The Seattle Seahawks secured a dominant 29-13 victory in Super Bowl LX on Sunday night, stifling the New England Patriots in a defensive showcase that saw quarterback Sam Darnold lead his side to glory at Levi’s Stadium.
Despite a sluggish start that left many fans underwhelmed – with zero touchdowns scored in the opening three quarters – the Seahawks maintained their composure to keep a firm grip on the contest and eventually clinch the Vince Lombardi trophy.
It was a day that began with a star-studded build-up featuring Green Day and Charlie Puth, before a divisive halftime show lead by Grammy winner Bad Bunny sent social media into a frenzy – with Donald Trump among those to criticize the performance.
However, the glitz and glamour soon faded as the game transformed into a grueling war of attrition where Seattle’s resilience proved to be the ultimate difference.
The game began as a cagey affair as quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Drake Maye struggled to find their rhythm in front of the 70,000 fans watching on in Santa Clara.
It was Seattle kicker Myers who provided the only points of a lackluster first half, slotting home three field goals to give Seattle a 9-0 lead at the interval as the Patriots’ offensive line crumbled under pressure.
The Seattle Seahawks clinched a 29-13 victory New England Patriots at Super Bowl LX
Quarterback Sam Darnold lead his team to victory over their AFC rival at Levi’s Stadium
The Patriots offense struggled to breakdown the resolute Seahawks defense on Sunday night
Cooper Kupp celebrates with his wife Anna Croskrey and their children on the field
Drake Maye kisses wife Ann Michael before the start of a nightmare game for the Patriots QB
New England’s Maye endured a nightmare outing, being sacked three times in the first half alone, prompting a furious reaction from coach Mike Vrabel on the sidelines.
As the break rolled around, social media was inundated with brutal remarks from fans, with many labeling the spectacle as one of the most ‘boring’ Super Bowls in history.
However, the atmosphere finally reached a fever pitch as singer Bad Bunny stormed the stage for a halftime spectacle that left NFL fans polarized.
The Puerto Rican superstar delivered a thrilling set boosted by a surprise appearance from Lady Gaga, while Pedro Pascal added further star power to the field.
Bad Bunny’s mostly Spanish set began with Tití Me Preguntó, which he sang while walking through a sugar cane field that had been constructed on the field.
However, while Bad Bunny performed, millions of fans at home tuned into Turning Point USA’s alternative halftime show on YouTube headlined by Kid Rock, highlighting the cultural divide surrounding the choice of headliner.
Kid Rock headlined the alternative MAGA halftime show, with Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett also performing.
The initial plan was for the show to also be broadcast on X, but that was thrown into chaos just minutes before it was due to start and the stream was pulled.
In a statement, Turning Point USA said: ‘UPDATE: Due to licensing restrictions, we are unable to stream The All-American Halftime Show on X. Head on over to our YouTube channel tonight around 8PM ET to watch the full show.’
A halftime performance from Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny left NFL fans divided on the night
Millions of fans at home, instead, opted to tune into Turning Point USA’s halftime show
At the end of the show, the camera zoomed out to reveal a tribute to the late Charlie Kirk
President Donald Trump was among those to unleash a blistering attack on Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show, branding the spectacle ‘one of the worst, EVER!’
And that’s exactly what many fans did, with the stream peaking at over a remarkable 5 million viewers midway through the show.
President Donald Trump was among those to unleash a blistering attack on Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show, branding the spectacle ‘one of the worst, EVER!’
Trump’s post ignited a furious backlash among MAGA loyalists who accused the NFL of disrespecting America on its biggest stage.
After the two halftime shows were finished, Super Bowl LX continued where it left off as Seattle kicker Myers converted yet another field goal to extend their lead to 12-0.
Much like the first half, there were no touchdowns for either side as the Seahawks defense remained resolute and kept the Patriots offense at bay.
However, the touchdown drought was finally broken in the early stages of the fourth quarter when Seahawks signal caller Darnold connected with AJ Barner for a 16-yard touchdown pass that put Seattle in the driving seat.
It seemed that the touchdown sparked life into the New England Patriots as, shortly after, they found the endzone themselves after Maye found Mack Hollins with a 35-yard missile, before Andy Borregales converted the extra point attempt.
However, in the end, it was too little, too late for the New England Patriots who failed to mount a comeback after falling to the early deficit.
