The Dark Side played lights out in the Seattle Seahawks rout of the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl 60 match up. At the beginning of the season both teams were underdogs to make the Super Bowl with the Seahawks having 60-1 odds and the Patriots were 80-1.
The Patriots coming off of a 4-13 record and a last place finish in their conference. With the hiring of Mike Vrabel they were able to completely flip their record around finishing the regular season 13-4 this year. There was a lot of speculation going into the playoffs with this team as they had the easiest regular season only beating two teams with a record above .500. They were able to secure the second seed in the AFC and faced the Los Angeles Charges in the wild card, followed by the Houston Texans in the divisional, and the Denver Broncos to secure their spot in the Super Bowl. However, they still had not escaped the fraud allegations as they only beat the Texans by 12 even though they were able to force 5 turnovers with a margin of plus three. For example, throughout the Seahawks season they had three games where they were plus three in the turnover margin winning by an average of 25.6 points. In the AFC championship it was a slow game with nothing much coming offensively for both teams and a final score of 10-7 leaning the Patriots way.
There was one bright spot for the patriots and that was their defense they were able to subdue the biggest threat of each team throughout the playoffs, allowing just 23 points throughout their three playoffs games and averaging just 240 total yards per game. They forced a turnover in every game they played and pressured the quarterback averaging 4 sacks per game throughout the playoffs. It was one of the best defensive playoff performances by a team and they were looking to extend that streak going into the Super Bowl.
The Seahawks had a completely different path this year and was one of the most challenging teams. They came from a division where three teams won 12 or more wins and superbowl favorites. In Mike McDonald’s second year and brand new quarterback they were looking to cement themselves as a rising Lombardi contender. They were able to secure first place in the NFL clinching a first round bye where later the would be able to host the Divisional round and the NFC championship. Birth games would be played against divisional rivals and would be the third time playing each team. First they played the injury ridden San Francisco 49ers would route them in a 41-6 victory out scoring them in the first 13 seconds with a Rashid Shaheed touchdown return off the opening kickoff. Next it was another game against the Los Angeles Rams with the last two games being decided by 2 points and 1 point, respectively. With the future MVP and two offensive player of the year finalists it was going to be an offensive shootout. The game was back and forth with each team answering quickly as the other scored but as the Rams muffed a punt early in the third giving Sam Darnold and the Seahawks a very short field and an easy score which shifted the momentum of the game and put it just out of reach for the Rams to come back.
Going into the superbowl the Seahawks were favorites to win by 4.5 points and with two coaches who were defensive minded it was clear that this was not going to be the best offensive game. This showed in the first quarter as the final score was just 3-0 in favor of the Seahawks, with all but one possession ending in punts. The Patriots were showing early offensive line struggles, letting up two sacks in the first 15 minutes and multiple pressures where Patriots quarterback Drake Maye would have to throw it away. The Seahawks were also looking a little shaky as the Patriots were jumping passes early in hopes to steal one. However, they were unsuccessful allowing for multiple gains of 10 or more yards allowing the Seahawks to open the game with the field goal.
The second quarter was the same story, two more field goals for the Seahawks, another sack on Maye, and more punts by the Patriots. A glaring weakness for the Patriots was starting to show with their young offensive linemen not being able to contain the Seahawks pass rush. With two of the three sacks allowed by rookies Will Campbell and Jared Wilson. They were constantly overpowered and Maye was starting to get flustered in the pocket, missing routine throws and rushing openings that weren’t there, obtaining only 48 pass yards. Their run game wasn’t much better with only 42 yards on 13 carries it was clear they had offensive problems to address going into half time. Their defense, on the other hand, was proving why they went to the Super Bowl with two big pass breakups by Christian Gonzalez limiting top receiver Jaxson Smith-Nijigba to just 27 total yards on ten targets. With trouble throwing through the air the Seahawks looked to Kennth Walker lll who was able to produce 100 of the 183 yards they were able to produce.
The Super Bowl struggles continued for the Patriots as right out of half time it was another quick three and out to hand the ball back to the Seahawks right away. The Seahawks kept it going marching down the field but failing to capitalize on getting into the red zone and a fourth Jason Meyers field goal to push their lead to a 12-0 lead. This fourth field goal tied the record for the most field goals made in the Super Bowl and allowed Meyers to break the 200 point mark on the season. The punt a palooza continued with four continuous four and outs with a big sack by the patriots finally taking down Sam Darnold and another pass breakup by Gonzalez. In the final 13 seconds the Seahawks got to Maye again on a strip sack setting the Seahawks up in Patriots territory to start the fourth. Finally, after 46 minutes of football, Darnold found Aj Barner in the end zone for the first touchdown of the game putting the Seahawks up 19-0. The Patriots were finally able to answer with a quick three plays and two big passes from Maye to Mack Hollins the Patriots traveled 65 yards in 57 seconds to put seven on the board and get themselves back in the game. Getting the ball back quickly from a short drive by the Seahawks there was light at the end of the tunnel and as they were driving down the field it looked as if they could come back, but then a pass behind the receiver fell straight into the arms of Seahawks safety Julian Love. The Seahawks capitalized with a Super Bowl record fifth field goal from Meyers. The Patriots trying to get back into the game was driving when Devon Witherspoon came off the edge hitting Maye and knocking the ball straight into the arms of Uchenna Nwosu who returned it all the way for a pick six and seemingly shutting the door on the patriots after going up 29-7. The patriots scored a touchdown in garbage time missing the two point conversion and not being able to pick up the onside kick which allowed the Seahawks to get revenge from their Super Bowl loss 12 years ago and with Super Bowl 60 in dominating fashion.
The future looks bright for both teams with the Seahawks being preseason favorites to win the title again next year, and with a young team and more experience under the belt they can be able to achieve great things in the future.