Seahawks ride ‘Dark Side’ defense to Super Bowl win over Patriots

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — A dozen years after the “Legion of Boom” delivered Seattle’s first Lombardi Trophy, the Seahawks’ new-age “Dark Side” defense authored an even more suffocating sequel, propelling the franchise to its second Super Bowl title with a 29-13 dismantling of the New England Patriots on Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium.

First-year head coach Mike Macdonald’s relentless unit set the tone from the opening whistle, sacking Patriots quarterback Drake Maye six times, forcing three turnovers and holding New England scoreless until midway through the fourth quarter. Devon Witherspoon’s jarring hit on Maye’s arm popped a fourth-quarter pass sky-high, allowing Uchenna Nwosu to corral the deflection and race 45 yards for the pick-6 that sealed the championship.

“We never waver, man. We believe in each other. We love each other, and now we’re world champions,” Macdonald said amid a confetti shower.

Offensively, Sam Darnold—cast aside by two franchises and labeled a bust after being selected third overall in the 2018 draft—managed the game efficiently, finishing 19 of 38 for 202 yards and a 16-yard touchdown strike to tight end AJ Barner. More important, the quarterback who led the NFL with 20 turnovers during the regular season did not commit a single giveaway in three postseason contests.

“To do this with this team, I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Darnold said. “So proud of our guys, our defense. I mean, I can’t say enough great things about our defense, our special teams.”

Running back Kenneth Walker III supplied the offensive fireworks, gouging New England for 135 yards on the ground and becoming the first tailback to capture Super Bowl MVP honors since Hall of Famer Terrell Davis 28 years ago.

Kicker Jason Myers etched his name into the record books by converting all five field-goal attempts—boots of 33, 39, 41, 41 and 37 yards—to keep the Patriots at arm’s length while the defense strangled any semblance of rhythm from Maye and company. New England punted on its first eight possessions and did not cross midfield until late in the third quarter.

Down 19-0, the Patriots briefly stirred when Maye lofted a 35-yard touchdown to Mack Hollins and later added a 7-yard scoring toss to Rhamondre Stevenson, but Julian Love’s interception in triple coverage extinguished any realistic hope of a Tom Brady-esque comeback. Maye, the 23-year-old runner-up for AP NFL MVP in the closest vote in two decades, finished battered and disappointed.

“Definitely hurts. They played better than us tonight,” Maye said.

The Seahawks’ triumph avenged their crushing goal-line loss to the Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX and ended a 12-year championship drought for the Pacific Northwest. Seattle finished the season 17-3, while New England closed at 17-4 and was denied a record seventh Super Bowl ring, remaining tied with Pittsburgh at six.

For Patriots coach Mike Vrabel—the AP NFL Coach of the Year who was attempting to join an elite group to win a Super Bowl as both player and head coach with the same franchise—the defeat stings but signals a program on the rise.

“Just reminding them that we’re 307 days into what hopefully is a long, successful relationship and program, and it’s OK to be disappointed,” Vrabel told his locker room.

Seattle’s celebration was punctuated by a dazzling halftime show headlined by Bad Bunny, with guest appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, but the lasting image will be the “Dark Side” defense smothering the Patriots’ dreams beneath the California night sky.