A former NFL star still can’t wrap his head around what the Patriots were doing in Super Bowl 2026.
Ex-Rams safety and CBS Sports analyst Adam Archuleta pondered why New England never adjusted its gameplan during Sunday’s lopsided 29–13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks during Super Bowl 2026.
The Patriots had no answer for Seattle’s “Dark Side” defense, and — for reasons unbeknownst to Archuleta — seemingly refused to search for one.
“The more I watch the Super Bowl, the less I understand it!” he posted on X late Monday night.
“Seattle ran a couple of their blitzes as if they 100% knew EXACTLY what the Patriots were going to do. If they had done anything different, it could have been a big play for NE!! It doesn’t make sense. I need to consult some DC (defensive coordinator) peeps tomorrow I need answers!!”
The Patriots were shut out through the first three quarters of the big game as the Seahawks suffocated second-year quarterback Drake Maye.
The MVP finalist, 23, got sacked six times for a total loss of 43 yards and lost a fumble in the process.
Maye’s two passing touchdowns were neutralized with a pair of costly fourth-quarter interceptions.
Late in the final period, with New England trailing, 22–7, and threatening in enemy territory, Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu corralled a deflected pass and took it to the house for a comeback-crushing pick-six.
Under Archuleta’s initial post, Seahawks podcaster Brian Nemhauser noted that Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald spotted a “tell” in New England’s sets — likely in reference to comments made by Seahawks safety Devon Witherspoon.
The former defensive back, 48, replied that a possible tip shouldn’t have kept New England from making any adjustments — whatsoever.
“One thing to have a tell, another to know so confidently that in 7-man pass pro sets they would react a certain 100% of the time, allowing you to blitz them a certain way,” he wrote back Tuesday morning.
“Because if NE just slightly did something different, they would have gashed them badly. They never did—and it’s wild to me!”
Seattle’s dominant victory avenged its infamous defeat against New England from Super Bowl 2015, when the Seahawks tossed a fateful interception at the one-yard line.
With the win, journeyman quarterback Sam Darnold changed the narrative of his career, while running back Kenneth Walker III ran for 135 yards to earn the game’s MVP award.
