While all the national attention settled upon head coach Mike Vrabel and MVP-level quarterback Drake Maye, the New England Patriots wouldn’t have reached Super Bowl LX without a noticeable uptick in play from their defense.
That uptick started about as soon as star defensive tackle Milton Williams returned to the lineup.
Williams missed five late regular-season games with an ankle injury, and New England felt his presence after he returned for a Week 18 tuneup. He led all Patriots defenders in total QB pressures (23) and hurries (18) in the playoffs, per Pro Football Focus, which is saying something when you consider how disruptive edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson was down the stretch.