Seahawks defense among best ever after Super Bowl destruction of Patriots

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Seahawks defense among best ever after Super Bowl destruction of Patriots

Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Mon, Feb 9, 2026 ·

2 min read

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SANTA CLARA, CA – Go ahead, say it again: Defense wins championships.

The Seattle Seahawks lived up to the mantra in Super Bowl 60 with a smashing performance that left little doubt about their status as a special unit.

Sure, the New England Patriots rallied in the fourth quarter to finally get on the scoreboard and Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III nabbed MVP honors in tallying 161 yards from scrimmage. But the way it went down at Levi's Stadium in the 29-13 verdict was undeniably all about Seattle's defense, aka "The Dark Side."

How fitting. Mike Macdonald got his big shot to become Seahawks coach in 2024 because of his prowess as a defensive whiz.

Look at him now. His Seahawks defense, which allowed the fewest points in the NFL during the regular season, finished the job with one big play after another.

How many times would they sack poor Drake Maye ?

That would be six, reflecting all the heat they constantly put on the Patriots quarterback. And that was just one measure of domination. Maye was intercepted twice – including a fourth-quarter pop-up that Uchenna Nwosu returned 45 yards for a touchdown – and lost a fumble.

Christian Gonzalez #0 of the New England Patriots breaks up a pass intended for Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
(Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images)

Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Rylie Mills (98) sacks New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) during the second quarter in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium.
(Darren Yamashita, Imagn Images)

Sam Darnold #14 of the Seattle Seahawks is pressured by K'lavon Chaisson #44 of the New England Patriots during the second quarter Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)

Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Rylie Mills (98) reacts after sacking New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) during the second quarter in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium.
(Kyle Terada, Imagn Images)

Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots is sacked by Rylie Mills #98 of the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)

New England Patriots safety Craig Woodson (31) reacts after making a tackle during the first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium.
(Darren Yamashita, Imagn Images)

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) sacks New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) during the first quarter in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium.
(Kyle Terada, Imagn Images)

Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori (3) and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) react after a play during the first quarter against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium.
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)

New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (0) breaks up a pass intended for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) in the first half in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)

Derick Hall #58 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts after sacking Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots during the first quarter of Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
(Chris Graythen, Getty Images)

Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots is sacked by Derick Hall #58 of the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter of Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
(Chris Graythen, Getty Images)

Who was the defensive MVP?

Well, that's a crapshoot – in the sense that there were so many candidates. Derick Hall had two sacks and forced a fumble. Devon Witherspoon had a sack and forced the pop-up pick to Nwosu. Byron Murphy had two sacks and a recovery.

Any chance they'd collapse down the stretch and allow the New England Patriots to rally and make a game of it?

No chance. In fact, for much of the game the Seahawks flirted with the possibility of becoming the first defense to pitch a shutout in a Super Bowl .

As it stands now, they'll have to settle for a spot alongside some of the greatest championship defenses ever.

There's the Steel Curtain and Doomsday. No one can forget the 1985 Chicago Bears . Ray Lewis and Lawrence Taylor led remarkable defenses for the Ravens and Giants , respectively.

And of course, the Seahawks won their last Super Bowl a dozen years ago with the "Legion of Boom."

Now "The Dark Side" deserves to take a bow.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Seahawks defense destroys Patriots and earns place in NFL history

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Seahawks defense among best ever after Super Bowl destruction of Patriots

Check out the biggest defensive moments from Patriots vs. Seahawks

Check out the biggest defensive moments from Patriots vs. Seahawks

Check out the biggest defensive moments from Patriots vs. Seahawks

Check out the biggest defensive moments from Patriots vs. Seahawks

Check out the biggest defensive moments from Patriots vs. Seahawks

Check out the biggest defensive moments from Patriots vs. Seahawks

Check out the biggest defensive moments from Patriots vs. Seahawks

Check out the biggest defensive moments from Patriots vs. Seahawks

Check out the biggest defensive moments from Patriots vs. Seahawks

Check out the biggest defensive moments from Patriots vs. Seahawks

Check out the biggest defensive moments from Patriots vs. Seahawks

Check out the biggest defensive moments from Patriots vs. Seahawks

Check out the biggest defensive moments from Patriots vs. Seahawks