Matt Hasselbeck didn’t mince words when he sized up the one Patriots trait that could stress the Seattle Seahawks most in Super Bowl LX.
If he had to name a kryptonite for Seattle’s defense this season, Hasselbeck said it’s been quarterbacks who can scramble, the plays that turn solid coverage into a back-breaking first down. And that’s exactly why Drake Maye’s running ability is the matchup he’s watching closest as New England prepares to face Seattle on the biggest stage.
Super Bowl LX is set for Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Hasselbeck spoke with Heavy in an exclusive interview earlier this week. The former Seahawks quarterback’s comments ring a little louder with his strong Boston ties.
Matt Hasselbeck’s warning: Maye’s legs can change the whole game
Hasselbeck framed it the way quarterbacks and QB coaches often do: some weeks, the coaching point isn’t “throw it away.” It’s “if it’s not there, run.”
That’s the Patriots’ built-in escape hatch. Maye doesn’t need perfect protection on every snap if he can punish coverage with his legs, on scrambles, broken plays, or even a handful of designed keepers that force Seattle’s front to play more cautiously.
And in a Super Bowl, those “hidden” yards can be the difference between a punt and points.
The other piece: “availability” and the shoulder storyline
Of course, Maye’s mobility matters most if he’s healthy enough to use it.
Maye has been managing a right shoulder issue in the lead-up to the game, but he’s sounded confident late in the week—telling reporters he feels “great,” per multiple reports.
That matters because Hasselbeck’s other Super Bowl truth fits Maye perfectly: “Availability is the best ability.” He also delivered an ultra-visual warning every fan understands: you can’t help your team from the blue tent.
Hasselbeck specifically brought up Maye’s tendency to get a little too “adventurous” on slides, suggesting New England’s quarterback has to be smarter about protecting himself, especially now, with a title on the line and his shoulder already a talking point. (That’s not a critique of Maye’s toughness, just the reality that one awkward hit can swing everything in February.)
Why Seahawks fans should care about Maye’s scrambling early
Hasselbeck said when he watches the first couple drives of a game, he’s not fixated on quarterback body language. He’s watching the line of scrimmage, protection, push, and whether the run game is respected.
That’s where Maye’s legs become a multiplier.
If Seattle is winning up front, the Seahawks can keep Maye in longer downs and force him to live in the pocket. But if the Patriots are staying on schedule — and Maye is converting third downs with scrambles — Seattle’s defense gets put in the kind of stress cycle that leads to penalties, busted leverage, or a late hit that extends a drive.
And that’s the part that can feel like “kryptonite”: it doesn’t show up as a 40-yard bomb. It shows up as third-and-7 becoming a first down anyway.
What it could mean for New England’s Super Bowl plan
This is where the Patriots can be dangerous, even against a disciplined defense.
New England doesn’t need to turn Super Bowl LX into a track meet. They can win with:
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a handful of early QB movement plays to force Seattle’s edges to hesitate,
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scrambles on third down that steal possessions,
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and red-zone moments where Maye’s legs create an extra gap the defense has to defend.
It’s the kind of plan that also travels well in a Super Bowl environment, where nerves and timing can be imperfect early. If the Patriots can turn chaos into first downs, that’s a formula that can keep Seattle from ever getting comfortable.
The bottom line
Hasselbeck’s point is simple and scary (for Seattle): the Seahawks can cover well, rush well, and tackle well, and still lose leverage to a quarterback who turns broken plays into chain-movers.
If Maye is healthy enough to fully weaponize his legs, the Patriots have a Super Bowl edge that doesn’t require a perfect passing day.
And for Seahawks fans, that’s why “Drake Maye scrambling” is more than a talking point this week, it’s the one variable Hasselbeck keeps circling as the potential difference-maker.
Drake Maye’s Super Bowl Edge Might Be Seattle’s ‘Kryptonite’