Seattle linebacker Derick Hall was a disruptor in the first half against Drake Maye and the Patriots offense. (Seattle Seahawks)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Instant takeaways from Seattle 29, New England 13 in Super Bowl 60 …
1. Defense reigns: New England avoided becoming the first team to suffer a shutout in a Super Bowl, and that’s the best that could be said of the Patriots in their return to the Super Bowl in Mike Vrabel’s first season as their head coach. The league-leading Seattle Seahawks defense ruled Super Bowl 60, forcing three turnovers, scoring one touchdown, and sacking NFL MVP runner-up Drake Maye six times. Jason Myers’ record five field goals and Kenneth Walker’s 135 yards rushing completed a 29-13 Seattle rout and made a Super Bowl winner of quarterback Sam Darnold with his fifth team. It was Seattle’s second Super Bowl championship in four appearances and first under second-year head coach Mike Macdonald. The title should secure a record price tag of $8 billion+ for the Seattle franchise, which will be sold within a few months, per terms of the Paul Allen Trust.
2. Too little too late: Maye salvaged two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to offset one of the worst QB performances in a Super Bowl. He managed TDs of 35 yards to Mack Hollins with 12:27 left and 7 yards to Rhamondre Stevenson at 2:06. Maye’s numbers – 27 of 43 for 295 yards, two TDs and two interceptions – don’t do justice to the domination of the Seattle defense in this game.
3. Greenman hits pay dirt: The first touchdown of the game was scored by Aurora’s AJ Barner on a 16-yard pass from Darnold in the fourth quarter. Barner, who was a Northeast Ohio Division III defensive player of the year as a linebacker, was a fourth-round pick of the Seahawks in 2024. He played three years at Indiana and then transferred to Michigan and had 22 catches in the Wolverines national championship season.
4. Putting the foot in football: Myers had field goals of 33, 39, 41, 41, and 26 yards to set a Super Bowl record.
5. Bad Bunny. Bad half: Field goals of 33, 39 and 41 yards by Myers – set up by Walker’s 94 yards rushing -- was all the scoring in the first half as Seattle led, 9-0, at halftime. The Seahawks’ defense dominated, yielding only 18 passing yards and 33 rushing. Every one of New England’s five possessions ended in a punt. It was the fifth Super Bowl without a touchdown in the first half. No team shut out in the first half ever won a Super Bowl.
6. Defense rules both ways: The score could have been more lopsided if not for Christian Gonzalez. The Patriots cornerback made two fantastic PBUs, one on a leaping deflection of a pass for Rashid Shaheed and another at the goal line on a throw to Jaxson Smith-Njigba. Both PBUs forced Seattle to kick field goals. Darnold was 9 of 22 for 88 yards in the half, but did well to avoid turnovers. He led all the NFL in that dubious category this year.
7. Maye culpa: Maye had no chance in the first half, as his all-rookie protection on the left side, tackle Will Campbell and guard Jared Wilson, was manhandled and beat constantly by Seattle’s stunts, blitzes and power rushes. Maye was sacked 47 times in the regular season (five times by Myles Garrett) and 15 more in two AFC playoff victories. He was taken down three times in the first half.
8. Eat the flags: No Super Bowl has had zero penalties in the first half. This one came within 3:08 of being the first. A false start on New England’s embattled Will Campbell was the only penalty.
9. Make your plans: The next two Super Bowl sites are set, so if you’re feeling good about the Browns’ chances, now is the time to make plans. Super Bowl 61 is set for February 14, 2027, in SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA; and Super Bowl 62 is in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA, with the date to be determined. Super Bowl 63 is expected to be awarded to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV.