FOOTBALL: Seahawks ride 'Dark Side' D, Kenneth Walker to Super Bowl LX victory

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Seattle Seahawks’ defense, self-dubbed the “Dark Side,” ensured history did not repeat itself. Eleven years after the New England Patriots famously beat Seattle in Super Bowl XLIX, the Seahawks forced two fourth-quarter turnovers to secure a 29-13 win over New England in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday.

This marks Seattle’s second Super Bowl title, 12 years after defeating the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.

Running back Kenneth Walker III rushed for 135 yards and earned Most Valuable Player honors, while kicker Jason Myers was perfect on all five field-goal attempts. Quarterback Sam Darnold threw a touchdown pass and completed the three-game playoff run without an interception.

However, it was the Seahawks’ defense that stole the show, setting the tone early and shutting down New England’s comeback attempts. Seattle, which allowed an average of just 17.2 points per game during the regular season, limited the Patriots to 51 total yards in the first half. When New England appeared to gain momentum, the “Dark Side” responded with key turnovers.

The decisive moment came with 4:27 remaining. Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon blitzed Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, causing a fumble that linebacker Uchenna Nwosu returned 45 yards for a touchdown—cementing the Seahawks’ victory.

Seattle’s defense finished with six sacks, eight tackles for loss, three forced turnovers, and a touchdown. Witherspoon had three quarterback hits, while Derick Hall and Byron Murphy II each recorded two sacks.

“They just made a decision to play a certain way,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “They lived up to the ‘Dark Side’ today. It’s going to go down in the history books. We love our players, but they made it happen.”

Darnold, who threw for 202 yards and one touchdown, acknowledged the offense could have performed better. “Our defense had our back, our special teams had our back, and we got the win,” he said.

Myers’ first three field goals gave Seattle a 9-0 lead at halftime, despite the offense failing to reach the end zone on two red-zone trips. The Patriots’ offense gained traction late in the third quarter after a fan interruption, highlighted by Maye connecting twice with Mack Hollins, including a 35-yard touchdown.

New England seemed to regain momentum, but a critical interception by Seahawks safety Julian Love led to Myers’ fifth field goal, pushing the lead to 22-7. Nwosu’s fumble recovery touchdown soon after sealed the game.

Maye finished 27-of-43 passing for 295 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also rushed for 37 yards but admitted he played with a shoulder injury requiring a pain-killing injection.

“The plan was to get to Maye and disrupt him,” Nwosu said. “We knew he was their whole team. If we get to him, their game plan is nothing.”

Patriots rookie left tackle Will Campbell allowed 16 pressures, the highest single-game total for any player this season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

Seattle’s first scoring drive came on a 33-yard field goal by Myers, while the Patriots were limited to just one first down in the first half. Seattle rookie defensive tackle Rylie Mills recorded his first NFL sack in the second quarter, a highlight in a modest role on the line rotation after recovering from a torn ACL.

Despite a few injuries and penalties, the Seahawks’ dominance on defense defined the game and secured their second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history. -Derek Harper, Field Level Media/Reuters