Wait. Maybe that isn’t the best title for this. I hope nobody is expecting an nsfw post based on that title.
I just mean that the game was awesome if you are fan of defensive football… which I happen to be.
First, I don’t really consider this a 16 point win. It was complete domination by the Seahawks defense and New England happened to hit on some big gambles well after the game was decided.
Most of what I will write here is based on the game being 19-0 early in the 4th quarter. That’s exciting is really when the game was decided. Anything after that was window dressing for both teams.
While many people might argue that a 19-0 blowout is incredibly boring. I was enthralled by the game I could not look away. This was not a case of an offense just being so inept they couldn’t do anything. After all, the Patriots scored the second most points in the NFL this year. They have a good offense. But Seattle just had a better defense. And I mean a MUCH better defense. It was basically flawless all year and continued that in the playoffs.
When I watch a championship game in any sport, I expect to see excellence. That is exactly what I saw on Sunday. The Seahawks defense was something to behold. It wasn’t just that they sacked Patriots QB Drake Maye seven times, it’s that they destroyed the Patriots line and pressured Maye on what seemed like every pass. On the rare occasion the Seahawks were not directly terrorizing him, Maye was running from ghosts from the previous play. He was terrified. It resulted in his inability to complete even the easiest passes when he actually had time to breathe.
And this isn’t even counting what the Seahawks did to the run. The Patriots Simply could not run and were forced to abandon even the idea of trying it before the second quarter was even over.
It has been a long time since I have seen a defense dominate like that. Because this Seahawks team lacks star power and household names, the defense will not go down in history as one of the best. But what this team had was a solid, excellent player at every position. They had no superstars but they also had no weak links. It was truly remarkable.
When I previewed the game, I said that although the Seahawks were better in paper, the fact that Sam Darnold could very likely crap down his leg meant that this game could go either way. I never considered that the Seahawks defense would simply take that right off the table. “Take the game off Sam, we got this.” The Seahawks just needed to run the ball enough to kick five field goals. Just to make sure Darnold would not have to do anything stupid, the defense decided to score a touchdown of their own so that Darnold would not factor into the win in any way. I didn’t even know that was possible in today’s NFL.
So Seattle’s display if defensive excellence made me watch every play of the game. How about you?
In today's era of high-scoring games, it's rare to see such defensive dominance. The way the Seattle defense took control of the game and put Drake May under pressure to relieve pressure on Sam Darnold was truly remarkable.
Without a doubt, they were the best team throughout the season at all levels, but especially defensively. Hopefully, the Bears will be the opponent that can defeat them, now with a year more experience. If we go by what we've seen, it will be difficult, but we must always have faith. Although the Patriots were my favorite for the Super Bowl, I was impressed by how strong and consistent the Seattle Seahawks were.
It was largely one-sided, with Seattle leading 19-0 before the Pats scored; the Seahawks' "Dark Side" defense controlled the game.In short it was a mismatch, all thanks to a masterclass defense.
They screwed me out of my money in the second quarter. Makes me hate them even more! :)
Defensive football indeed at its finest. Watching the Seahawks dismantle a top-tier offense like New England’s was mesmerizing.
I only got to see the first half, and well, the Seahawks were far superior both offensively and defensively, especially. But I had some hope for the Patriots, but it wasn't possible this time.
I didn't see it, but from what he says in his post, Seattle undoubtedly dominated the game solely through defense and advancing the ball correctly to score field goals and stop the opposing offense. They are undoubtedly the best.
Really well said. You captured exactly why that game was so fun to watch for anyone who loves defense. It wasn’t just mistakes by the Patriots it was pure dominance by Seattle. That kind of complete, disciplined defensive performance is rare, and honestly, it’s just as beautiful as a high scoring shootout. Great breakdown 👍
And how about Kenneth Walker III? Getting the MVP as a running back for the first time since the late 90s is the perfect capstone for a game that felt like a throwback to defensive dominance. He grounded out 135 yards and just kept the clock moving, ensuring the Patriots' offense stayed off the field.
I was hoping on a game where the offense would have excelled. But it was indeed great to see how humble the Seahawks where before the game in constrast to the arrogance of Maye before the game. He and his offense were degraded by the defense of the Seahawks.
Defensive football is unique, and we need such dominance. Looking forward to seeing more such information.
Great point about this feeling like a throwback game! It was cool
Biggest fan of the Seahawks' defensive effort, no debate there. That pass rush sealed it early.