The New England Patriots are a dangerous team, and the Seattle Seahawks certainly know that. While many NFL analysts are predicting Seattle will beat the Pats in Super Bowl LX, Mike Macdonald's team needs to prove that on the field. One of the players he will rely on is wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
New England head coach Mike Vrabel knows that, too. One of the best matchups in the game will be JSN against excellent Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez. While Smith-Njigba was arguably the best receiver in the NFL in 2025, Gonzalez was certainly one of the better CBs, too.
The Pats' corner didn't have an interception, but many times, quarterbacks simply chose not to risk a pass his way. He had a quarterback rating allowed of only 79.9, after having one of 71.7 in 2024. Just 53.6 percent of the passes thrown his way this season were completed.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel understands the brilliance of Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Gonzalez is likely to blanket Smith-Njigba for much of the game, meaning that matchup will be one that could determine the outcome. Mike Vrabel certainly respects the Seahawks' best receiver and gave a comprehensive, but concise, breakdown of JSN while speaking to the media a week ahead of Super Bowl LX.
Vrabel said, "Sudden, savvy, competitive. Really good play strength for his stature… He’s really good at contested catches… Good route craft and understanding in zone and man. Great body control."
Some of that represents one of the more underappreciated parts of Jaxon Smith-Njigba's game. He might not be 6'3" and 220 pounds, but his lower leg strength is that of a bigger player. He is an elite receiver who has the leg strength of a ground-and-pound running back. That allows him to pick up more yards after the catch because of his strength to be able to break tackles.
Still, one of the keys to any Seattle success will be to make sure other receivers get involved in the game. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has been able to scheme to get other receivers looks at important times, though. His design of Jake Bobo's touchdown in the NFC Championship game against the Los Angeles Rams was brilliant.
12s should expect more of the same against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, and part of the fun for Seahawks fans will be watching it all unfold. Kubiak has operated in peak form recently and has been able to mix up plays as needed.
Of course, a lot of that is reliant on, or playing off of, the excellence of Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Seattle Seahawks know it, the New England Patriots know it, and Mike Vrabel hopes his team is prepared for JSN.