Dominating defense and ‘desperate’ Drake Maye – Super Bowl LX winners and losers as Seahawks destroy Patriots

The Seattle Seahawks are Super Bowl champions.

Behind the best defence in the NFL, Seattle stifled Drake Maye and the New England Patriots to lift the Lombardi Trophy for just the second time in franchise history.

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They won 29-13 at Levi’s Stadium, in a game that didn’t feature a touchdown until the fourth quarter.

Seahawks kicker Jason Myers put the only points on the board through three quarters, before much-doubted quarterback Sam Darnold finally connected on a pass to AJ Barner to extend the lead to 19-0.

He finished the game 19/38, with 202 yards and that score, while running back Kenneth Walker III carried much of the fight on the ground, racking up 137 yards from 27 carries.

Seattle’s explosive RB was named Super Bowl MVP for his impressive effort.

The Patriots only got on the board themselves with just over 12 minutes left, when Maye found Mack Hollins for an impressive TD, but that was as good as it got for New England.

Seattle’s D was simply too good, and put to bed any hopes of a shock comeback with a defensive score on the next Pats drive.

That unit also sacked Maye an incredible six times, making New England’s star one of the most-hit QBs in Super Bowl history.

Truly, it was a night to remember for the Seahawks, who will take the Lombardi Trophy back to Lumen Field.

talkSPORT commentator Will Gavin, whose high-energy calls have gone viral across the pond with Richard Sherman, Kay Adams, Rob Gronkowski and Christian McCaffrey among those to have voiced their admiration, was watching Super Bowl LX unfold from Santa Clara.

Once the green and blue confetti had finished falling, he broke down the winners and losers from Sunday night…

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‘Sensational’ Sam Darnold

My first winner from tonight has to be Sam Darnold. Even though he didn’t have the greatest game… 19/38 for 202 yards plus the big touchdown shot to AJ Barner.

He made the big plays in the big moments. Had the big completion to Barner over the middle when they needed something from a drive.

He called the defense right, and under a huge amount of pressure from a good Patriots front, he didn’t turn the ball over — that’s the big thing.

Everyone wanted to say last year that he wasn’t clutch, wasn’t able to win in the postseason. And yet, 20 turnovers in the regular-season, led the NFL. Now he joins Eli Manning as just the second quarterback all-time to lead the league in interceptions, fumbles and turnovers, and in the same year, win the Super Bowl.

In the playoffs, he had zero turnovers, protected the ball, did everything right.

His story is so sensational.

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MVP Kenneth Walker III

The defense are the big winners tonight, but I have to give love to Kenneth Walker III.

The first running back to win Super Bowl MVP since Terrell Davis in Super Bowl XXXII.

135 yards on 27 carries on the ground, plus two huge catches for 26 yards as well. He picked up first downs, had huge runs on the outside.

He has just been bell-cow for this offense, kept them rolling. They could lean on him, run the clock. He was just sensational tonight.

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‘Unreal’ Seattle Seahawks defense

I have got to pick a member of the defense, but I can’t pick just one. It’s almost impossible.

I think I could go Derick Hall. He had a brilliant night, two sacks, forced a fumble which was picked up by Byron Murphy II.

Murphy himself had two sacks and recovered that fumble, just unreal.

Then you have Devon Witherspoon, a sack, he forced an interception. Another guy who could be on there.

I’m going to say the winner, surely, is the Seattle defense.

They are a proper unit, a true embodiment of a team… the best unit on the field the NFL saw all season long.

‘Desperate’ Drake Maye

Where there are winners, there have to be losers — and three names made Gavin’s list.

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I don’t want to destroy Drake Maye completely. But the interception he threw essentially killed off the possibility of a turnaround.

It was a desperate throw in a desperate moment for a desperate quarterback — and I think his youth showed out today.

I love Drake Maye, I think he’s the future of quarterback in the NFL.

Tonight was just a hurdle too far.

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Josh McDaniels and ‘misfit’ Patriots staff

As much as he’s won six Super Bowls with this team, the coaching staff (in New England) are an island of misfit toys.

They did a brilliant job of putting it together this year, but weren’t able to find any way to beat this Seahawks defense.

The Patriots have a very smart room of people, but they didn’t have the smarts tonight to beat the Seattle Seahawks.

No turnover New England defense

The Patriots blitzed at 71 percent tonight, pressured Darnold on 50 percent of his dropbacks, but were barely able to bring him down.

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Didn’t force turnovers, didn’t sack him, so I have to say the Patriots defensive line as a unit (lost).

The Patriots threw a good defensive game plan at Darnold, but didn’t get the big play they needed. Didn’t get the stop.

Missed tackles on Kenneth Walker III on the outside. It’s a shame, they’ve been so good in these playoffs, but between the missed tackles and inability to get to Darnold, they’ve got to go down as the losers.

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