Seahawks’ 'Dark Side' defense delivers Super Bowl LX revenge over Patriots

The Seattle Seahawks sit atop the NFL hierarchy after a defensive masterclass helped them dominate the New England Patriots 29-13 at Super Bowl LX.

That defense, overseen by Englishman Aden Durde, frustrated New England all game, sacking Drake Maye six times and forcing three turnovers.

While Mike Macdonald, Sam Darnold, and the Seahawks' defense celebrate their historic victory, we break down how the game was won and the highlight moments that decided it.

Relive Super Bowl LX live on DAZN for only 99p

DAZN’s latest NFL Game Pass deal gives you complete access to Super Bowl LX, alongside full replays of every playoff and regular season game, for just £0.99.

Rewatch the full replay and highlights as Seattle’s now-famous 'Dark Side' defense overcame Drake Maye’s Patriots to claim the Seahawks' second Vince Lombardi Trophy.

In addition to every game, live or on demand, Game Pass also provides access to RedZone, NFL Network, and DAZN’s weekly original shows, including Downs 2 Business, Kittle Things, and X's & O's coaching breakdown.

Click here for more information and to sign up.

First quarter

On the opening drive of the game, Sam Darnold hit tight end A.J. Barner and then wideout Cooper Kupp for big gains.

New England's defense then stiffened in the red zone, before veteran Seahawks' kicker Jason Myers converted a field goal from 33 yards out to put Seattle 3-0 up with 12 minutes left in the quarter.

On the Patriots' opening offensive drive, Seattle forced New England to punt after Derick Hall sacked Drake Maye.

The Seahawks went three and out on the ensuing drive before New England's offense returned to the field with a little over six minutes remaining in the first.

But after finding Kayshon Boutte for 23, Maye was sacked again. This time, Devon Witherspoon knifed through the line to bring him down at the Patriots' 42 for a loss of ten.

Second quarter

The start of the second quarter opened with a bang. Kenneth Walker exploded on runs of 29 and 20 yards, powering the Seahawks into the red zone.

Yet when it mattered most, New England's defense held strong, limiting Seattle to a second Myers field goal with 11:16 left before the half.

Leading 6-0, Seahawks' rookie defensive lineman Riley Mills bull-rushed his way through the line to take down Maye.

On the following possession, which began nine minutes before halftime, Darnold and Walker architected a drive that drained more than four minutes from the clock before Seattle punted to the New England two.

Maye, standing in the endzone, delivered a strike to move the Seahawks out of imminent danger, but from there, his woes continued.

First, there was yet more relentless pressure from Aden Durde's defense, and that was followed by a drive-killing penalty called on first-year offensive lineman Will Campbell.

With three minutes remaining before halftime, Seattle put together a methodical nine-play, 41-yard drive, which ended with a third Myers field goal.

Seattle went into the break 9-0 ahead, but like New England, its offense was largely being held in check. At that half, Darnold had a derisory 41% completion rate, and Christian Gonzalez had held Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba to just four yards.

Halftime Show

The Apple Music Halftime Show, headlined by Bad Bunny and with cameo appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, delivered plenty of Latin flair and energy.

Third quarter

But as the third quarter resumed, New England's offense came out flat once again, punting the ball away on the first of three successive possessions before Myers put Seattle 12-0 up with 9:12 remaining.

The third of those failed third-quarter Patriots' drives ended when Derick Hall's second sack jarred the ball loose from Maye's grasp. Seattle's Byron Murphy recovered the fumble, and New England's outlook looked bleak.

Fourth quarter

Darnold piled on the misery at the top of the fourth, finding tight end A.J. Barner open in the end zone for the game's first touchdown from 16 yards out.

But then, for a moment at least, it appeared the Patriots were going to make it a game.

Maye, realising the urgency of the situation, found wideout Mack Hollins for a big gain, before returning to Hollins again to get his side off the mark on a 35-yard touchdown.

Despite facing a 19-7 deficit, when the New England defense forced Seattle to punt on the ensuing drive, it appeared the momentum had truly shifted.

That impetus was short-lived. An encouraging start to New England's next drive was foiled when Seahawks' safety Julian Love picked off Maye's errant pass.

From there, it was all Seattle. First, Myers converted his fifth field goal from 28 yards to extend Seattle's lead to 22-7.

And then, showing no mercy for the frustrated Maye, Seattle's defense registered its sixth sack of the game, the latter of which resulted in a fumble that Uchenna Nwosu returned 44 yards for a touchdown.

With the scoreline sitting at a lopsided 29-7 and with 4:27 left, New England marched down the field and scored on a dump-off pass from Maye to Henderson, a pass the rookie corralled less than an inch from the ground.

But there was too little time left for any comeback. The damage was done, and the game was won.

A historic night for Seattle

The night will be remembered not only for the momentous win and the second franchise Super Bowl, but also for how Seattle exacted revenge for their heartbreaking loss to the Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX.

For Darnold, the man once considered a draft bust, a Super Bowl ring now seals one of the most remarkable redemption stories the NFL has ever seen.

Beyond that, and despite letting their foot off the gas toward the end, the Seahawks' defensive performance will forever be recognised as one of the finest in Super Bowl history.

The Legion of Boom raised the bar; the Dark Side has cleared it.