Super Bowl 2026: Seahawks’ dominant defense crushes Patriots for second title.

In Santa Clara, California, two years prior, the Seattle Seahawks appointed Mike Macdonald as their head coach, an unconventional move when many franchises were seeking innovative offensive minds to lead.

Macdonald, however, possessed a distinctive standing. Frequently referred to as the “defensive Sean McVay,” he had served as the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens prior to his recruitment by Seattle.

During Super Bowl LX, Macdonald validated the Seahawks’ decision, demonstrating that investing in coaches adept at neutralizing the league’s top offenses can also forge a path to a championship.

Securing their second Super Bowl title ever, the Seahawks replicated the strategy that led to their initial “Legion of Boom” era victory, defeating the New England Patriots 29-13 at Levi’s Stadium.

Their defensive display was legendary, utterly stifling Drake Maye and the New England offense in a contest rendered largely uncompetitive due to the Patriots’ inability to advance the ball. Seattle conceded 331 total yards, with a significant portion accumulating in the final quarter once the result was predominantly settled.

The Super Bowl’s initial touchdown occurred when A.J. Barner caught a 16-yard pass from Sam Darnold early in the fourth quarter, giving the Seahawks a dominant 19-0 advantage. While the slow-paced, low-scoring affair might not have captivated the global viewership, the Seahawks will have no regrets when celebrating their triumph with a banner raising in the upcoming September.

For their inaugural Seattle championship, the Seahawks achieved a 43-point outburst against the Denver Broncos. They required far fewer points to overwhelm the Patriots in a subsequent Super Bowl twelve years subsequent, yet the outcome proved just as remarkable.

Seattle’s defense proves unyielding

The cornerstone of the Seahawks’ first-ever Super Bowl victory was their formidable defense. They nearly blanked Peyton Manning and the Broncos, a team that had established an NFL regular-season record by accumulating 606 points.

On Sunday, the Seahawks didn’t contend with an offensive powerhouse akin to the 2013 Broncos, yet the Patriots had ranked second in regular-season scoring and third in yardage. Nevertheless, they appeared utterly ineffective when facing Seattle.

Macdonald deployed various blitz packages against the Patriots, which New England consistently failed to counter. Maye frequently faced pressure, enduring three sacks in the initial half. When he occasionally found throwing lanes, his accuracy wavered. Maye’s right shoulder injury from the AFC championship game had been a pre-Super Bowl LX concern, and it appeared to be impacting his play. Seattle’s defensive strategy undeniably disrupted him and the entire Patriots offense.

The Patriots’ sole positive aspect was their persistence in the game despite their offense’s struggles. Their defense surrendered some ground, notably to Kenneth Walker III, yet managed to restrict Seattle to field goals on four lengthy possessions. The Seahawks held a 9-0 lead at the break, which expanded to 12-0 early in the third period.

New England struggled not only to score but also to achieve basic first downs. When the Patriots finally secured a first down due to a defensive holding penalty near the end of the third quarter, approximately ninety minutes had elapsed since their last such gain. Even factoring in an extended Bad Bunny halftime performance, this represented an astonishing exhibition of offensive futility and defensive mastery.

Offenses eventually reach pay dirt

New England registered their first points in the fourth period, following Barner’s opening score. Maye completed several passes, culminating in a 35-yard touchdown connection with Mack Hollins. The Patriots remained behind 19-7 but, for the first time, displayed a flicker of vitality.

Up to this juncture, the Seahawks’ offense, while superior to New England’s, had not been particularly effective. Immediately after Hollins’ touchdown, the Patriots forced a punt, and Maye initiated a drive with a lengthy scramble. However, Maye, who began pushing the ball aggressively downfield in the fourth quarter, launched a pass into the middle of the field, resulting in a straightforward interception for Seahawks safety Julian Love. With under nine minutes left, this play effectively sealed Seattle’s victory. Uchenna Nwosu’s 44-yard interception return for a touchdown then capped off the remarkable defensive showcase.