In a masterclass of defensive dominance, the Seattle Seahawks’ “Dark Side” defense suffocated the New England Patriots, delivering a decisive 29-13 victory in Super Bowl LX on Sunday to capture the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy.
Led by the relentless pressure of coordinator Mike Macdonald’s unit and an MVP performance from running back Kenneth Walker III, the Seahawks neutralized New England’s offense for three full quarters, turning Levi’s Stadium into a celebration for the legion of Seattle fans in attendance.
From the opening drive, Seattle’s defensive strategy was clear: overwhelm Patriots quarterback Drake Maye with pressure from every angle. The plan worked to devastating perfection.
Maye, the MVP runner-up, was sacked six times, hit on eleven other occasions, and harried into three critical turnovers. The Patriots’ offense was rendered inert, punting on its first eight meaningful possessions and mustering a mere four first downs in the entire first half.
The breaking point came late in the third quarter when linebacker Derick Hall stripped Maye, with the fumble recovered by Byron Murphy II. “It’s crazy. It’s a one-of-a-kind feeling,” said Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who was a central figure in the defensive onslaught with a sack and three quarterback hits.
While the defense built an insurmountable lead, the Seahawks’ offense leaned on the powerful running of Kenneth Walker III.
Gashing a Patriots run defense that had been stout throughout the playoffs, Walker racked up 135 rushing yards on 27 carries, including explosive runs of 30 and 29 yards.
His efforts earned him Super Bowl MVP honors, a “surreal” achievement for a player whose career was once in doubt due to a serious medical condition.
“If I would have told myself as a kid, I wouldn’t have guessed that I would be the one to win the MVP,” Walker reflected after the game.
Quarterback Sam Darnold managed the game effectively, avoiding turnovers and connecting with tight end Will Barner for the game’s first touchdown in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 19-0.
The Patriots, stifled for fifty minutes of game time, finally found the end zone when Maye connected with Mack Hollins on a 35-yard touchdown pass.
Any fleeting momentum was extinguished just two plays into New England’s next drive, however, as Maye’s pass, disrupted by another Witherspoon hit, was intercepted by linebacker Uchenna Nwosu and returned 45 yards for a game-sealing touchdown.
A late Patriots scoring drive did little to change the outcome, as Seattle’s defense had already cemented its legacy. “Spoon had a phenomenal game, affected the quarterback, made the play on the ball,” said head coach Mike Macdonald, who in his first year led the Seahawks to a championship.
The victory marks a return to the summit for a Seahawks franchise that last won the Super Bowl following the 2013 season and exorcises the demon of a last-second loss to these same Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX.
For New England, the quest for a seventh championship and a first in the post-Tom Brady era will continue, thwarted by a defensive performance for the ages.
As blue and green confetti rained down, Seahawks owner Jody Allen addressed the team’s fervent fans, known as the “12s.” “I have to thank all the 12s that are here with us, all the 12s at watch parties everywhere and all the 12s around the world,” she said, capping a night where Seattle’s defense wrote a new, dominant chapter in the team’s history.