SANTA CLARA, Calif. — When new head coach Mike Vrabel arrived in January, his messaging was clear and optimistic.
He wished the Patriots “to win the AFC East, to host house playoff video games, and to compete for championships.”
In that regard, they miraculously completed these objectives in a single 12 months, however on Sunday, after furthering their bond as a workforce within the unseasonably heat temperatures of the Bay Space, competing for championships was now not sufficient. The Patriots’ goals had evolved. They wanted to win, and so they failed of their pursuit of a Lombardi Trophy, falling to the Seahawks 29-13.
The sport successfully ended when Maye threw a pick-six to linebacker Uchenna Nwosu when he was within the technique of being clobbered by cornerback Devon Witherspoon. The turnover gave the Seahawks a 29-7 lead. The Patriots scored on their subsequent possession to chop the Seahawks’ result in 29-13 when Maye flipped the ball to Rhamondre Stevenson for a 7-yard landing. The 2-point conversion failed.
However the Patriots’ offense was by no means really aggressive in Tremendous Bowl LX. Certain, that they had one landing drive early within the fourth quarter when Maye accomplished two straight deep passes to large receiver Mack Hollins. However in the end, these could be counted as nothing greater than a fluke. After which they scored in rubbish time. In actuality, the Patriots have been blown out for the primary time all season. They punted on their first eight full possessions. Maye turned the ball over 3 times. They by no means established the run. They may by no means get right into a rhythm.
The Patriots’ protection, nonetheless, ought to stand proud after Sunday’s contest. They held the Seahawks to 4 subject objectives and only one offensive landing. It was removed from an ideal efficiency, and so they received’t be remembered as a traditionally nice unit as they hoped, however they weren’t the rationale the Patriots misplaced.
The Patriots received the coin toss and elected to defer. They bent however didn’t break, permitting a 33-yard subject purpose to Jason Myers on the opening drive. Seahawks quarterback hit tight finish A.J. Barner and large receiver Cooper Kupp for large features with slot cornerback Marcus Jones in protection.
Working again Rhamondre Stevenson ran nicely on the Patriots’ first drive, however they in the end have been pressured to punt after an eight-play, 28-yard collection. Quarterback Drake Maye took a 10-yard sack after the Patriots have been capable of choose up two first downs, and the offense couldn’t get well.
The Patriots pressured a three-and-out on the Seahawks’ subsequent offensive collection. All three of Darnold’s throws went to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Darnold was 1-of-3 for 4 yards on the drive.
The Patriots picked up a primary down on their first play, with Maye connecting with large receiver Kayshon Boutte for a 21-yard go. They went backwards on three gamers earlier than punting after Maye was sacked on third down by cornerback Devon Witherspoon.
The Seahawks picked up one first down on a third-down throw from Darnold to Barner. He would have been stopped brief if not for a missed deal with from linebacker Robert Spillane, who’s coping with an ankle damage. Rookie security Craig Woodson made a 5-yard deal with for loss on a speeding play from Seahawks large receiver Rashid Shaheed. Darnold then threw two straight incompletions to Smith-Njigba. Exterior linebacker Anfernee Jennings got here away with a go breakup on a goal to JSN within the flat.
The Patriots went three-and-out once more earlier than Myers linked on a 39-yard subject purpose for the Seahawks to go up 6-0. Rookie security Craig Woodson had two extra tackles for loss on the drive for 3 on the sport. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez seemingly levitated for a go breakup on a deep go to Shaheed on the primary play of the collection.
One other drive, one other three-and-out for the Patriots’ offense, who went backwards once more, dropping 2 yards on three performs. Maye took his third sack of the sport for a complete lack of 30 yards.
The Seahawks’ offense went simply 29 yards on eight performs earlier than punting and pinning the Patriots again on their very own 2-yard line. Exterior linebacker Ok’Lavon Chaisson continued to convey strain and delivered a second QB hit of the sport.
The Patriots picked up a primary down however have been pressured to punt from their very own 12-yard line, giving the Seahawks the ball at their very own 43.
The Seahawks elevated their result in 9-0 with a 41-yard subject purpose from Myers earlier than the half. Gonzalez almost prevented it with an interception, however the go breakup nonetheless saved a landing. That’s two touchdowns saved for Gonzalez.
The Patriots acquired the ball to start out the second half however went three-and-out once more. The Seahawks responded with a subject purpose to go up 12-0. Three large performs sparked the 10-play, 69-yard drive: 16-yard completions to Shaheed and JSN and a 20-yard run from Kenneth Walker.
The Patriots went three-and-out for the second time in consecutive drives. Working again TreVeyon Henderson picked up 9 yards on first down and no achieve on second down. Maye’s third-down go was inaccurate and incomplete.
The Seahawks matched the Patriots with their very own three-and-out. Defensive deal with Milton Williams lastly acquired house for a sack on Darnold on first down.
The Patriots punted for the eighth time, going three-and-out once more. Maye’s third-down throw to Kayshon Boutte was off, and he began the sport 7-of-16 for 56 yards.
After the Patriots’ protection pressured one other three-and-out and punt, Maye was strip-sacked, and Seahawks defensive deal with Byron Murphy recovered for the turnover. The giveaway gave the Seahawks the ball on the Patriots’ 37-yard line.
The Seahawks scored on a play-action go from Darnold to Barner for a 16-yard landing, growing their result in 19-0.
The Patriots bounced again instantly and confirmed some life after a streaker interrupted the sport by working down the sphere and avoiding safety guards. Maye capped off a three-play, 65-yard drive with a 35-yard deep landing to large receiver Mack Hollins. That play got here proper after Maye hit Hollins for 20 yards in the midst of the sphere.
The Seahawks have been pressured to punt earlier than the Patriots took over at their very own 4-yard line. They confirmed life on a seven-play, 40-yard drive earlier than Maye tossed it deep and straight to Seahawks security Julian Love for an interception. That got here 4 performs earlier than Maye threw one other reckless go right into a crowd of Seahawks that fell incomplete.
BEST
WR Mack Hollins: Hollins led the workforce with 4 catches on eight targets for 78 yards with a landing. His two catches on the Patriots’ first scoring drive have been the Patriots’ solely actual indicators of life.
S Craig Woodson: The rookie security was a monster in opposition to the run with three tackles for loss and one other defensive cease. He had a go breakup early within the fourth quarter, as nicely.
CB Christian Gonzalez: The Patriots’ prime cornerback floated by means of the air on a go breakup whereas masking Shaheed downfield. He later broke up a go over Smith-Njigba that saved one other landing earlier than the half and deflected one other go late within the third quarter that was meant for Kupp.
WORST
LT Will Campbell: The rookie deal with let up a sack and was penalized for a false begin. Proper deal with Morgan Moses additionally allowed two sacks.
LG Jared Wilson: One other rookie, Wilson didn’t assist out on the sack Campbell let up, really knocking exterior linebacker Derick Corridor into Maye. He additionally let up a sack, as did heart Garrett Bradbury.
QB Drake Maye: Let’s name it what it was: Maye wasn’t helped by his offensive line, however he additionally performed terribly. The second-year professional accomplished simply 26-of-41 passes for 271 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He took six sacks for a lack of 43 yards and misplaced a fumble on a strip sack.
