SEATTLE SUPER BOWL BOMBSHELL: Seahawks just received a massive advantage, wholly flipping the matchup on its head vs. Patriots.👇

Santa Clara, CA – In a stunning turn of events just days before Super Bowl LX, the New England Patriots have placed star defensive tackle Christian Barmore on injured reserve due to a knee injury, ruling him out for at least the next four games – including the big game against the Seattle Seahawks. This bombshell development hands the NFC champion Seahawks a tremendous advantage, particularly in their surging running game led by Kenneth Walker III, potentially flipping what was expected to be a tight defensive battle on its head.

Barmore, a cornerstone of the Patriots’ defensive line, has been pivotal in both run defense and pass rush efforts. His absence leaves a gaping hole in the middle of New England’s front, where he led all defensive tackles in pressures and was a key factor in their sixth-ranked rushing defense this season. Without him, Mike Vrabel’s unit could struggle to contain Seattle’s ground attack, which has been on fire during their nine-game winning streak.

The NFC champions are on a big-time roll, and one big factor has been Seattle’s running game. Kenneth Walker III and company look to remain hot vs. the Patriots. Both the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots head to Super Bowl LX riding winning streaks. The NFC champions have amassed nine consecutive victories, including playoff conquests of the rival San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams. Mike Vrabel’s club is on a six-game roll, including postseason wins over the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, and Denver Broncos, respectively.

There figures to be an intriguing battle between the Patriots’ defense and Seahawks’ offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s attack, in particular a running attack that has been highly productive in the team’s last 11 outings.

Go back to the start of 2025, when Kubiak was implementing his system in his first season in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle averaged only 103.9 yards per game on the ground in its first eight contests, and Mike Macdonald’s club was limited to fewer than 100 yards rushing four of those outings.

There’s been a dramatic change since. Including two playoff wins, Seattle has run for a steady 137.7 yards per game in their last 11 games. Kubiak’s offense has been held under the century mark just twice during this stretch. Led by four-year pro Kenneth Walker III, Seattle has rushed for 160-plus yards in five of those 11 games.

Which brings us to Vrabel’s defense, a unit that has found itself again during the team’s three-week postseason run. All told, New England ranked sixth in the league in rushing defense this season, allowing 101.7 yards per game. However, it was a tale of two regular seasons for this defense in terms of stopping the run.

During the Patriots’ 8-2 start, the club allowed a mere 79.2 yards per game rushing. However, in the club’s last seven contests, this same team gave up a disturbing 133.9 yards per outing on the ground. The Pats surrendered 140-plus yards in four of those games.

However, it’s been a different story during New England’s playoff run. The Los Angeles Chargers (87), Houston Texans (48), and Denver Broncos (79) have combined for only 214 yards on the ground on 68 attempts. That’s a mere 3.1 yards per carry.

But with Barmore now sidelined, that playoff stinginess could evaporate. As a dominant interior presence, Barmore’s ability to disrupt runs at the point of attack has been crucial. His history of excellence in run defense – leading defensive tackles in stops and showing flashes of dominance – makes his absence a game-changer. The Patriots will likely turn to backups like Milton Williams, but the drop-off could be significant against a Seahawks offense that’s averaged over 137 yards rushing in recent games.

The difference in Super Bowl LX could very well be which Patriots’ defense shows up in Santa Clara next Sunday? The group that struggled vs. the run down the stretch, or the unit that has allowed only two touchdowns (both through the air) in three postseason contests? Without Barmore, the scales tip heavily toward Seattle’s favor, giving Kenneth Walker III and the Seahawks’ ground game a clear path to dominate and potentially secure the Lombardi Trophy.