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          New England Patriots

          Patriots' defensive snaps: Cornerback Malcolm Butler shines on No. 18

          • Mike Reiss, ESPN Staff WriterFeb 2, 2015, 10:00 AM ET
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              Mike Reiss is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the New England Patriots. Reiss has covered the Patriots since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2009. In 2019, he was named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. You can follow Reiss on Twitter at @MikeReiss.
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          GLENDALE, Ariz. -- A look at snaps played by New England Patriots defensive players in Super Bowl XLIX:

          CORNERBACK

          Brandon Browner -- 53 of 53

          Darrelle Revis -- 53 of 53

          Kyle Arrington -- 25 of 53

          Malcolm Butler -- 18 of 53

          Logan Ryan -- 5 of 53

          Quick-hit thoughts: Butler's 18 snaps were critical to the victory, as he came on in the third quarter as part of a coaching adjustment to replace Arrington. His 18th snap was the interception that sealed the win. ... Browner and Revis were No. 1 and 2, as usual, while Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson seemed to be targeting whomever the Patriots had in the game as their No. 3 and 4 options.

          DEFENSIVE END

          Rob Ninkovich -- 53 of 53

          Chandler Jones -- 51 of 53

          Quick-hit thoughts: These ironmen held their ground against Wilson, whose elusiveness is one thing to prepare for, but another thing altogether to defend.

          DEFENSIVE TACKLE

          Vince Wilfork -- 39 of 53

          Sealver Siliga -- 38 of 53

          Alan Branch -- 19 of 53

          Chris Jones -- 10 of 53

          Quick-hit thoughts: Some unsung work by the top three in this group, especially early in the game when the Seahawks couldn't run effectively against the Patriots despite a lighter box. The big-bodied defenders did their job well. ... Jones was used as an interior pass-rusher in long-yardage situations.

          LINEBACKER

          Jamie Collins -- 53 of 53

          Dont'a Hightower -- 53 of 53

          Akeem Ayers -- 12 of 53

          Quick-hit thoughts: In the base defense, which the Patriots used at times when the Seahawks had two tight ends on the field, Ayers got the call as the third off-the-line linebacker over Jonathan Casillas. That was a wrinkle we hadn't seen much of this season, as Ayers' playing time has mostly been as a designated pass-rushing defensive end in sub packages.

          SAFETY

          Devin McCourty -- 52 of 53

          Patrick Chung -- 41 of 53

          Duron Harmon -- 8 of 53

          Quick-hit thoughts: The unusual split at this position reflects how the Patriots sometimes played with three cornerbacks and one safety. When they did that, Chung would come off the field. Also, there were no safeties on the field on the play that Butler made his interception -- it was just three cornerbacks and eight players in the front seven against the Seahawks' three-receiver package.