The New England Patriots' trip to Super Bowl LX has been almost entirely due to the play of their defense. They've held opposing teams to just 8.7 points per game during their playoff run, and have forced at least one turnover in each game. They even returned an interception for a touchdown against the Houston Texans.
In large part, the defensive success has been due to the play of their cornerbacks. Christian Gonzalez snagged an interception to seal the AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos, and Carlton Davis had two picks against the Texans.
During this postseason, that Patriots duo has been nothing short of elite.
Passer rating if you threw into the dirt on every play - 39.6
— PFF (@PFF) January 28, 2026
Test the Patriots corners at your own risk 🔒 pic.twitter.com/2xobQe3Ffj
While their play has been the engine behind the postseason's best defense, the job isn't finished yet. In order to limit Seattle's electric passing attack, both outside corners will need to be at their best to defend this season's best receiver and likely Offensive Player of the Year: Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
The cornerbacks will need to be at their best to slow down Jaxon Smith-Njigba
In three playoff games, Gonzalez has allowed a 40 percent completion rate and 41.7 yards per game. Davis has allowed a 50 percent completion rate while allowing 20.3 yards per game. While Gonzalez has not been penalized, Davis has been flagged four times.
Seattle's driving factor is JSN's success. Over the regular season, he averaged seven catches per game and scored 10 touchdowns. In the nine games that he did not get in the end zone, the Seattle offense averaged 23.1 points per game. Across the other eight matchups, they average 34.4 points per game, and didn't once score less than 20 points.
Keeping him contained, particularly in the red zone, will be key to New England's success. The Patriots' offense has averaged just 15.7 points per game this postseason, and while the weather won't be a factor in Santa Clara like it has been over the past month in Foxboro and Denver, they'll need a strong defensive performance to stand a chance against the league's best team.
The entire defense will need to come together as a unit to beat Seattle, but no group more so than the defensive backfield. Led by Gonzalez and Davis, the duo will need to be at their best to keep the OPOY favorite contained.