Super Bowl LX saw two familiar foes from Super Bowl XLIX, 11 years later.
The Patriots and Seahawks took the field with Seattle looking for payback, while New England looked to build a new dynasty.
From the first few drives, it was obvious the game would be a defensive dogfight. With three points in the opening drive for Seattle, they scored the only points in the first quarter.
The second quarter saw more of the same with Seattle’s kicker, Jason Myers, adding two more field goals to put the Seahawks up 9-0 going into the half. He would later set a Super Bowl record, kicking 5 field goals.
The Patriots struggled for the entire first half, failing to get a snap within the Seahawks 43-yard-line. The main point of struggle, the pressure the Seahawks brought. Nicknamed the ‘Dark Side’ this season, the Seahawks defense showed all signs of evil to the Patriots offensive line and Quarterback, Drake Maye.
Their defense was all over the second-year Quarterback, sacking him six times and generating a pressure rate of over 50%. Not only was Maye constantly scrambling, but the secondary locked down Patriots receivers leaving their Quarterback to take hit after hit.
The third quarter ended with another field goal making the score 12-0 Seattle.
The first touchdown of the game would happen in the fourth quarter with under 13:30 left to play when Seahawks Quarterback, Sam Darnold threw to Tight End, AJ Barner. This would be Darnold’s only passing touchdown of the game, but it was all he needed. The ‘Dark Side’ defense would do the rest.
On the very next drive after being down 19-0, the Patriots offense would answer.
Seahawks Center Back, Josh Jobe was covering Patriots Wide Receiver, Steffon Diggs on a route and then blindsided Diggs after he was already out of bounds and not involved in the play. Diggs responded by coming back to Jobe, which brought in other Seahawks defenders as well. Punches were thrown; however, officials kept their flags in their pockets.
Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel was furious getting in the officials face with the no-call. That may have been the spark the Patriots needed as the following play Drake Maye would find Mack Hollins for a 24-yard gain. The very next snap, Maye would find Hollins again, except this time in the end zone for their first points of the game. This would give the Patriots some hope, cutting the lead down to 12.
A quick defensive stop for the Patriots would slightly shift the momentum their way until Maye lofted one deep that was picked off by Julien Love. Not only was the score a problem, but time was not on their side.
The Patriots defense came up big again holding Seattle to another field goal to only make the lead 15, with under six minutes to play.
With the Patriots having one last drive to cut the lead as time winded down, the NFL’s best defense showed why they were on top. Pressure by Seattle’s Devon Witherspoon caused Maye to fall back and force the ball right into Uchenna Nwosu, who returned it for the 45-yard pick-six. This would seal the game and start the party for Seattle.
The Patriots would come down and score a touchdown on their next desperation drive, but it would be too little, too late. The Lombardi Trophy was going back to Seattle.
The game ended with Seattle’s defense getting three takeaways while holding Maye to 60 passing yards through the first three quarters.
The Patriots also did not take a snap in the red zone until the final two minutes of the game. Altogether, Seattle’s defense shut down the Patriots to win the game.
On Seattle’s offense, Running Back Kenneth Walker III led the way with 135 yards rushing and added 26 in the air. He was named Super Bowl MVP after his patient, yet explosive performance.
Walker was often seen walking or completely stopped with the ball, before finding a hole in the defense and exploding for a big gain. He was able to dismantle the Patriots defense that averaged an impressive 9 points a game scored on them this postseason.
Seattle was crowned champions ending the year on a 10-game winning streak. As for the Patriots, they will look to add to their roster and hope this run gives their young team some experience for next season.