Patriots’ offense can prove it is for real in massive Super Bowl 2026 test

It could have been confused with magic, created by Drake Maye and returning offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. 

In one year, the Patriots offense vaulted from 30th in scoring to second in the league, from 31st in total yards to third, led by a 23-year-old quarterback who became the first player in history to lead the NFL in completion percentage (72.0) and yards per attempt (8.9) in the same season. 

But Maye was the only offensive player on New England to be named to the Pro Bowl, building his MVP candidacy on the strength of a balanced attack that ranked sixth in rushing and fourth in passing, but lacked a back among the league’s top 20 in rushing yards, and had only two receivers among the top 70 (Stefon Diggs and TE Hunter Henry). 

Was it magic — or an illusion? 

The Patriots’ transformation from four-win embarrassment — in Jerod Mayo’s lone season as head coach — to AFC champs under Mike Vrabel came with the aid of the league’s softest schedule, in which they avoided playing a top-10 scoring defense, while enjoying eight games against bottom-nine defenses, helping them put up 28.8 points and 379.4 yards per game.

Drake Maye of the New England Patriots makes a pass during the second quarter in the AFC Championship Playoff game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on January 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. Getty Images

In the playoffs, New England has faced three top-eight scoring defenses, and been limited to 18 points per game — the lowest postseason average by any Super Bowl participant since the 1979 Rams — and 278.3 yards per game, while committing five turnovers.

Super Bowl 2026 brings the Seahawks’ top-rated defense.

“That’ll be critical, our ability to create some of those [explosive] plays that maybe we haven’t had as many of and we’ve had in previous games,” Vrabel said after the team’s first Super Bowl practice. “Whether we hand it off, we’re going to need to gain some chunks, and if we throw it, we’re going to need to do the same.” 

Maye, who missed Friday’s practice with an illness and is also dealing with a new shoulder injury, is set to become the second-youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl, and hoping to avoid joining the group of the all-time youngest quarterbacks (Dan Marino, Ben Roethlisberger, David Woodley, Jared Goff) who struggled on the biggest stage.

Maye’s play started suffering once his first postseason began, passing for 177.7 yards per game, with a 55.8 completion percentage, four touchdowns, two interceptions and six fumbles (three lost). 

The offensive line — featuring a pair of rookies (Will Campbell, Jared Wilson) — hasn’t been of much help, allowing 15 sacks in the playoffs after letting Maye take the fourth-most sacks (47) this season. Seattle presents the unique challenge of the league’s fourth-best pressure rate (38.9) and the eighth-lowest blitz frequency (22 percent). 

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye runs against the Denver Broncos during the second the half of the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Denver. AP

This week, Tom Brady favorably compared this Seattle unit to the vaunted “Legion of Boom,” which propelled the franchise to its only title after limiting the highest-scoring offense in history (Peyton Manning’s Broncos) to eight points in a Super Bowl blowout at MetLife Stadium. 

“[The Legion of Boom’s] scheme was a little more predictable,” Tom Brady told Seattle Sports. “If I saw certain coverages, I knew where the weak spots were. It’s not as predictable with this defense. This defense spins the dial a little bit more with their coverage schemes, where they decide to put their help … 

“It takes a Matthew Stafford surgical passing team to really exploit that.”

Or perhaps a scrambler.

Maye has helped make up for his inconsistency by rushing for 47 yards per game in the postseason, producing six first downs, along with running in New England’s only touchdown in the AFC Championship. 

While the Seahawks allowed the fewest yards per carry (3.8) this season, they ranked 14th against quarterback scrambles, surrendering more than 5 yards per attempt. 

“I know some of the scrambles have been big time for us,” Maye said Thursday. “Just trying to do whatever I can to remain a passer and try to hit one of the guys. If I can’t, just try to go make a play.”