American Football
Five Patriots stars whose postseason dominance has taken New England to Super Bowl LX
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The playoffs are a second home for the New England Patriots. This is their 12th Super Bowl appearance, an NFL record and four clear of the Steelers, Cowboys, 49ers and Broncos.
New England’s road to Super Bowl LX has been paved by its top performers this postseason. The Patriots will need their best to defeat the Seattle Seahawks and claim the franchise’s seventh Lombardi Trophy.
DAZN News’ Gavin Babbitt breaks down the marquee players of the Patriots’ postseason.
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Christian Gonzalez, cornerback
Gonzalez leads all cornerbacks in targets defended. He has allowed only 10 receptions and conceded only 25 yards after the catch. Over 174 snaps in the playoffs, Gonzalez has zero missed tackles, and his four play-stopping hits put him in the top five among cornerbacks.
Gonzalez had an interception, a sack and five solo tackles in the AFC Championship Game and must carry over that form against Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the Super Bowl.
His strong tackling ability will help limit plays after the catch, and he must force incompletions on the left side, where Smith-Njigba averages nearly 16 yards per catch.
Craig Woodson, safety
Woodson’s versatility has been crucial to the Patriots’ defensive success in the playoffs. He is among the top five defenders in tackles and is allowing a reception rate of only 30% on the back end.
He has been excellent in the slot and has yet to allow a catch on 36-man coverage snaps this postseason. In the Wild Card round against the Chargers, Woodson had 11 total tackles, with one going for a loss.
Woodson will play in the box and secondary against a balanced Seahawks offense in the Super Bowl. The rookie can impact every defensive snap for the Patriots, whether slowing down Kenneth Walker or covering deep against Rashid Shaheed.
Milton Williams, defensive tackle
Milton Williams has been one of the best all-around defensive linemen in the playoffs. He ranks first in quarterback hurries – a catalyst of the Patriots’ league-leading eight turnovers this postseason - and posted two sacks against the Chargers in the Wild Card round
Against the run, Williams is making stops only two yards beyond the line of scrimmage and has not missed a tackle.
The interior of the Seahawks’ offensive line has been its soft spot in the playoffs. Quickness is Williams’ biggest asset, and he will use it to his advantage against Grey Zabel, Jalen Sundell and Anthony Bradford.
Carlton Davis, cornerback
Davis is the only cornerback in the top three in pass breakups and passer rating allowed this postseason. He has not missed a tackle and had two interceptions, four solo tackles and one tackle for loss in the Divisional round against the Texans. Davis has stopped five plays on his own in the playoffs– the most among cornerbacks and safeties.
The Seahawks’ receiving corps has been less productive against man coverage in the playoffs. Davis has allowed only three catches and negative one yard after the catch over the last three weeks playing man.
A good outing against Jaxon Smith-Njigba would have serious implications for the Super Bowl’s outcome.
Rhamondre Stevenson, running back
Stevenson has been a dual threat this postseason. He is the league’s leading rusher, has forced 12 missed tackles and has 147 yards after contact.
The 27-year-old is also creating easy throws for Drake Maye in the passing game. He has been targeted 10 times and is averaging more than 12 yards per catch.
The Patriots leaned on Stevenson in poor weather during the AFC Championship Game. He carried the ball 25 times, and his 71 rushing yards accounted for nearly 35% of the team’s total offense.
The Seahawks have not been themselves against the run over the last two weeks. Teams are running to the outside against Seattle, and Stevenson is averaging more than seven yards per carry on the edges in three playoff games.
