By Tyler ErzbergerShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe New England Patriots were bad on Sunday night in Super Bowl LX against the Seahawks.
The New England Patriots offense, though?
Now, they weren't bad.
They were historically bad.
Sophomore quarterback Drake Maye had the worst game of his career on the biggest stage, as it took until the fourth quarter for the Patriots to score. And by that point, the Seahawks were already deciding when and how to dump Gatorade on their head coach, Mike Macdonald.
The primary reason for Maye's terrible, nightmarish night is that he didn't have any time to throw. From the first snap he had of the game, the Seahawks were throwing blitzes and stunts that he hadn't seen all year long, with his offensive line crumbling under the pressure.
In particular, the team's top pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Will Campbell, was getting picked on the entire night.
Even when Maye had time, because he never got into a rhythm for the game, he rushed throws and overshot guys when he had time to make a better play.
So how did everything unravel so fast for the Patriots?
Well, Seahawks star cornerback Devon Witherspoon had a secret to tell on SiriusXM after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
More news: ESPN Might Have Leaked the Super Bowl LXI Logo—See It Here First
...More news: Rams’ Puka Nacua Takes Shot at Sam Darnold as Seahawks Win Super Bowl
Like a starting pitcher in baseball that just gave up three home runs and pulled in the second inning, there was a reason for the Patriots' implosion.
They were tipping what they were going to do.
“We had a tell on their guards and their tackles," Witherspoon said to SiriusXM. "How they like to set. They’re going to overset on certain rushes, they’re going to fall for certain moves, any time a group of guys gets after them. And today I think we did that,”
He gave full credit to defensive whiz Macdonald on setting up the defense perfectly to counter anything the Patriots could throw at them on Sunday.
In a game of chess between two defensive leaders, in Macdonald and Mike Vrabel, the Seahawks leader checkmated his rival before they even made their first moves on the board.
“I knew what was going on,” Witherspoon said. “We had a good tell on what they like to do and how they like to play and how they were going to attack us. Coach put us in the best position to win. That’s our coach right there."
Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI Guidelines
Add Newsweek as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Related Podcasts
Top Stories
NewsWootton High School Shooting in Rockville, Maryland: What to Know4 min read
Live BlogNancy Guthrie: Savannah Guthrie Opens Up About ‘Nightmare’ As Search For Her Mother Enters Second Week2 min read
For MembersNewsUncommon Knowledge: MAGA Is Losing the Culture War in the Strangest Places4 min read
NewsGhislaine Maxwell Pleads Fifth: Read Lawyer’s Statement to House Oversight5 min read
For MembersAnalysisRussia Just Delivered the Ultimate Insult to Trump5 min read
NewsThe Political References in Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show8 min readTrending
Winter StormWinter Storm Warning Brings 20 Inches of Snow—‘Delay All Travel’3 min read
Super BowlMAGA Halftime Show Ratings ‘Shot Across the Bow’ for Super Bowl—TPUSA5 min read
Nancy GuthrieNancy Guthrie Disappearance May Not Be Kidnapping: Ex-FBI Official8 min read
Breaking NewsKid Rock’s ‘Rock the Country’ Festival Responds to Artists Dropping Out5 min read
Social SecuritySocial Security: Payments of Up to $5,181 Coming This Week3 min readOpinion
OpinionOf Bad Bunny, Super Bowls and Immigrants | Opinion6 min read
OpinionDonald Trump’s TRIPP Is a Real Peace Agreement Between Armenian and Azerbaijan | Opinion3 min read
OpinionAdam Kinzinger: Depoliticize the National Guard | Opinion4 min read
For MembersOpinionConventional Wisdom: Super Bowl Edition3 min read
OpinionThere’s No Easy Ending to the Trump-Epstein Scandal | Opinion6 min read
