PNW Pro Football – Michael Konsmo

PNW Pro Football

by Michael Konsmo

Super Bowl LX, held on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium, was a defensive masterpiece that saw the Seattle Seahawks dismantle the New England Patriots 29–13. Dubbed the “Dark Side,” the Seahawks’ top-ranked defense produced one of the most stifling performances in the game’s history, securing the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy. While the final score suggests a two-possession game, Seattle held a commanding 19–0 lead well into the fourth quarter, effectively neutralizing the Patriots’ offense for over 45 minutes of play.

The game began as a field position battle, with Seattle striking first on their opening drive. After marching 51 yards, the drive stalled in the red zone, leading to a 33-yard field goal by Jason Myers. The Seahawks’ defense immediately set the tone on the ensuing New England possession; rookie Rylie Mills delivered a punishing bull-rush sack, driving a Patriots guard back into quarterback Drake Maye. This physical dominance continued throughout the first half. Myers added a 39-yard field goal early in the second quarter and a 41-yarder just before halftime, giving Seattle a 9–0 lead while holding New England to a meager 52 total yards of offense.

The third quarter featured a historic special teams performance by Myers, who tied a Super Bowl record with his fourth field goal, another 41-yarder, to extend the lead to 12–0. The “big play” of the quarter came from the Seattle defensive front; linebacker Derick Hall executed a brilliant strip-sack on Drake Maye, with defensive tackle Byron Murphy II recovering the fumble at the New England 37-yard line. This turnover finally broke the touchdown drought. Early in the fourth quarter, Sam Darnold capitalized on the short field, lofting a 16-yard touchdown pass to tight end AJ Barner in the right corner of the end zone to make it 19–0.

New England briefly showed signs of life when Maye connected with Mack Hollins for a 35-yard touchdown strike, cutting the lead to 19–7 and avoiding the first shutout in Super Bowl history. However, Seattle’s defense refused to let the momentum shift. After Julian Love intercepted a desperate deep ball from Maye, Jason Myers kicked his fifth field goal of the night—a 26-yarder that set a new Super Bowl record for the most field goals in a single game. Leading 22–7, the Seahawks delivered the final blow when All-Pro cornerback Devon Witherspoon leveled Maye on a corner blitz, forcing a fluttering pass that Uchenna Nwosu intercepted and returned 45 yards for a touchdown.

The Patriots added a cosmetic touchdown late in the game, a 7-yard pass from Maye to Rhamondre Stevenson, but the outcome was already settled. Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III was named Super Bowl MVP, finishing with 135 rushing yards on 27 carries, including explosive runs of 29 and 30 yards that allowed Seattle to control the clock and the tempo. The victory served as a long-awaited “revenge” for Seattle fans, mirroring the defensive dominance of their 2013 title and cementing Mike Macdonald’s defensive scheme in NFL lore.