PostGame Thread 2025 OFFICIAL POSTGAME THREAD: Patriots fall 29-13 to the Seahawks

[Real fan 02]

Surprised so few people are talking about this. Very bad look for Marrone and McDaniels.

He can say whatever he wants.. they won so he can brag and boast.. the OL **** the bed and Drake was injured... simply put... this very same offense was top 5 all season 28 PPG.. I'm not going to bail on them now. I've said personally that everything changed in the playoffs.. offensively

 

[Ring 6]

Thats literally what the video is about rofl. What his reads needed to be.

That guy does knife what the progressions are. You don’t drip back scan all 5 guys and pick who to throw to. Thats not how it works.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Surprised so few people are talking about this. Very bad look for Marrone and McDaniels.

He said:
“We had a tell on their guards and their tackles, 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 get after them, and today I think we did that,” Witherspoon said.

I'm not sure he's saying what Florio thinks he's saying. I think he's saying they studied them and knew how to get after them, not that the Patriots were showing their hand for what play was coming. But I'm not 100% sure what he was saying.

 

[JonBonesJones84]

Sam Darnold isn’t a terrible QB. Sure he’s not elite but why are we making this out to be that he’s some bottom tier qb? He’s decent

Because he is. He was bad in the Vikings and Panthers. He just finally had an elite oline and offense.

 

[1960Pats]

For whatever reason Maye has regressed in the playoffs.

He started listening to P Manning.

 

[Ross12]

He said:
“We had a tell on their guards and their tackles, 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 get after them, and today I think we did that,” Witherspoon said.

I'm not sure he's saying what Florio thinks he's saying. I think he's saying they studied them and knew how to get after them, not that the Patriots were showing their hand for what play was coming. But I'm not 100% sure what he was saying.

Some further film reviews from others seem to be finding that the Seahawks defense routinely knew the exact play being run frequently down to the route.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

He can say whatever he wants.. they won so he can brag and boast.. the OL **** the bed and Drake was injured... simply put... this very same offense was top 5 all season 28 PPG.. I'm not going to bail on them now. I've said personally that everything changed in the playoffs.. offensively

Not the first time a young QB has some issues with recognition against a fast defense, so I agree not to overreact. I think this gauntlet of Houston-Denver-Seattle defenses was a LOT for this offense to deal with at this point in their growth. They did well enough in the first two and then made mistakes in the last one, plus credit to a great Seattle D.

Despite all of it we weren't really out of the game until the pick 6, and if we'd had normal breaks this could've been a different ending. They didn't call the offsides on that 4th & 3 punt. They didn't call the Unsportsmanlike on that out of bounds skirmish. Hollins was interfered with around midfield in the 4th qtr. That 3rd qtr punt return would have set us up in in Seattle territory. And the pick-6 was a 14 point play because if he'd had the extra split second to get that off, he had Boutte running free down the right sideline for a TD to make it 19-14, the safeties were both on the left side.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Some further film reviews from others seem to be finding that the Seahawks defense routinely knew the exact play being run frequently down to the route.

Sure. I just don't want to draw too much from this quote.

 

[JonBonesJones84]

The Patriots mistake on offense was to keep waiting for Darnold to mess up and then take advantage. You cannot rely on turnovers. They come and go in waves. It was a bad approach that burned them. Once Seattle got up 6-0, they were not going to take chances offensively themselves. Protect the ball and let our defense destroy Campbell all night.

That was our strong point; have the defense confuse or pressure the QB into making mistakes. It worked for Herbert, Stroud, and Stidham. Is Darnold slightly better than those QBs? His system sure was. This is after all the same Darnold that pukes all over himself during prime time, as was the case in Minnesota

 

[JonBonesJones84]

They pulled a "Patriots on Denver" trick. Once the Patriots did nothing on the first drive in the 3rd, I knew it was over. That is when it became clear that absolutely zero adjustments were made.

For many years, the Patriots would struggle at the start of SB's. But you always knew they would get better/at least put up a few TD's as the game went on.

We had a combination of Brady, Edelman, James White, Brandon Lafell, Amendola or Gronk

 

[NFL Mystique]

We had a combination of Brady, Edelman, James White, Brandon Lafell, Amendola or Gronk

Brady made those guys much better than they actually were. Same with Branch, Patton, Givens etc. Edelman was a combination of Brady and having elite traits himself. Gronk--no debate. He helped Brady just as much as Brady helped him. But Brady did win SB's on offense long before any of the guys you mentioned were ever thought of.

My point was, fans were never used to seeing a Patriots offense never adjust as a SB went on. I think Sunday was shocking because it was the fist time fans had zero confidence in a Patriots offense. In terms of SB appearances.

All in all, they lost to the much better team imo.

 

[NFL Mystique]

That was our strong point; have the defense confuse or pressure the QB into making mistakes. It worked for Herbert, Stroud, and Stidham. Is Darnold slightly better than those QBs? His system sure was. This is after all the same Darnold that pukes all over himself during prime time, as was the case in Minnesota

Once it was a two score game, the "conservative approach" needed to change. You knew Seattle was not going to give the game away. Go out and be ultra aggressive and lose by playing the way you played most of the seasn. 4th and 1? Go for it.

Would it have mattered? Probably not. Seattle was the better team. There is no shame in losing. The shame is how it all went down.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Beyond the boo-hoo, I was shocked to read the final stats. Granted, there is much to be said for the label garbage time, and it cuts both ways.