A jubilant Jody Allen, the Seahawks owner, lifts the Vince Lombardi trophy after the win
Seattle head coach Mike MacDonald embraces quarterback Sam Darnold after the victory
Quarterback Darnold and running back Kenneth Walker III – who was named as the Super Bowl LX MVP – admire the Vince Lombardi trophy after their stunning win at Levi’s Stadium
The New England Patriots stars appeared bitterly disappointed as they trudged off the field
The Seahawks put the final nail in the coffin in the closing moments of the game after Uchenna Nwosu recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown following a Devon Witherspoon sack on Maye.
New England added a final, albeit late, score when Rhamondre Stevenson caught a 7-yard pass from Maye for a touchdown with just over two minutes remaining.
While the game was a defensive struggle for three quarters, the stat lines told the story of Seattle’s efficiency versus New England’s inability to protect the ball.
Seattle’s Darnold finished with 19 completions on 38 attempts for 202 yards. Crucially, he threw one touchdown to and recorded zero interceptions, managing the game effectively under immense pressure.
New England’s Maye, meanwhile, had a nightmare evening behind a crumbling offensive line. He completed 27 of 43 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns, but was sacked a staggering six times, losing 43 yards in the process.
While the quarterbacks struggled for airtime, Jason Myers was arguably the MVP of the game. The kicker finished the night with five field goals and two extra points.
However, Seattle’s Kenneth Walker III was actually awarded with the MVP title – becoming the first running back to claim the award in 28 years.
The victory marks a historic moment for the franchise, securing their first Super Bowl title since 2014. After years of rebuilding, the Seahawks returned to the pinnacle of the NFL with a performance defined by defensive grit and clinical special teams play.
Iconic rock band Green Day kick-started the afternoon with a brief set at the opening ceremony
Singer Charlie Puth then performed the Star-Spangled Banner in a moment which divided fans
Coco Jones sings Lift Every Voice and Sing – the black national anthem – at the Super Bowl
Seahawks duo Leonard Williams and Elijah Arroyo with their respective partners before kickoff
Meanwhile, before the opening whistle, punk rock icons Green Day set the tone inside the stadium with a high-octane performance featuring a number of their classics.
The California natives looked right at home on the Levi’s Stadium turf, providing a high-energy contrast to the more traditional ceremonies that followed.
In fact, the performance from Green Day was so good that fans rushed to social media to claim that they should have had the half-time show over Bad Bunny.
After opening with an instrumental of ‘Good Riddance’ and then switching over to ‘Holiday’, they slowed it down with ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams’ and saved the best until last with legendary song ‘American Idiot’.
The evening then swiftly moved on to a ‘special arrangement’ of the national anthem by singer Charlie Puth that immediately sparked a firestorm on social media.
Puth, a New Jersey native, performed a version of the Star-Spangled Banner featuring unique vocal runs that left viewers divided – while others questioned if the star was even singing live.
Despite his promise of a ‘really special arrangement in D major’ in the build-up to the big game, fans on X were quick to criticize the rendition.
One viewer claimed it was the ‘worst national anthem of all-time,’ while others questioned the choice of the Attention singer for such a massive stage.
Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce was among those who watched on at Levi’s Stadium
The likes of Jessica Alba, Pedro Pascal, Karol G, Cardi B and Alix Earle all featured as extras during Bad Bunny’s divisive halftime show on the night
Music power couple Jay-Z and Beyonce were on the sidelines before kick-off in California
Rapper Travis Scott and Adam Sandler were among the stars who attended Sunday’s big game
The pre-game festivities also included Brandi Carlile, who performed a rendition of ‘America the Beautiful.’
Rising star Coco Jones followed with a powerful performance of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ which was met with an overwhelmingly positive reaction.
Super Bowl fans were left speechless by Jones’ incredible rendition of the ‘black national anthem’ ahead of kickoff in San Francisco and quickly heaped praise online.
The 28-year-old South Carolina native wore a stunning all-white outfit, pairing a flowing skirt with a white jacket and headband for her performance.
She stood on a stage, with deaf performer Fred Beam alongside her as interpreter, and three violin players behind her to complement the performance.
Despite the drama on and off the field, the sidelines remained a celebrity magnet, with Jay-Z, Beyonce, and Kendall Jenner leading the A-list attendees.
Even a solo Travis Kelce was spotted in a luxury suite, watching on as the Seahawks ultimately proved that in Super Bowl LX, defense still wins championships.
