The Seattle Seahawks crushed the New England Patriots with a punishing defensive display, claiming a 29-13 Super Bowl victory at Levi’s Stadium. The win marked Seattle’s second championship in franchise history.
Two of the NFL’s most formidable defences clashed in the season’s biggest game, and Seattle controlled the field from start to finish. Briton Aden Durde became the first overseas coach to lift the league’s top prize in the United States.
Dark Side Defence Dominates
Seattle’s 46-year-old defensive coordinator has built the league’s most feared unit, nicknamed “the Dark Side.” On Super Bowl Sunday in Santa Clara, California, the Patriots could not find an answer.
New England quarterback Drake Maye, a strong MVP contender this season, struggled against 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 allowed tight end AJ Barner to score 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 title.
“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 Shut Down 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 exorcised those demons. Maye, in contrast, faced the full force of Seattle’s fast, physical defence built by Durde and Macdonald over two seasons.
Defensive threats came from every angle. Devon Witherspoon, Derick Hall, and Rylie Mills combined for multiple first-half sacks, despite only 2.5 sacks among them all season. The Patriots managed only four first downs and 52 total yards before halftime. Social media joked that performer Bad Bunny gained more yards during the half-time show than New England did.
Hall’s second sack forced a fumble recovered by Byron Murphy, who also sacked Maye twice. The Dark Side now joins Seattle’s legendary 2014 Legion of Boom defence.
“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 Milestone
New England played in 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 connecting with Mack Hollins for a touchdown, cutting the score to 19-7. Two interceptions later sealed the outcome, leaving Rhamondre Stevenson’s late touchdown as only a consolation.
