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Four teams: the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, and Seattle Seahawks, remain alive in the quest to lift the Lombardi Trophy as champions of the NFL after Super Bowl 59.
And, as it turns out, all four teams share an extremely telling point of strength that may well be the way forward for the rest of the league.
The Broncos got the most pressures in the NFL from their starting defensive tackle duo. The Seahawks were second. The Rams were third. The Patriots were fourth. I think I just noticed a pattern. (via @NextGenStats).
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) January 22, 2026
Kevin Clark of Omaha Productions revealed that the Broncos, Seahawks, Rams, and Patriots rank Nos. 1-4 in the NFL in pressures generated by their starting defensive tackles.
Interior Pressure Is The Key To Success In 2025-26 NFL Playoffs
Now, that shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. Getting pressure on the quarterback is a massive key to success in the NFL today, and it’s why the Green Bay Packers both traded for and gave a king’s ransom to keep Micah Parsons.
But getting pressure off the edge is one thing. However, if quarterbacks can simply step up in the pocket, their lives become much easier.
However, getting pressure in the interior changes the game entirely. It forces quarterbacks to not only process quickly, but also to move off their spot when making throws, which makes life significantly more difficult for them.
Now, it’s also important to note that all four teams have gotten good-to-very-good quarterback play throughout the season. So it’s not like interior pressure is the only element to their success.
But when a trend is that clear-cut, it’s hard to argue with its importance.