The Seattle Seahawks came into Super Bowl LX widely regarded as having the best defense in the National Football League (NFL), and they looked every bit like it. They held the Patriots to just 13 points, forcing them into multiple turnovers — and those 13 points all came in the fourth quarter. Special teams also played a huge role in the 29-13 win for not only field goals, but punts as well.
The Seahawks constantly had the Patriots offensive line and quarterback Drake Maye under heavy pressure. They ended the game with six sacks, one short of tying the Super Bowl record. They also recorded two interceptions, one by safety Julian Love, and another being taken back for a touchdown by linebacker Uchenna Nwoso to solidify the victory. Linebacker Derick Hall forced a fumble on Maye, leading to a touchdown in the resulting drive. Linebacker Ernest Jones IV led the defense with 11 tackles.
“You talk about a group of guys who battle every day, who believe in each other, believe in their coach,” Devon Witherspoon said postgame.
As for special teams, Jason Meyers went five for five on field goals. Meyers’ points were crucial, as it gave the Seahawks a comfortable lead early and continued to keep them ahead until the fourth quarter, when they were finally able to find the endzone.
Seattle’s quarterback, Sam Darnold, touched on that point after the win.
“We could have executed a bit better offensively, but I don’t even care about that right now,” Darnold said.
Michael Dickson had three punts for Seattle that he pinned inside the 20-yard line, with one of those being downed at the three-yard line. Dickson’s well-placed punts made it even harder for the Patriots to get going offensively, because they had to travel almost the full length of the field to score on multiple drives.
Darnold hooked up with his tight end, A.J. Barner, for a touchdown. Running back Kenneth Walker III was dominant on the ground with 135 yards, often breaking loose for big gains. His performance earned him Super Bowl MVP honors. Star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was quiet, however, he did have to leave the game for concussion protocol in the second quarter.
The Patriots were scoreless for most of the game and had only 79 rushing yards. No luck running the ball, on top of Drake Maye’s three turnovers was not a good combination. Mack Hollins and Rhamondre Stevenson were the only TD scorers for New England.
Seattle can now breathe easy after getting payback against New England from the devastating 2015 Super Bowl defeat. New England will look to build on a young quarterback in Drake Maye, who will look to use his new big game experiences to his advantage.
William Armstead is a sports reporter for HUNewsService.com.
