The Seattle Seahawks were so dominant in the Super Bowl that people are starting to wonder if they knew every play the New England Patriots called.
Mike Macdonald's defense was disruptive all game long, forcing three costly turnovers out of Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. It wasn't until the Seahawks were up 19-0 that Maye started moving the chains effectively.
“We can sit here and try to put it on one guy,” Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said. “You’ll be disappointed because that’ll never happen. It starts with us as a coaching staff and making sure that we’re doing our part. Obviously, we have to be able to execute, we gotta be able to protect. When we do protect, we have to be able to progress through and throw the ball with guys open and help the quarterback. And then he’s gotta be better. That’s just how it goes, that’s never gonna change.”
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Former NFL safety and CBS analyst Adam Archuleta didn't assign any blame for the Patriots' 29-13 loss to the Seahawks. He did, however, make a few interesting comments on social media.
"The more I watch the Super Bowl, the less I understand it," Archuleta wrote on social media. "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 peeps tomorrow I need answers."
Archuleta then clarified in a follow-up post that he's not accusing the Seahawks of cheating.
"FWIW - Im not insinuating any cheating whatsoever - That's not my role. I don't deal in Gossip - I only state my experiences, and what I see on tape. I have no emotional attachment whosoever to any team and I strive to eliminate all biased - I do however have strong opinions and stand by my observations!!"
NFL world isn't buying this excuse.
Archuleta played in the NFL from 2001-2008, racking up 530 tackles, 18 sacks, six fumble recoveries and four interceptions. He spent the majority of his career with the St. Louis Rams.
Despite Archuleta's years of NFL experience, the majority of the football world believes the Seahawks simply executed at a high level against the Patriots.
"Mike Macdonald so good he has cheating allegations," a Seahawks fan replied.
"Clearly this guy's first time watching this but I'm telling you Mike MacDonald off a bye is an automatic death sentence. If he has even a slightly extra amount of time to game plan for you he can tell you what you dreamt about for the last 3 weeks," a second fan argued.
"In New England we don’t make excuses about stealing signals and other garbage," Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy said. "We got beat. Credit to the Seahawks. Losers make excuses and cry."
"Macdonald already stated his philosophy when it comes to attacking protections. He plays offense on defense because he dictates protections calls majority of the time. He blitzes with a purpose. He doesn’t waste blitzes. He doesn’t send guys just to send them," NFL quarterback Kellen Mond wrote. "He blitzes with a purpose. He doesn’t waste blitzes. He doesn’t send guys just to send them."
It sure sounds like Archuleta is on an island with his take about the Seahawks.