backfield. Both OGs haven’t been perfect but have proven capable of moving the line of scrimmage at times throughout the year.

Stefon Diggs, WR

Stefon Diggs looked near the end of his career after making it back from a major knee injury to play for the Houston Texans last year. With the benefit of more time in between his surgery and now, Diggs looks reborn. Surprisingly, when taking the postseason into account, ESPN has the veteran wideout ranked #1 in their overall Receiver Score rankings… just ahead of Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Puka Nacua. “Unc” has still got it. He also has 17 games of playoff experience under his belt.

K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE

Why this guy? The former Jags pass rusher may not even be the best rusher on the team, as Harold Landry III fights to make it back for this contest… but he is an x-factor.

Chaisson registered 3 sacks, 7 QB hits, 1 forced fumble and 1 PBU over the first two playoff games for the Pats. This could’ve been one of the two running backs, but KLC has a chance to put together a heater of a playoff run if he can help flush Darnold from the outside edge. He and a healthy Landry together is a threat. Seattle is well positioned to handle this threat if Charles Cross is fully healthy.

Now… if your heart rate is up just thinking about these agitators to the coronation, just remember that Seattle has proven capable of landslide victories, and did not lay down for any trap games this year. Some of these Patriots may make good plays. The Seahawks have proven capable of overcoming individual performances as a team.

The stats bear out that Seahawks leadership has done an excellent job at scouting, game-planning and just straight winning this year. There will be plans for these five, and I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds in a matter of hours.

If the Hawks cover their bases, they could put on another show in their final act on the way to a world title.

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