10 takeaways from Patriots’ 29-13 loss to Seahawks in Super Bowl LX

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The New England Patriots’ season ended Sunday night, but not the way they had hoped.

In Super Bowl X, the Patriots lost to the Seattle Seahawks 29-13. It certainly wasn’t New England’s best game of the season, as the offense had a number of glaring issues against the league’s best defense.

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So, let’s draw some conclusions from the losses:

1. Drake Maye’s departure has become a major factor

This certainly wasn’t Derek Meyer’s best night, as the quarterback struggled to adjust to the big game. Along with that, he committed multiple costly turnovers, allowing the Seahawks to get away with it despite the Patriots’ defensive efforts that kept them in the game for long periods of time.

Meyer and the Patriots were shut down for three quarters, unable to put any points on the board. He helped score 13 points at the end of the game, but it wasn’t enough. The sophomore quarterback was 27-of-47 for 295 yards and two touchdowns, but also had two interceptions and a fumble.

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2. Defense bends but doesn’t break

While the Patriots’ offense couldn’t get anywhere, the defense was the reason they stayed in the game for so long. They got Seattle to halftime through the first three quarters, but impressive red zone defense forced them into field goals instead of touchdowns. Therefore, at the end of the third quarter, the Seahawks only led the Patriots 12-0 by just two points.

3. There’s a lot of struggle on the left side of the offensive line.

Entering this game, Meyer had been sacked 15 times in the postseason, and that was largely the case on Sunday as the offensive line struggled to protect the quarterback. Specifically, the Seahawks are targeting the left side of the defensive line, which features two rookies. Seattle ended up sacking Meyer six times.

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4. Craig Woodson proves the future is bright

Craig Woodson truly emerged as a key player for the Patriots in the playoffs and had another impressive game despite an underwhelming end result. He totaled seven tackles, including three tackles for loss and two passes defended.

5. Christian Gonzalez made many outstanding performances

Christian Gonzalez had arguably his best game of the season, which comes at a good time for the cornerback as he is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is eligible for a new deal. He finished with four tackles and three passes defended.

One of the highlight plays from the cornerback was a long pass from Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold to Rasheed Shaheed. Gonzalez surged forward at the last second, leaping high to prepare for a breakaway pass.