FOXBORO — The Patriots got home safe and sound from Denver on Monday after spending the night on the road due to the snowstorm at home.
With the AFC Championship Game win under the Patriots’ belt, head coach Mike Vrabel and his staff are onto preparing for the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.
Vrabel said the Patriots have not yet worked through all of the Seahawks’ game this season but still had a strong impression of what he’s seen from his upcoming opponent.
“They’re first in the league in scoring on defense, third on offense. Good mix of veterans and youth,” Vrabel said. “So, any time that you have defenses that are good at keeping points down, it makes it real difficult. They disguise well, they blitz and sometimes they get pressure with rushing four. I mean, they’ve got four or five guys with six or seven sacks each.
“Offensively, it’s a mix of some of the West Coast stuff, some play action, but then just the scheme and [Sam] Darnold’s ability to operate and function, and not many people slow down JSN [Jaxon Smith-Njigba.] Kenneth Walker [III], the speed, he can hit the edge, he’s not afraid to cut up.
“They’ve got an excellent special teams unit. That special teams has won them some football games, that broke it open against Atlanta, 6-6, I think it’s tied at halftime. He takes the opening half kickoff or the second half kickoff to the house. Defense gets a couple turnovers, and then it’s a blowout. So, we’re going to have to be really good in all phases, but this is an excellent football team.”
Darnold is 0-4 against the Patriots as a starting quarterback, but he’s evolved since his days with the Jets and Panthers. He’s also had stops with the 49ers and Vikings before joining the Patriots this offseason.
“He’s been very efficient,” Vrabel said of Darnold. “Again, everybody’s journey is different, so you give him a lot of credit for the places that he’s been, and how he’s learned and grown. He’s certainly making the most of his opportunity now.”
The Patriots will travel out to San Francisco for the Super Bowl on Sunday. Media coverage in the Bay Area starts Monday.
