For those who were expecting an offensive shootout in last night’s Super Bowl, it is almost certain that they were sorely disappointed. Super Bowl LX was a test of defense, and the first half of the game served as a testament to that. Both teams displayed an exemplary performance on defense as neither team scored a touchdown until the 3rd quarter. The Patriots were held scoreless with a total of 51 yards on offense in the first half, the third lowest stat in Super Bowl history, while the Seahawks managed to gain 183 yards on offense and put up 3 field goals before the half.
Drake Maye’s maiden Super Bowl performance was tainted by a highly aggressive Seahawks defensive line that swarmed over him almost every play. The QB had very little time in the pocket before being either rushed to get rid of the ball or sacked for a loss of yards. The Seahawks’ defense managed to squeeze three turnovers out of a demoralized Patriots offense who could not manage to find any rhythm on the field.
The Patriots, after being down 19-0 after three quarters, finally got themselves on the board with a touchdown pass by Maye to Mack Hollins for 35 yards. After the touchdown, a defensive stop by the Patriots began to give the down-and-out Patriots life again—until Drake Maye threw an interception that felt like a dagger in the heart of both the Patriots players and fans. The Seahawks were able to capitalize off of the turnover with a field goal, giving them a 22-7 lead with 5:38 remaining in the game.
While the Patriots looked exhausted and frustrated up to this point in the game, it was far from over, that is, until another interception resulting in a pick-six sealed the game and made all Patriots fans across the country turn off their TVs for the night. The pick-six shattered any hopes for a potential comeback and cemented the Seahawks as the best team in the league, carrying a 29-7 lead with only 4 minutes remaining.
Kenneth Walker was a delight to watch on the offensive side as he rushed for 135 yards with 27 carries. Walker eventually managed to figure out the Patriots’ defense during the second quarter, finding openings in the defensive line and breaking through on a couple of plays. However, it was not the stellar performance of Walker but rather the masterclass of the Seahawks’ defense that told the story last night. The Seahawks gave absolutely nothing to the Patriots, and their grit and undying relent was the formula that carried them through to their second Super Bowl victory with a score of 29-13.
