Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California) — When I asked Demarcus Lawrence about Seattle’s defensive show, the veteran defensive end paused and looked off to the side.
Could the Seahawks really have shut down NFL MVP runner-up Drake Maye so completely? Their Super Bowl LX performance suggested they could. After Seattle’s 29-13 win over the Patriots, Lawrence explained how the league still underestimates the Seahawks’ defense. He called the team “the dark side,” saying people finally saw what they’ve been capable of all season and that the big moments reveal the real team. “We proved that tonight,” he added.
Lawrence had a point. Even after clinching the franchise’s second NFL title, oddsmakers didn’t open Seattle as the favorites to win the NFC West next season. In the game, Seattle’s defense overwhelmed New England’s offense — coordinator Josh McDaniels appeared unable to handle the constant pressure. The Seahawks sacked Maye six times, hit him on 11 plays, and forced three turnovers: two interceptions and a Devon Witherspoon forced fumble that Uchenna Nwosu scooped up and returned 45 yards for a touchdown. New England punted eight times and was held scoreless through the first three quarters.
In the locker room afterward, linebacker Ernest Jones IV smoked a celebratory cigar. Jones, who won a Super Bowl as a rookie with the Rams five years ago, said this victory felt different because he better appreciates how hard it is to reach this point, and he could honor his father, who died of cancer in July. Like Lawrence, Jones wasn’t shocked by the outcome, noting that the game changes once opponents are in your face and you can get after the quarterback.
There was a common theme among the Seahawks — a sense that they’d been slighted and it was time to end narratives questioning the team, including doubts about quarterback Sam Darnold’s consistency. Darnold didn’t carry the team with dazzling play, but he also didn’t lose it. After throwing a league-high 20 turnovers in the regular season, he avoided costly errors in the postseason and finished Sunday 19-of-38 for 202 yards, with no interceptions and a 16-yard touchdown pass to tight end AJ Varner. The win made him the first QB in NFL history to record at least 30 wins in two separate seasons with different teams. Coach Mike McDonald praised Darnold’s steadiness and leadership, saying he’s been the same reliable teammate every day.
Seattle’s offense leaned on running back Kenneth Walker III, who rushed for 135 yards on 27 carries and was named Super Bowl MVP. He’s the first back to reach at least 130 rushing yards in a Super Bowl since Terrell Davis’s 157 in Super Bowl XXXII. Walker’s father watched his son play his first-ever in-person NFL game, making the victory especially meaningful. Offensive Player of the Year Jackson Smith-Njiba credited the running game for opening up the passing attack, saying Walker’s talent was the key and that the offense played off him — tonight belonged to Walker.
Both defensively and offensively, the Seahawks used Super Bowl LX to demand the league’s respect.
Fan Take: This game matters because it reasserts that dominant defense and a strong running game can still decide championships in today’s pass-heavy NFL. If teams take note, we may see more emphasis on building physical front sevens and true every-down backs rather than relying solely on aerial fireworks.
