NFL Playoffs: Seahawks Roll to Title

After 23 weeks of NFL Football, we have a Champion!!

Super Bowl Recap

It was not the most noteworthy Super Bowl ever in SB LX, but the favorite Seattle Seahawks took on the underdog New England Patriots for an unlikely match up in Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. At most parties, including the one attended, a lot of people were more interested in the Halftime Show by Bad Bunny versus the game itself and the first half lived up to that lack of excitement. Neither team was able to get in the end zone in the 1st half. In fact, after an initial SEA drive that resulted in a FG, there were 5 consecutive punts by both teams combined. Finally, RB Kenneth Walker III opened up the game a bit with a 30 yard run down the left sideline to spark the Seahawks and two plays later another 29 yard run, which set up K Jason Myers for his 2nd FG. Three more punts, then another Myers FG, as the Patriots could only must 46 yard against this SEA D in the half. Yet, even as the SEA D dominated the game, the Seahawks were up just 9-0, a lead that did not seem insurmontable.

The halftime show was notable as not only did the Titi Me Pregunto hit as the 1st song, but the number of people tuned into the show broke the record for most watched halftime show in Super Bowl history.

In the second half, NE started with the ball first, but was unable to get a first down yet again. On SEA’s possession, QB Sam Darnold hit WR Rashid Shaheed, Jaxson Smith-Njiba and Walker for good gains plus a scramble for a 1st down to set up another Myers FG for a 12-0 lead. Only thing of note here was Smith-Njiba was injured on that drive leaving him limited the rest of the game. After that FG, the game reverted back to a punt fest – four more 3 and outs by both teams. Then, after a rare first down by NE, on 3rd and 6 from their own 37, QB Drake Maye was sacked and fumbled the ball, SE recovered – the first TO of the game with 16 seconds to go in the 3rd. Finally, SEA was able to break through as Darnold found TE AJ Barner for a 16 yard TD to crack the game open at 19-0 with 13:24 left in the game.

NE finally showed some life on the next drive. Maye hit WR Mack Hollins for a deep ball of 24 yards to the SEA 35 yard line, and on the next play, Maye to Hollins again for a 35 yard TD strike to cut the lead. Surprisingly, NE didn’t go for 2, but 19-7 felt like the game could have a good ending. After a NE stop of SEA on the next drive, NE had the ball with 10:35 left. One completion to RB Rhamondre Stevenson for a 1st down, then to TE Hunter Henry, followed by a 16 yard Maye run for a 1st down to the NE 37 – the Patriots were on the move. However, two plays later, Maye was pressured and threw into triple coverage for an INT. SEA drove for yet another FG from Myers for a 22-7 lead with 8:37 left. NE had one more last gasp to try to make a game of it, but CB Devon Witherspoon blitzed and hit Maye while throwing the ball, which caromed in the air into LB Uchenna Nwosu’s hands who took the ball to the house for a defensive score effectively ending the game with the 29-7 lead. NE would score a meaningless TD on their next drive, but failed to get the 2 point conversion or onsides kick.

The Seattle Seahawks are the 2025-26 NFL Champs with the 29-13 win, their 2nd ever Championship. RB Kenneth Walker III won the MVP with 135 yards rushing and 27 yards receiving – the only real positive offensive player of the game. Maye threw for 295 yards in defeat, but the 3 Turnovers cost his team 13 points. Meanwhile, the previously maligned Sam Darnold finished the postseason with 0 turnovers, which is a huge reason why the Seahawks won it, despite completing just 19 of 38 for 202 yards. The SEA D was the true MVP to me which not only forced the 3 turnovers, but sacked Maye 6 times making Maye the most sacked QB in NFL Playoff history in one postseason with 21 sacks. HC Mike McDonald becomes the 3rd youngest coach all time to win a Super Bowl.

Prediction: S/U 1-0 (9-4 Overall), ATS 0-1 (7-6), Total 1-0 (8-5) – very good postseason campaign, especially straight up, but my Super Bowl props were not to be mentioned…..

Time to relax and recover until Draft Season is in full swing very soon.

Wegs