Curran's Patriots-Seahawks Preview: Can New England stop Russell Wilson?
Might've steered you a little wrong last week. Gotta be upfront about that. I didn’t see the Patriots defense playing almost flawlessly. Not with all the offseason departures and opt outs.
Cam Newton and the offense, I kinda get it in retrospect. We knew Miami would be caught unaware and they were. I just didn’t expect Cam to be the force of nature he was. Good on the Patriots!
But I’m gonna go bad guy again. I like Fitz and you like Fitz but Fitz isn’t Russ. And Russ is a beast. So when the Patriots land in smoky Seattle, they’ll be walking into a far different challenge against these Seahawks defensively.
Offensively? As Josh McDaniels said this week, scheme-wise, the Seahawks are the polar opposite of Miami. And he didn’t say this but I will – Seattle also has better players.
Seattle plays the Cover-3 defense the Tom Brady-led Patriots have traditionally picked apart with short underneath passes to the soft spots. It’s the running back (Shane Vereen in SB49, James White in SB51) and the complementary inside receiver (Danny Amendola, Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell) who become the focal points.
Do the Patriots have a good enough second receiver behind Julian Edelman to make plays? Keep an eye on Damiere Byrd. And definitely keep an eye on White.
As for how often Cam runs it, the Seahawks play zone coverage as opposed to man-to-man, which is what Miami plays. They play one-gap along the defensive line which means they’ll be penetrating instead of building a wall as Miami did. They blitz from the secondary.
After seeing that Newton is the focal point of the offense, the Seahawks will make sure they force him to give the ball up on read-options, etc. They have the speed and talent at linebacker (Bobby Wagner) and safety (Jamal Adams) to do it.
Expect Pete Carroll to unleash Adams in this game a week after he terrorized the Falcons. Atlanta was able to put up numbers in the passing game. Atlanta also has a better passing game.
It’s all Russell Wilson.
Last week he was 31 for 35 and threw four touchdown passes. He’s got a big outside receiver (D.K. Metcalf), a playmaking slot man (Tyler Lockett), a good tight end (Greg Olsen) and serviceable pass-catching tight end (Jacob Hollister) a hard-running back who can catch it (Chris Carson) and a defense in front of him that – despite last week’s outstanding performance against Miami – is now fighting up a class in terms of talent.
The Patriots were ultra-aggressive last week against Ryan Fitzpatrick in terms of sending pressure. It will be interesting to see if they take the same risks against Wilson.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers has made his last 13 field goals dating back to last season. He’s steady.
The Seahawks' punter is Michael Dickson. He had a solid opener against the Falcons with a 45.8 net and two kicks inside the 20. Their punt returner is David Moore. He had one return for 15 yards last week.
The Patriots are solid with Jake Bailey and their punt coverage unit. Nick Folk pushed a field goal attempt last week but he’s been steady since coming on board last season. Their punt returner still seems to be TBD.
Keeping Wilson contained on third down. Remember in SB49 when the Patriots didn’t allow Wilson to complete a pass until 5:36 remaining in the first half? It’s because they kept discipline in their pass rush and didn’t let him break contain. Eventually, he did.
He had a 17-yard scramble, and completions of 23 and 44 yards before the break to tie the game at 14. And it was because he got loose.
The Patriots have to keep him in front of him with their “mush rush” and stay away from explosive plays at key junctures.
James White
Whenever the Patriots face this Cover-3 style defense, there are opportunities for their backs to be involved in the passing game. White, who had three catches for 30 yards in the opener against the Dolphins, figures to be a factor for the Patriots in this one.
Tyler Lockett
The Seahawks got Lockett with the 69th pick in the 2015 draft. That would be five picks after the Patriots took Jordan Richards. The could have used him then. They could use him now. Lockett is a do-it-all wideout. He caught all eight passes Wilson sent his way last week for 92 yards and is coming off an 82-catch, 1,057-yard season. He will probably be a job for J.C. Jackson if the Patriots send Stephon Gilmore after Metcalf.
Seattle Seahawks
DOUBTFUL: DE Rasheem Green (neck), OT Cedric Ogbuehi (pectoral)
QUESTIONABLE: WR Phillip Dorsett (foot)
New England Patriots
OUT: LB Josh Uche (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE: WR Julian Edelman (knee), WR Matthew Slater (knee), WR N'Keal Harry (shoulder), TE Dalton Keene (neck), LB Brandon Copeland (knee), DL Adam Butler (shoulder)
![<p>“Look at the guys that really are, to me, the big three out there: it's Pete Carroll, it's [Russell] Wilson and [Bobby] Wagner. Those three guys – you can't really find a game or a play where they don't epitomize everything that the Seahawks stand for and the success that they've had.</p>
<p>"I think the team really runs through those three guys, as it should. Their consistency and mental toughness and passion for the game is just really, really impressive.</p>
<p>"We know how tough it's going to be out there. It's always tough against those guys – doesn’t matter where it is. It could be in a parking lot or wherever the game is. They just compete extremely hard on every down, from snap to whistle, for 60 minutes."</p>
<p><em>– Bill Belichick on the challenge posed by Seattle</em></p>](https://media.nbcsportsboston.com/2023/05/Carroll_Pete_Wilson_Russell_USATSI_13741968.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=1500%2C844)
“Look at the guys that really are, to me, the big three out there: it's Pete Carroll, it's [Russell] Wilson and [Bobby] Wagner. Those three guys – you can't really find a game or a play where they don't epitomize everything that the Seahawks stand for and the success that they've had.
"I think the team really runs through those three guys, as it should. Their consistency and mental toughness and passion for the game is just really, really impressive.
"We know how tough it's going to be out there. It's always tough against those guys – doesn’t matter where it is. It could be in a parking lot or wherever the game is. They just compete extremely hard on every down, from snap to whistle, for 60 minutes."
– Bill Belichick on the challenge posed by Seattle
"The nature of these guys, they're going for it. I love it. I love the way we were able to show first time out how we like to play the game.
"There's a lot of improvement to be had, but I'm glad that the message was clear, that we're coming out to knock the hell out of you when you play us. That was fun."
– Pete Carroll on the first game played by his 2020 defense
