The Key Matchups Of Super Bowl LX

With the Super Bowl coming up, over 100 million people are getting ready to watch who will come out on top between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Both teams are well-coached and filled with star players, so who and what will define the game?

Can Drake Maye Recover From His Playoff Slump?

Drake Maye is undeniably the X factor of Super Bowl LX. The MVP runner-up has struggled through the playoffs so far. In total, he has lost three of six fumbles, thrown two picks, and has been sacked 15 times through two playoff games. His completion percentage has also averaged out to 55.8%, far from his regular season completion percentage of 72%. It’s important to note that both games Maye has played have been in extreme weather conditions, which won’t be as much of a factor in Levi Stadium, where temperatures will be far above freezing.

Maye has already played two very strong defenses throughout the postseason, but the Seahawks are no different, so Maye will still have a difficult task at hand. The Seahawks’ defense is particularly strong thanks to its fierce run defense, which allows the fewest rushing yards per game in the league. The Patriots ranked 6th most in rushing yards per game, but Maye himself contributed pretty heavily to this with his 450 regular-season rushing yards, which ranked 4th among QBs. Put simply, the Patriots will likely struggle to run the ball consistently, so Maye will be forced to use both his arm and legs to give the Patriots a chance to win.

Another Wide Receiver Super Bowl MVP?

Jaxon Smith-Njigba has established himself as one of the NFL’s best receivers this season, leading the league in receiving yards and becoming the engine of the Seahawks offense. He is undoubtedly the best offensive player in the Super Bowl, maybe aside from Maye, and could easily turn the tide of the game. Although the Patriots have a great cornerback in Christian Gonzalez, he is not unbeatable, and Klint Kubiak will look for ways to get Smith-Njigba the ball. If he gets enough opportunities, Smith-Njigba could easily turn the game in the Seahawks favor.

A Battle In The Trenches

The interior defensive lines of both Super Bowl teams are among the best in the league and have been major contributors to both teams’ defensive success this season. Christian Barmore and Miltion Williams will have an easier matchup against the Seahawks’ interior offensive line, which has been unimpressive outside of rookie Grey Zabel. The Patriots’ interior offensive isn’t leagues better, however. Their best running back, TreVeyon Henderson, has struggled in pass blocking, which could limit the Patriots’ personnel choices. Drake Maye has also taken a large number of sacks this season, so Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy could be in for big games.

How Will The Biggest Game Of The Year Pan Out?

Super Bowl LX will likely be defined by dominant defensive performances with high passing volume. For how magical a season Drake Maye and the Patriots had, they will have an uphill battle waiting for them. The Seahawks have a better defense, better offensive weapons, and two of the NFL’s best young playcallers on both sides of the ball in Klint Kubiak and Mike Macdonald. That said, the Seahawks are not infallible, and anything can happen in the NFL on any given Sunday.