The NFL season opens next Wednesday with a New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl rematch. This will be the third time in NFL history that the Super Bowl matchup has kicked off the following season.
Though the Patriots and Seahawks just faced off, both have seen arrivals and exits that have completely altered the matchup. The organizations remain the same, but changes to both rosters will result in a different game than the one played this past February.
In the Super Bowl, New England was outmatched as their offense lacked the talent to compete against the tough Seattle defense. The Patriots struggled to move the ball, as their offense didn’t possess many reliable contributors outside of Drake Maye. This was something that the Seahawks defense took notice of.
“The plan was to get to Maye and disrupt him,” said Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu. “We knew he was their whole team. We knew if we affected him, their whole game plan would be nothing”.
With the sparsity of offensive talent being clear, New England went out of their way to improve their offense. They started by addressing their offensive line, which allowed 18 pressures and six sacks in the Super Bowl. The Patriots signed Alijah Vera-Tucker in free agency to play left guard and moved Jared Wilson to center.
Vera-Tucker is a versatile lineman who performs well when healthy. He missed all of last season, but when he was healthy in 2024, he had a PFF (Pro Football Focus) grade of 77.7. Vera-Tucker’s arrival also allowed Wilson to move back to C, which he played while in college.
The addition of Vera-Tucker will help left tackle Will Campbell, who allowed 14 pressures in the Super Bowl, in pass protection. His play should help Campbell when the Seahawks load up on the left side to generate pressure.
Similarly to their offensive line, New England’s wide receivers were disappointing in the Super Bowl. Seattle was able to focus on Maye because the WRs struggled to get open consistently and separate from defenders. In response to this, the organization signed Romeo Doubs and traded for A.J. Brown.
The improvements to the Patriots’ offense will likely benefit them in this Week 1 matchup. Both Brown and Doubs will offer the offense chain-moving ability and the threat of deep downfield completions. Meanwhile, the changes to the O-line could result in cleaner pockets and clearer running lanes.
New England’s offensive advancements will aid Maye particularly. In the first matchup, he lacked time in the pocket to process the Seahawks and attack the defense down the field. While these additions won’t guarantee his passing success, they help to take some of the weight off his shoulders by providing more offensive avenues.
In the Patriots vs Seahawks rematch, Maye won’t have to carry New England’s offense. Many of his errors came when he tried to make big plays regardless of the pressure coming his way. With this new offense, he may not have to do that, as they could provide enough assistance to change Seattle’s defensive focal point.
Seattle was able to overwhelm New England in February. Behind a better supporting cast, however, and another year of development for Maye, the Patriots should be better equipped for the Seahawks’ defense in Week 1.
While New England’s offseason was highlighted by their gains, Seattle’s was highlighted by their losses. The Seahawks have lost a starter and depth pieces on defense who played valuable roles in the Super Bowl. Coby Bryant, Riq Woolen, and Boye Mafe all left this offseason.
Bryant and Woolen helped the Seahawks cover the Patriots’ WRs, making it difficult for Maye to find openings downfield. Meanwhile, Mafe was used as a rotational pass rusher, generating pressure and helping Seattle maintain a healthy pass rush.
The key defensive departures should impact the Seahawks during the Week 1 matchup. Though they still have many solid defensive players and the strategies of head coach Mike McDonald, losing that depth could impact their rotation. This could result in them relying more on their starters, which would take a toll on their performance if New England’s offense can extend drives.
Seattle also suffered departures on the offensive side of the ball. The Super Bowl MVP, Kenneth Walker left in free agency to join the Kansas City Chiefs. Walker had great success against the Patriots defense as he ran for 135 yards on 27 carries and broke six tackles.
Walker was a major reason why the Seahawks could march down the field and control the game. Without him, they will have to find a new source to replicate that production against a tough New England defense that will be looking to stop the run.
Seattle’s losses don’t stop at the on-field players either. The Seahawks’ offensive coordinator last season, Klint Kubiak, left to accept the Las Vegas Raiders head coaching job. Though they’ve hired Brian Fleury to replace him, he is entering his first year as an OC in the NFL, which adds another area that requires adjusting.
Nevertheless, the departures Seattle has experienced don’t suddenly make it a bad team. The Seahawks still have talent at all three phases of the game. Although Seattle’s roster is still impressive on paper, the changes made to it will alter how they matchup with New England in Week 1.
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With the changes between the two teams, the Patriots vs Seahawks Week 1 matchup will not be a repeat of the Super Bowl. New England has gone out to improve their two largest offensive holes by addressing the O-line and WR corps. In contrast, Seattle has lost several key players and their OC, making them a different team than the one that won last February.
The same limitations on the Patriots and the advantages of the Seahawks don’t exist. In the rematch, Seattle will have to establish a new way to win, and New England must manufacture a different game plan. Nevertheless, the reconstruction of both organizations will provide a different pairing and lead to a more compelling game.
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