Seahawks win Tremendous Bowl title, pounding the Patriots 29-13 : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5098x3399+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8a%2F01%2F7d555bf94832a9c4e9cb6dd9b112%2Fap26040121337368.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5098x3399+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8a%2F01%2F7d555bf94832a9c4e9cb6dd9b112%2Fap26040121337368.jpg" class="img" alt="Seattle Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) celebrates his touchdown on a fumble recovery during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif." fetchpriority="high"/> Seattle Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) celebrates his landing on a fumble restoration through the second half of the NFL Tremendous Bowl 60 soccer recreation in opposition to the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. Mark J. Terrill/AP cover caption

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Mark J. Terrill/AP SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Protection received this championship.

Devon Witherspoon, Derick Corridor, Byron Murphy and the remainder of Mike Macdonald's ferocious unit pummeled Drake Maye, and the Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29-13 on Sunday to win the franchise's second Tremendous Bowl.

Sam Darnold threw a landing cross to AJ Barner, Kenneth Walker III ran for 135 yards and Jason Myers set a Tremendous Bowl report by making all 5 of his field-goal tries.

Walker turned the primary working again to win the Tremendous Bowl MVP award since Terrell Davis 28 years in the past.

Uchenna Nwosu punctuated a punishing defensive efficiency by snagging Maye's cross within the air after Witherspoon hit his arm and ran it again 45 yards for a pick-6.

"It is a one-of-a-kind feeling, bro," Witherspoon stated. "You discuss a gaggle of fellows who battle daily, who consider in one another and consider of their coach, you possibly can't describe this group no higher. It is only a one-of-a-kind feeling. I used to be simply so blissful to battle with these guys. We went via quite a bit, however we believed. All of you all doubters on the market who stated all that different stuff, you all do not know what is going on on on this constructing. We're certainly one of one over right here."

Seattle's "Darkish Aspect" protection helped Darnold turn out to be the primary quarterback within the 2018 draft class to win a Tremendous Bowl, forward of Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson.

"To do that with this staff, I would not need it another means," Darnold stated. "So pleased with our guys, our protection. I imply, I can not say sufficient nice issues about our protection, our particular groups."

Labeled a bust, dumped by two groups and regarded expendable by two others, Darnold proved his doubters flawed whereas serving to the Seahawks go 17-3.

After main the NFL with 20 turnovers within the common season, Darnold did not have any in three playoff video games. He wasn't notably sharp in opposition to a strong Patriots protection however protected the ball and made sufficient performs, ending 19 of 38 for 202 yards.

"I do know we received the Tremendous Bowl, however we may have been slightly bit higher on offense, however I do not care about that proper now," Darnold stated. "It is an unbelievable feeling, man. I am simply so blissful for the blokes within the locker room and the coaches that put in a lot effort all through the entire season."

The Seahawks sacked Maye six occasions, together with two apiece by Corridor and Murphy. Corridor's strip-sack late within the third quarter arrange a brief discipline and Darnold linked with Barner on 16-yard scoring toss to make it 19-0.

Julian Love's interception arrange one other discipline aim that made it 22-7 with 5:35 left.

The Patriots (17-4) punted on the primary eight drives, excluding a kneel-down to finish the primary half.

"We had a very good 12 months, one which I am pleased with," New England coach Mike Vrabel stated. "However this recreation wasn't a mirrored image of that. We had been outcoached and outplayed."

Down 19-0, Maye and the Patriots' offense lastly obtained going. He hit Mack Hollins over the center in visitors for twenty-four yards after which lofted an ideal 35-yard TD cross to Hollins down the left facet to chop the deficit to 19-7.

Tom Brady as soon as led Invoice Belichick's Patriots to the best comeback in Tremendous Bowl historical past, when New England rallied from a 28-3 deficit in opposition to Atlanta for a 34-28 additional time victory.

However Maye, who was runner-up to Matthew Stafford for the AP NFL MVP award within the closest race in twenty years, did not come shut. He had an opportunity to get it nearer, however his ill-advised cross into triple protection was picked by Love and the Patriots trailed by 15 after they obtained the ball again with 5:35 left.

Then got here Nwosu's landing, a becoming technique to cap an amazing effort by the NFL's stingiest protection.

"Positively hurts. They performed higher than us tonight," Maye stated.

Maye's 7-yard TD cross to Rhamondre Stevenson late within the recreation solely made the margin smaller.

The Seahawks took a 3-0 lead on Myers' 33-yard discipline aim on the sport's opening drive. Myers linked from 39 and 41 yards to increase the result in 9-0 at halftime. He was good from 41 on Seattle's first drive of the third quarter to make it 12-0.

Patriots participant of the sport Cornerback Christian Gonzalez made two excellent performs to stop potential touchdowns within the second quarter. He raced again and leaped within the air to slap away a deep cross to Rashid Shaheed that would have been a 76-yard TD.

On Seattle's final drive within the first half, Gonzalez knocked down a cross to All-Professional large receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba that may have been a 23-yard TD.

r-one sack Rylie Mills pushed left guard Jared Wilson into Maye and took each of them down on certainly one of Seattle's sacks.

Dangerous Bunny shines at halftime Dangerous Bunny headlined a visually beautiful halftime efficiency that additionally featured appearances by Woman Gaga and Ricky Martin. The Grammy-winning Puerto Rican artist totally in Spanish.

Patriots dnied a report seventh title The Patriots did not win the franchise's seventh Tremendous Bowl, which might have set an NFL report. They're tied with the Steelers with six championships.

Vrabel, the AP NFL Coach of the Yr, was aiming to turn out to be the fifth individual to win a Tremendous Bowl as a participant and head coach and the primary to do each with the identical staff.

The 23-year-old Maye was making an attempt to turn out to be the youngest QB to win a Lombardi Trophy. Ben Roethlisberger nonetheless holds that mark.