{"id":121385,"date":"2026-02-03T09:07:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T14:07:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sharpfootballanalysis.com\/?p=121385"},"modified":"2026-02-18T14:31:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T19:31:23","slug":"cover-6-patriots-drake-maye-seahawks-super-bowl-60","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sharpfootballanalysis.com\/analysis\/cover-6-patriots-drake-maye-seahawks-super-bowl-60\/","title":{"rendered":"Did Sean McDermott Unlock the Key to Beating Drake Maye in Super Bowl 60?"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is an excerpt from Warren Sharp's Super Bowl 60 Report, a 50+ page analysis of Patriots vs. Seahawks that looks at the big game from every angle. Warren breaks down all the key matchups to give you an edge betting sides, totals, and props. The full report is available to subscribers, and you can get our Super Bowl Package for 50% off using promo code SB60<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Click here to learn more about our Super Bowl Package!<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

If the Patriots lose this Super Bowl and it\u2019s because, in part, Seattle increases their rate of Cover 6, then Seattle can thank Sean<\/strong> McDermott<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

And McDermott will have gotten one final laugh.<\/p>\n

The Bills play Cover 2 at one of the highest rates in the NFL.<\/p>\n

Buffalo plays two-high on 49% of all dropbacks, #3 in the NFL (Seattle is #2 highest).<\/p>\n

But of their two-high snaps, not many are in Cover 6.<\/p>\n

The Bills play Cover 6 on just 11.6% of snaps when not playing the Patriots.<\/p>\n

In Week 5, the Bills lost to Drake<\/strong> Maye<\/strong> playing Cover 6 on 11.8% of coverage snaps, right in line with their YTD average.<\/p>\n

But for some reason, McDermott saw something and massively changed his deployment of coverages in the rematch.<\/p>\n

In Week 15, McDermott used Cover 6 on 50% of dropbacks!<\/p>\n

Not only was that by far out of character and most for the Bills of the season, but it was also most for any team against the Patriots to that point in the season.<\/p>\n

And in that game, against Cover 6, Maye averaged -0.34 EPA\/attempt, had a 23% success rate, threw for 4.3 Y\/A, and had a 64% completion rate.<\/p>\n

The Bills also were in Cover 6 when Maye threw an interception.<\/p>\n

The choice helped the Bills win, handing the Patriots their first loss after 10 consecutive wins.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what the coverage looked like compared to prior coverages against the Patriots:<\/p>\n

\"Patriots<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Sean<\/a><\/p>\n

Well, after that game, opposing defensive coordinators started to take notice.<\/p>\n

NOTE: Keep in mind, the average rate of Cover 6 is just 9.8% around the NFL.<\/p>\n

Baltimore, the next game for the Patriots, jacked up their Cover 6 rate.<\/p>\n

Baltimore normally plays the NFL\u2019s lowest rate of two-high safeties (29%).<\/p>\n

Entering the game, they had played Cover 6 on just 10.4% of snaps on the season.<\/p>\n

Baltimore went 20.8% Cover 6 against the Patriots, DOUBLE<\/em> their average.<\/p>\n

The next two games were against bad teams playing for nothing (Week 17 against the Jets, Week 18 against the Dolphins).<\/p>\n

But in the Wild Card game, the Chargers, who typically play Cover 6 on just 8.9% of dropbacks, played Cover 6 on 20% of dropbacks against the Patriots.<\/p>\n

In the Divisional Round game, the Texans, who typically play Cover 6 on 13.7% of dropbacks, played it on 21.9% of dropbacks against the Patriots.<\/p>\n

And in the Conference Championship game, the Broncos, who typically play Cover 6 on just 10.7% of dropbacks, played it on 23.1% of dropbacks.<\/p>\n

This is an excerpt from Warren Sharp's Super Bowl 60 Report. The full 50+ page report is available to subscribers, and you can get our Super Bowl Package<\/a> for 50% off using promo code SB60<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Plus: You'll get ALL of Warren Sharp's Super Bowl Betting Recommendations:<\/strong><\/p>\n