SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Shortly after arriving in New England, richest contract in franchise history in tow, Milton Williams relayed a message to his new running mate, Christian Barmore.

The Patriots’ defense, he told his fellow D-tackle, “is going to go as we go.”

Williams and Barmore are carrying that same mindset into Super Bowl LX.

“Me and him, we come in hungry,” Barmore said Wednesday. “We’re like lions. We come to hunt. And the whole D-line, our goal is to dominate every time we’re out there. It doesn’t matter who it is, whoever is on the field. Just another day to line up and kick ass.”

New England was good defensively during the regular season, buoyed by the additions of impact free agents Williams, Robert Spillane, Harold Landry, Carlton Davis and Khyiris Tonga. It’s been elite this postseason, posting an 11.1% sack rate and 36.1% pressure rate while holding the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos to an average of 8.7 points per game.

Williams’ interior presence been key to that rapid improvement. Fully recovered from the ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve in late November, the $140 million defender has been a disruptive force in these playoffs. His 17 quarterback pressures, per Pro Football Focus, are the most by a Patriots D-tackle in any postseason this century.

“When he came back, it was just a really big, epic time,” Barmore said, “because that man right there is a good player.”

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The attention Williams and Barmore command inside also has created playmaking opportunities for the rest of New England’s defense, which has cranked up its blitz rate since the regular season concluded. Eight Patriots players have notched at least one sack through three playoff games, 11 have been credited with at leat one QB hit and four have forced fumbles.

“We talked about that when I first got (to New England): our defense going as far as we take it,” said Williams, who was part of a Philadelphia Eagles defense that overwhelmed Patrick Mahomes last year in Super Bowl LIX. “We can cause a lot of problems up front. Knowing that they’ve got to double one of us, somebody’s got a 1-on-1. If you’re 1-on-1, making sure you’ve got to win — it’s non-negotiable. You’ve got to get it done no matter who you’re lined up on. …

“But it also helps our team free up other guys. Getting 1-on-1s on the outside or keeping the linebackers clean every time they come down the field, safeties coming down. If we’re taking up four blockers, somebody’s free.”

Patriots center Garrett Bradbury, who faces the D-line duo each day in practice, called Williams and Barmore “animals.”

“They’re really good football players, and they play well together,” Bradbury said. “(Head coach Mike) Vrabel always (says) we need a relentless, coordinated rush, and I think those guys take it to heart. It’s not one guy (saying), ‘I’ve got to get the sack. I’ve got to get a sack.’ It’s those guys working together and eliminating those lanes for the quarterback to step up in.

“Yeah, they’re a problem. They’ve been a problem all year, and certainly in the playoffs. It’s fun to be on the sideline and watch them go to work, and hope they keep doing it.”

New England’s defense will face by far its toughest playoff test this Sunday against the NFC champion Seahawks. Aided by offensive injuries in the first three rounds (Chargers’ tackles, Texans’ top receiver, Broncos’ starting QB), the Patriots now will go against a Seattle team that’s scored 72 points through two playoff games.

Quarterback Sam Darnold, years removed from his “seeing ghosts” days with the New York Jets, leads all passers in expected points added per dropback this postseason. He’s responded well to unstable pockets, posting a league-best 108.6 passer rating with no turnovers while pressured.

Williams, Barmore and the rest of New England’s pass rushers will look to force a reversion to Darnold’s regular-season habits. Before his stellar playoff run, the Seahawks QB ranked 28th among qualified passers in EPA/dropback under pressure, ahead of only Mac Jones, Cam Ward, Aaron Rodgers, Joe Flacco and Geno Smith. Those plays resulted in six touchdowns, six interceptions and a passer rating of 69.4.

One matchup to watch on Sunday: Williams and Barmore against third-year right guard Anthony Bradford. Among all O-linemen who have played at least 20 snaps this postseason, Bradford owns PFF’s worst pass-blocking grade. Left guard Grey Zabel is a first-round rookie, and center Jalen Sundell is a first-year starter.

“(They’re) big, strong guys,” Bradford said of New England’s D-line. “Great at the point of attack. Can move for a big guy. All the things that you want in an interior D-line. So it’s going to be a good challenge, but we’re up for the challenge.”

Williams’ take?

“They’ve got some young guys up there, aggressive up front,” he said. “… We’re going to have our work cut out for us on Sunday, but I’d say I like our chances.”