Key Highlights
- Treveyon Henderson looks like he might be wearing down, forcing the Pats to lean on Rhomondre Stephenson, who has struggled in his own right, averaging under 4 yards per carry through their 3 games. MORE: Mattress Mack reveals massive $2 million Super Bowl 60 wagerNew England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel talks to quarterback Drake Maye (10) during the second quarter at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Oct.
- 19, 2025. This game can’t rest solely on the shoulders of their young quarterback, so New England is going to need to run the ball and make some big plays between defense and special teams to beat Seattle.
- Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels are going to need to dig into their bag of tricks and come up with a game plan to protect their young QB, both physically and mentally.
- As the two most experienced participants in this game, if they can’t do it, nobody can. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe point has been made that the Pats have faced three of the league’s top 5 defenses in the playoffs this year, and facing Seattle’s #6 unit won’t be a shock to their system.
- Generally, this point is brought up when the whole “they haven’t played anybody” narrative gets thrown at them. MORE: ESPN, NFL finalize billion-dollar media deal after government approvalJan 25, 2026; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez reacts after an interception against the Denver Broncos in the 2026 AFC Championship Game at Empower Field at Mile High.