SANTA CLARA — The Patriots offensive line was taken to the Dark Side in Super Bowl 2026.
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was under siege all night as the Patriots had no answers for the Seattle pass rush.
It led to punt after punt after punt for the Patriots in a 29-13 loss to Seattle.
The Seahawks sacked Maye six times in the game, forced him to fumble once and caused him to throw one of his two interceptions.
Pass protection was an issue for New England all postseason.
They allowed 20 sacks, the most ever in the playoffs, but the Patriots had been able to squeak by in their other playoff games, but not the Super Bowl.
The Seahawks defense, which is nicknamed the “Dark Side,” got after Maye with some straight rushes and some blitzes.
The Patriots were the first team in Super Bowl history to have two rookie starters on the offensive line with Will Campbell and Jared Wilson starting on the left side.
They did not have a good night.
Derick Hall pushed Campbell into the backfield and then came off his block when Wilson hit him on his way to sacking Maye.
Hall came up with a second sack and it was a huge one.
With 10 seconds left in the third quarter and the Seahawks holding a 12-0 lead, the Patriots were trying to get something going.
They had the ball at their own 44 when Hall beat Patriots tackle Morgan Moses and knocked the ball out of Maye’s hands.
Byron Murphy recovered the fumble, setting the Seahawks up with good field position at the New England 37.
Even the Seattle secondary got to Maye.
Cornerback Devon Witherspoon sacked Maye for a 10-yard loss when he blitzed through the right side of the Patriots defense.
Witherspoon did not get credit for a second sack, but his hit on Maye led to an Uchenna Nwosu interception that he returned for a touchdown.
Defensive lineman Murphy sacked Maye twice and Rylie Mills had one, too.
The relentless pressure from the Seahawks clearly rattled Maye who had a terrible night after a strong second NFL season.
The Patriots rebuilt their roster this offseason.
They may need to now look at their offensive line after this performance and find some reinforcements.