The Seattle Seahawks dominated the New England Patriots with a punishing defensive display, winning the Super Bowl 29-13 at Levi’s Stadium. The victory marked Seattle’s second championship in franchise history.
Two of the NFL’s strongest defences met in the season’s biggest game, and Seattle imposed their will from the first play. Briton Aden Durde became the first overseas coach to lift the league’s top prize in the United States.
Dark Side Defence Steals the Show
Seattle’s 46-year-old defensive coordinator has built the league’s most feared unit, known as “the Dark Side.” On Super Bowl Sunday in Santa Clara, California, the Patriots could not break through.
New England quarterback Drake Maye, a leading MVP contender this season, struggled under Seattle’s relentless pass rush. The Seahawks recorded six sacks, forced three turnovers, and scored a defensive touchdown.
After Seattle led 9-0 at halftime, Maye’s first turnover set up tight end AJ Barner’s touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Uchenna Nwosu returned an interception for a 45-yard touchdown, while kicker Jason Meyers set a Super Bowl record with five field goals. The Patriots were denied a record seventh championship.
“We were the better team; we’re the best team. We loved each other and believed in each other, and now we’re champions,” Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said. “We went to the dark side tonight. Our players made it happen. They brought it to life.”
Seahawks Overwhelm MVP Contender
Most of the 70,823 fans supported Seattle, who entered the game as narrow favourites. The victory also completed quarterback Sam Darnold’s redemption story after years of doubt.
Seattle is Darnold’s fifth team in his eight-year career and his third in three seasons. In his first year with the Seahawks, the former third overall draft pick captured the league’s biggest prize.
Darnold had been haunted by a 2019 comment against the Patriots, saying “I’m seeing ghosts,” but he has now left those demons behind. Maye, in contrast, faced Seattle’s fast, physical defence built by Durde and Macdonald over two seasons.
Devon Witherspoon, Derick Hall, and Rylie Mills combined for multiple first-half sacks, despite only 2.5 sacks between them all season. The Patriots gained only four first downs and 52 total yards before halftime. Social media even joked that performer Bad Bunny gained more yards during the half-time show than New England.
Hall’s second sack forced a fumble recovered by Byron Murphy, who also sacked Maye twice. The Dark Side now joins Seattle’s historic defences, including the 2014 Legion of Boom.
“My teammates and coaches believed in me,” Darnold said. “From the first training camp, we worked every day. Shout-out to our offensive line and defence. This journey has been special. So much hard work went into it, and we achieved it.”
Patriots Denied Historic Record
New England reached their first Super Bowl since 2019 after the departures of quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick. The duo had led the Patriots to six Super Bowl wins, tying the NFL record with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mike Vrabel played in three of those victories.
After two 4-13 seasons, Vrabel returned as head coach, rebuilt the roster, and led the Patriots to a record-extending 12th Super Bowl appearance. Vrabel sought to become the first man to win a Super Bowl as both player and coach with the same franchise, while Maye aimed to become the youngest quarterback to lift the trophy.
Despite his league-leading pass completion rate, Maye could not escape Seattle’s defence. The Patriots failed to establish a running game or get star receiver Stefon Diggs involved.
Maye briefly gave New England hope by finding Mack Hollins for a touchdown, cutting the score to 19-7. Two interceptions later sealed the game, leaving Rhamondre Stevenson’s late touchdown as only a consolation.
