Super Bowl LX: Seahawks offense vs. Patriots Defense — the chess match

Super Bowl LX (Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026) at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara sets up a fascinating contrast: Seattle’s balanced, motion-heavy attack under OC Klint Kubiak versus a New England defense led by HC Mike Vrabel and DC Terrell Williams (with Zak Kuhr heavily involved in play-calling duties this season).

Below is a position-by-position, concept-by-concept breakdown of how the Seahawks can move the ball—and how the Patriots are built to stop them.

The personnel that shapes everything

Seattle’s core offensive group

Seattle’s offensive depth chart tells you exactly what kind of game they want to play:

• QB: Sam Darnold

• RB: Kenneth Walker III

• WRs: Cooper Kupp, Rashid Shaheed, Jaxon Smith-Njigba

• TE: AJ Barner (with Eric Saubert/Elijah Arroyo behind)

• OL: Charles Cross (LT), Grey Zabel (LG), Jalen Sundell (C), Anthony Bradford (RG), Abraham Lucas (RT)

• FB: Robbie Ouzts (a real “Kubiak-family” indicator—21/12/22 personnel variety)

What that implies: Expect Seattle to live in under-center play-action, marry runs and boots, and then use elite route craft (Kupp/JSN) plus vertical stress (Shaheed) to keep New England from squatting.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba Highlights 🔥 | NFL Offensive Player of the Year

New England’s defensive spine

The Patriots’ Super Bowl depth charts (team site + Ourlads) line up with a flexible front and a coverage group that can match multiple WR types:

• Front/edge: Christian Barmore, Milton Williams inside; Harold Landry III / K’Lavon Chaisson off the edge

• ILBs: Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss (with Marte Mapu as a movable chess piece)

• Corners: Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, plus Marcus Jones in the nickel

• Safeties: Jaylinn Hawkins, Craig Woodson, Brenden Schooler

What that implies: New England can play man coverage with size (Davis), a true shadow candidate (Gonzalez), and a quick nickel (Jones), while still bringing pressure from multiple body types.

Christian Gonzalez – 2024 Season Highlights – New England Patriots – NFL

1) The early-down battle: Seattle’s run game vs New England’s front math

Seattle’s goal: force “big people” to declare

With Cross–Zabel up front and a real FB (Ouzts), Seattle can lean into wide zone / split zone / duo and force the Patriots to show whether they’re living in an odd (3-down) world or bumping into even fronts.

New England has lived in odd-front DNA recently, and even when they’re in nickel, they can present “3-3-5” spacing that muddies blocking angles—especially versus outside zone.

The key matchup: Kenneth Walker vs Spillane/Elliss fits

Walker’s best value isn’t just “hand it off”—it’s forcing the Patriots linebackers to fit downhill and then punishing over-pursuit with cutbacks and explosives. The Patriots’ ILB pair (Spillane/Elliss) is sturdy and physical; Seattle has to stress them horizontally with motion and surface changes (TE/FB shifts).

Seattle’s best answers

• 21/12 personnel to create heavier edges (Ouzts + Barner)

• Orbit/jet motion with Shaheed/JSN to widen second-level rules (and set up play-action shots later)

• Split-zone to slow Landry/Chaisson and reduce run-throughs

Patriots’ best counters

• Tilt/angle the front to spill zone runs to pursuit

• Walk a safety down late to create an extra fitter (without showing it pre-snap)

Kenneth Walker III Highlights | 2025 -26

2) The passing-game centerpiece: Kupp + JSN vs Gonzalez + Marcus Jones

Where Seattle can win: the “in-breaking” economy

Kubiak-style offenses thrive on play-action glance routes, deep over routes, and high-low stretch concepts that punish linebackers for stepping up. That’s exactly where Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are most dangerous: option routes, leverage reads, sit-downs versus zone, and timing versus man.

The Patriots’ problem: If they commit to stopping Walker and bite on PA, those crossers stack behind them quickly.

The Patriots’ solution: Put Christian Gonzalez on the primary separator and use Marcus Jones as a robber/rat or sticky nickel, depending on the call.

How New England likely deploys Gonzalez

Gonzalez is the kind of CB you can:

• Travel with the No. 1, or

• Play boundary match and bracket inside help

If Seattle treats Kupp as “the chain-mover,” the Patriots can try Gonzalez on Kupp in critical downs (3rd-and-6, red zone) and let Marcus Jones handle JSN underneath—with safety help shading to Shaheed’s side.

3) The explosive-play lever: Rashid Shaheed vs the Patriots’ safety structure

Shaheed changes the geometry. He forces:

• More two-high looks (or at least “two-high shells”)

• More bail technique from corners

• More “no free access” rules when he’s in the slot

Seattle’s favorite way to cash it: hard run looks + max protect + a deep over/post to Shaheed, especially if New England rotates late and the rotation is readable.

New England’s favorite way to survive it: disguise the post safety, keep the top on the defense, and make Darnold take the boring throw—checkdowns and shallow crossers—over and over.

Rashid Shaheed Rare High Quality Clips for Edits! (Seahawks & Saints) (Upscaled With Topaz)

4) Protection and pressure: the Landry/Chaisson edges vs Seattle’s tackles

If the Patriots can win without blitzing, the entire game tilts their way.

• Harold Landry III is the cleanest “win” button for New England’s rush plan.

• K’Lavon Chaisson gives them speed and closing burst opposite him.

Seattle’s tackles (Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas) are pivotal: if they hold up, Seattle can keep route concepts intact long enough for Kupp/JSN to separate late in the down.

The hidden fight: interior disruption

Even if the edges are stable, the Patriots’ interior (Barmore/Milton Williams) can ruin play-action by collapsing the launch point before the boot develops.

Seattle’s best protection answers

• Move the pocket (boots, half-rolls)

• Chip help with Barner/Ouzts and release late

• Condense formations to reduce edge runway (tight splits help tackles)

Patriots’ best pressure answers

• Simulated pressures (show blitz, drop out, rush four)

• Interior stunts to attack communication between LG–C–RG

5) Third down: can Seattle stay out of “Gonzalez time”?

On money downs, defenses want to:

1. Remove the first read

2. Speed up the QB

3. Rally and tackle short of the sticks

The Patriots have the corners to challenge separators and the front to win with four—the ideal third-down combo.

Seattle’s third-down plan should revolve around:

• Bunch/stack releases (free Kupp/JSN from press)

• RB choice routes and quick check releases to punish man

• TE seams off play-action if the Patriots become too “flat” in coverage

6) Red zone: condensed field, condensed answers

In the low red zone, Shaheed’s vertical stress matters less—space disappears—so you often see defenses lean into:

• Tight man coverage

• Brackets on top options

• Fast pressure (because throws take longer in tight windows)

That’s where Seattle’s personnel variety is crucial: Barner + Ouzts create real play-action threats on the goal line, and Kupp’s route IQ can still win quickly if Darnold’s first read is clean.

For New England, the red-zone blueprint is simple:

• Force throws outside the numbers

• Make Darnold be perfect against tight windows

• Keep eyes on Kupp on pivots/returns and JSN on option routes

The “if-this-then-that” summary

If Seattle runs efficiently early (Walker forcing safeties down), the play-action crosser game to Kupp/JSN becomes a nightmare to defend—New England can’t both fit the run and sit on in-breakers.

If New England’s front wins on early downs (stonewall runs + muddy boots), Seattle gets pushed into longer dropbacks where Gonzalez + pressure packages can tilt the down.