Super Bowl LX Recap: Seahawks topple Patriots in 29-13 victory
Photo courtesy of Tennesse Titans/Wikimedia Commons
In a defense-dominated Super Bowl LX, Sam Darnold weathered relentless pressure and delivered a pivotal fourth-quarter touchdown to AJ Barner, helping the Seahawks secure a 29–13 victory.
And just like that, yet another football season comes to a close. While Super Bowl 60 might not be revered and as timeless as the first time these two teams faced off in the big game, it was still a fantastic game that showcased how vital defense and special teams are in winning it all. In their 29-13 victory, the Seattle Seahawks put forth a complete performance that proved they were worthy of hoisting the Lombardi trophy. We will analyze the all-encompassing dominance of the Seahawks’ defense in a complete breakdown of Super Bowl 60.
It felt like, for much of the first half, both teams were very respectful and wary of the talent and the threat that each team's defense posed. After the Seahawks opened the game with a scoring drive that culminated in a 33-yard field goal by kicker Jason Myers. In the next four drives, the offense was stagnant on both sides, with each drive ending in a punt. Each squad's voracious pass rush was present early on, with the Seahawks bringing down Patriots quarterback Drake Maye twice in the first quarter, and the Patriots pressuring and forcing Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold out of the pocket, hurrying him in his delivery, which caused numerous errant throws. With the first period coming to a close, and the Seahawks holding a slim three-point lead, it was evident early on that the defense was destined to rule the night
Just one minute into the second quarter, Sam Darnold unloaded on a deep play-action pass to the speedy wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, but All-Pro corner Christian Gonzalez was able to knock it away with a last-second aerial breakup. It was a brilliant play that, in hindsight, served as an ideal encapsulation of the Patriots' performance in Super Bowl 60. While the defense performed valiantly and were resilient, it was not enough to make up for New England’s offensive shortcomings. The second quarter was déja vu for New England fans, as the Patriots' offensive unit looked languid and lifeless. It was becoming apparent that the Pats' offensive line, specifically rookies Will Campbell and Jared Wilson on the left side of the line, were ill-prepared to handle the inexorable effort of the Seahawks pass rushers. With the Seahawks adding two more Jason Myers field goals, the Patriots found themselves in a nine-point hole at halftime.
Unfortunately for Patriots fans, Bill Belichick was not around to make his infamous halftime adjustments. As the third quarter got going, it was more of the same offensive stagnation that plagued them in the first half. Quarterback Drake Maye was frustrated and uncomfortable as the defense continued to bruise and punish him every chance they got. This forced many inaccurate throws that could have moved the chains. In the closing moments of the third quarter, with the Patriots down 12, the time was now for the narcoleptic offense to finally wake up. Instead, disaster struck as linebacker Derrick Hall stripped Drake Maye of the football, and the Seahawks recovered the football with favorable field position.
This turnover gave the Seahawks offense the opportunity they were looking for all night, as they also were enduring their fair share of struggles during the game. On the fifth play of the drive, Darnold found a wide-open AJ Barner for a 16-yard touchdown, the game's first touchdown coming in the fourth quarter. The Patriots would respond with a timely touchdown drive of their own, as Drake Maye found wide receiver Mack Hollins for a 35-yard touchdown. After the Seahawks punted the football back to New England, the score was suddenly 19-7, and a comeback was still unlikely, but not completely out of the realm of possibility. No one seemed to tell that to Seattle's defense, though, as the next two Patriots drives would end in interceptions, the latter interception serving as the dagger in the Patriots' back as linebacker Uchenna Nwosu would return it for a touchdown to essentially put the game to bed with a 29-7 advantage.
The Patriots would score one more time to make the game seem a bit closer, but the Seahawks were a force to be reckoned with all night long, and the score doesn’t fully measure their dominance. Seattle’s defense was dominant and impregnable all night long, battering and bruising Patriots quarterback Drake Maye with a 52.8 percent pressure rate, six sacks, and two interceptions, and that game-sealing pick-six in the fourth quarter. In stark contrast, kicker Jason Myers set the all-time Super Bowl record with five made field goals, and punter Michael Dixson was equally as brilliant.
Despite the significant contributions from those units, it was Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker who would receive the honor of being named Super Bowl MVP. Walker rushed for 135 yards on 27 attempts, with an impressive five yards per carry. All in all, the Seahawks’ triumph in Super Bowl LX was a testament to how monumental defense is in today’s National Football League (NFL). Everybody loves high-powered offenses, but the Seahawks were a team molded and defined by their dynamic and fluid defense that deserves admiration and acclaim.