Mike Vrabel’s praise of Jaxon Smith-Njigba signals Seattle’s top passing threat remains elite; bettors might favor Smith-Njigba to hit 80+ receiving yards or an anytime TD, and back under on Seahawks total passing if Patriots stack defense on him.
Mike Vrabel lauds Jaxon Smith-Njigba ahead of Patriots–Seahawks matchup
Mike Vrabel offered high praise for Seattle Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, calling him “sudden, savvy, competitive” with strong play strength and elite contested-catch ability for the NFL. Vrabel’s comments underline the matchup challenge the Patriots face this Sunday and spotlight Smith-Njigba as the primary offensive focal point for Seattle.
NFC Championship performance that turned heads
Smith-Njigba dominated in the NFC Championship, hauling in 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Los Angeles Rams. That game reinforced his deep-threat and chain-moving ability in crucial moments.
Season numbers that demand attention
In his third NFL season Smith-Njigba has posted eye-popping totals: 119 receptions for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns. Those statistics cement him as one of the league’s premier pass-catchers and a matchup nightmare in both zone and man coverage.
Patriots’ defensive plan — can Christian Gonzalez slow him?
Expect the Patriots to try to neutralize Smith-Njigba by assigning star cornerback Christian Gonzalez to shadow him. If Gonzalez can at least slow Smith-Njigba’s production, it would force Seattle and QB Sam Darnold to diversify targets and create pressure on the Seahawks’ game plan.
Betting implications and game outlook
Vrabel’s assessment reinforces Smith-Njigba’s projected target share and yardage ceiling, making player prop overs (receiving yards) and anytime-touchdown markets attractive.
Conversely, if the Patriots successfully game-plan Gonzalez on Smith-Njigba, bettors may find value in Seahawks passing totals or alternative receiving props.
Expect lines to reflect Smith-Njigba’s central role heading into kickoff.
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Mike Vrabel knows the Patriots have their work cut out for them in attempting to slow down Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
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