Patriots cornerback, Christian Gonzalez, breaks up a sure touchdown pass in Super Bowl LX.

Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson runs into the clear past 3 Seahawk defenders.

The Patriots held the Seahawks to 9 points in the first half due to their defense

It took 12 long years for the Seattle Seahawks to erase the sting of their 28-24 loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 49, finally returning to Super Bowl glory under a second-year head coach born in Massachusetts.

Their 29-13 victory was a testament to their defense, which truly lived up to their NFL number-one ranking. The Seahawks’ “Dark Side Defense” totally dismantled the Patriots’ offense from start to finish in Super Bowl 60. This nickname will now be etched in NFL lore alongside famous defenses like “The Pack” of Vince Lombardi’s 1960s Green Bay team and “The Steel Curtain” of Chuck Noll’s 1970s Pittsburgh squad, the first NFL franchise to win four Super Bowls.

Other famously named defenses will join them. The Seahawks were just as dominant in this game. They held the Patriots to 51 total yards in the first half, sacked quarterback Drake Maye three times and limited his offense to just four first downs. The AFC champions punted eight times in a row, exemplifying their offensive futility.

However, the Patriots’ defense, particularly defensive back Christian Gonzalez, kept the Seahawks to three field goals through the first 30 minutes, despite the efforts of Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III. Walker rushed for 94 of his game-high 135 yards (27 carries) before halftime. He became the first running back since Terrell Davis (157 yards in 1998 for the XXXII Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos) to win the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award.

“I give all credit to God and the work of my offensive lineman and receivers for opening the holes that allowed me to do my job,” stated Walker.

But it was the Seahawks’ defense, especially their front four, that continued its domination of the Patriots’ offensive line in the second half. They kept constant pressure on Maye, recorded three more sacks for a total of six, and forced two interceptions. This broke the game open with 10 points in the third quarter, making the score 19-0.

Maye gave the Patriots hope with a strike to Mark Hollins, the second being a 45-yard touchdown that cut the deficit to 19-7 with 12:27 left in the fourth quarter. The Patriots got the ball back and drove downfield, but the “Dark Side Defense” took over again. Julian Love’s interception and long return led to a Jason Myers 26-yard field goal, his Super Bowl record fifth of the game, and a 22-7 Seahawks lead.

The coup de grace came at the 4:27 mark in the fourth. Under heavy pressure from blitzing defensive back Devon Witherspoon, Maye threw an interception that Uchenna Nwosu returned for a 39-yard touchdown, sealing the game and ending the Patriots’ hopes for a seventh Super Bowl title. The franchise is now 6-6 in the Big Game.

A late Maye touchdown to Rhamondre Stevenson made the score more respectable, but the Patriots were dominated and outclassed. For 38-year-old Seattle coach Mike McDonald, the second-youngest coach to win a Super Bowl (behind Sean McVay and Mike Tomlin, both 36), it was all about his team.

“From the moment this squad came to training camp, our mission was set to play for each other,” McDonald said. “This Super Bowl victory is the culmination of the team’s attitude to play together despite the obstacles that occurred this season. This is an unbelievable moment for them and me.”

Another big story was Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (19-38, 202 yards, TD). He became the first starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl after playing for five or more teams. “This is a special group of guys who stuck together through a lot of adversity this season. I credit this victory to the magnificent play of our defense. Our offense could have been better, but it was good enough when it was needed.”

Seattle got here by trading Russell Wilson in 2022 for draft picks, an act widely considered as the pivotal move in rebuilding the Seahawks into a championship-caliber team. The picks were used to select foundational players like left tackle Charles Cross (2022, first round), edge rusher Boye Mafe (2022, second round) and cornerback Devon Witherspoon (2023, first round).

While the Seahawks celebrate their second Super Bowl championship in franchise history and become the 17th NFL team to win multiple titles, the Patriots saw their magical season come to a crashing halt. Drake Maye went 3-for-20 for 40 yards, threw two interceptions, lost a fumble when pressured, went 19- of-53 in drop-backs and recorded a season-low 16.3 total QBR. In the loss, Maye said, “It’s a business at this level, but it’s more than that in a game like this. It is more than the money we make. It is very difficult to fail on a stage this big. It is very tough to see our season end like this — very tough.”

Coach Mike Vrabel added, “I am proud of everything this team accomplished this season. I am disappointed. We are disappointed. But I am proud of my team.”

The Patriots arrived with 30 new players, a record number for a Super Bowl team. Further, the team had a first-year coach and a second-year quarterback, and had won only eight games in two years. The upside looks positive, and we will watch for progress next season.