If you haven't seen or read the final Maye stats, close your eyes and try to think of how many TDs, INTs, and yards he had.

Ready?

27/43, 295 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT

Not world-beating but it's amazing to see the actual final no.s (235 passing yards were in the 4th, but to say they had no effect is being extremely positive about it, given the pick 6)

Add in there a total of 6 sacks and a fumble on the 37 to get the more complete picture.

Hope this hasn't been posted before. We can all chase our tails with how badly his shoulder was hurt, and what the tell was on the NE offensive line... frankly, if NE read a tell on SEA's line, they'd say we taped their walk-through... (sh*t salty Patriots fans say...)

All in all, they were better than us. All in all, it's surprising how much less better they were.

"We'll get 'em next year." See you guys late on draft day.

 

[KCSVEN]

He said:
“We had a tell on their guards and their tackles, 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 get after them, and today I think we did that,” Witherspoon said.

I'm not sure he's saying what Florio thinks he's saying. I think he's saying they studied them and knew how to get after them, not that the Patriots were showing their hand for what play was coming. But I'm not 100% sure what he was saying.

Yeah, sounds like when they set to pass block, they do it a certain way and will be susceptible to certain moves.

 

[NFL Mystique]

Does this Seattle win avenge SB 49 for Seahawks fans? Apparently so.

But they were a pass away from a dynasty. Whereas this team could just be a fart in the wind.

 

[UrbanCowboy]

Because he is. He was bad in the Vikings and Panthers. He just finally had an elite oline and offense.

Seemed to me that Sammy played a great game given the pressure we put on him. He was elusive, took what was there, and didn't make any mistakes. I tip the that to him!

 

[Real fan 02]

Not the first time a young QB has some issues with recognition against a fast defense, so I agree not to overreact. I think this gauntlet of Houston-Denver-Seattle defenses was a LOT for this offense to deal with at this point in their growth. They did well enough in the first two and then made mistakes in the last one, plus credit to a great Seattle D.

Despite all of it we weren't really out of the game until the pick 6, and if we'd had normal breaks this could've been a different ending. They didn't call the offsides on that 4th & 3 punt. They didn't call the Unsportsmanlike on that out of bounds skirmish. Hollins was interfered with around midfield in the 4th qtr. That 3rd qtr punt return would have set us up in in Seattle territory. And the pick-6 was a 14 point play because if he'd had the extra split second to get that off, he had Boutte running free down the right sideline for a TD to make it 19-14, the safeties were both on the left side.

Agreed entirely here! Point I'm eluding to is Seattle is the lesser evil of the defenses Drake saw in Houston and Denver.. Seattle uses blitzing to create pressure and the OL just couldn't handle it and pick it up correctly.. guys we're open all day.. plus whenever your rushing 4 and getting home you can sit back and dictate on defense.. the OL was the primary reason the offense was inept no OL, no Offense..no matter who's at QB..this game reminded me of the 2016 AFCCG in Denver.. the OL was disastrous is why we lost..

Additionally look at an OL who held up pretty well against them in the rams.. Stafford carved up Seattle's defense all game.. Nucua is the reason they lost..

I was under the impression having seen Chargers, Houston (who I feel is the best defense in the league ) Denver all those aggressive defenses would have better prepared the offense to deal with Seattle

Also This can't be said enough W. Campbell was still injured and really shouldn't have been out there no matter what he says or the team. He was a detriment to the OL all post season. Lowe should have remained in.

 

[Real fan 02]

He said:
“We had a tell on their guards and their tackles, 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 get after them, and today I think we did that,” Witherspoon said.

I'm not sure he's saying what Florio thinks he's saying. I think he's saying they studied them and knew how to get after them, not that the Patriots were showing their hand for what play was coming. But I'm not 100% sure what he was saying.

I wonder.. Did he have a tell when Stafford was carving up his defense?

 

[Real fan 02]

Does this Seattle win avenge SB 49 for Seahawks fans? Apparently so.

But they were a pass away from a dynasty. Whereas this team could just be a fart in the wind.

I feel confident of Vrabel and what he's implemented as a foundation... they can only go up from here... I saw championship mettle in this team.. they will learn from this and become a better team next season.. barring health,ect.. add in a better well rounded roster they will be contenders again next season.

 

[jal]

Seattle was both more talented and played better than us on Sunday. It happens.

We played the game with a conservative strategy knowing that they were better. We wanted to pressure Darnold into turnovers and hope that won us the game, all while doing our best to avoid turnovers on the offensive side. Basically we tried to play the SB36 game plan. We came close a few times but never could quite get our hands on an interception and we started falling behind slowly and inexorably.

We could have opened it up early on offense (spread them out and go for it) which probably would have resulted in some better offensive output but also would have come with likely a bunch of turnovers (see 2H). We decided to try to win the game on defense instead, which honestly wasn't a bad strategic choice even if it didn't turn out to work for us.

Would we have gone with this strategy if we had more confidence in the offensive line's ability to block them? Probably not. But you play with what you have.

The only coaching criticism I really have is that we never tried playing Brown/Lowe ever in the playoffs even while the rookies were struggling badly, and it was clearly snowballing into affecting our QB's mental state. I get loyalty to your players and maybe the rookies looked better in practice, but my god could it get any worse than what they put out there on the field? Nothing to lose, should have tried out the backups just to see if they could create some stability and give Drake a chance to reset his mind. When your QB is rattled due to pressure and you can't run the ball, your offense has no chance.