SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Protection received this championship.
Devon Witherspoon, Derick Corridor, Byron Murphy and the remainder of Mike Macdonald’s ferocious unit pummeled Drake Maye, and the Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29-13 on Sunday to win the franchise’s second Tremendous Bowl.
Sam Darnold threw a touchdown pass to AJ Barner, Kenneth Walker III ran for 135 yards and Jason Myers set a Tremendous Bowl document by making all 5 of his field-goal tries.
Walker turned the primary working again to win the Tremendous Bowl MVP award since Terrell Davis 28 years in the past.
Uchenna Nwosu punctuated a punishing defensive efficiency by snagging Maye’s pass in the air after Witherspoon hit his arm and ran it again 45 yards for a pick-6.
“It’s a one-of-a-kind feeling, bro,” Witherspoon stated. “You speak about a bunch of men who battle each day, who imagine in one another and imagine of their coach, you’ll be able to’t describe this group no higher. It’s only a one-of-a-kind feeling. I used to be simply so glad to battle with these guys. We went by lots, however we believed. All of you all doubters on the market who stated all that different stuff, you all don’t know what’s occurring on this constructing. We’re considered one of one over right here.”
Seattle’s “Darkish Aspect” protection helped Darnold turn into the primary quarterback within the 2018 draft class to win a Tremendous Bowl, forward of Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson.
“To do that with this workforce, I wouldn’t need it another method,” Darnold stated. “So pleased with our guys, our protection. I imply, I can’t say sufficient nice issues about our protection, our particular groups.”
Labeled a bust, dumped by two groups and regarded expendable by two others, Darnold proved his doubters improper whereas serving to the Seahawks go 17-3.
After main the NFL with 20 turnovers within the common season, Darnold didn’t have any in three playoff video games. He wasn’t notably sharp towards a strong Patriots protection however protected the ball and made sufficient performs, ending 19 of 38 for 202 yards.
“I do know we received the Tremendous Bowl, however we might have been a little bit bit higher on offense, however I don’t care about that proper now,” Darnold stated. “It’s an unbelievable feeling, man. I’m simply so glad for the fellows within the locker room and the coaches that put in a lot effort all through the entire season.”
The Seahawks sacked Maye six occasions, together with two apiece by Corridor and Murphy. Hall’s strip-sack late within the third quarter arrange a brief discipline and Darnold related with Barner on 16-yard scoring toss to make it 19-0.
Julian Love’s interception arrange one other discipline purpose that made it 22-7 with 5:35 left.
The Patriots (17-4) punted on the primary eight drives, excluding a kneel-down to finish the primary half.
“We had a extremely good yr, one which I’m pleased with,” New England coach Mike Vrabel stated. “However this recreation wasn’t a mirrored image of that. We had been outcoached and outplayed.”
Down 19-0, Maye and the Patriots’ offense lastly acquired going. He hit Mack Hollins over the center in visitors for twenty-four yards after which lofted an ideal 35-yard TD move to Hollins down the left facet to chop the deficit to 19-7.
Tom Brady as soon as led Invoice Belichick’s Patriots to the best comeback in Tremendous Bowl historical past, when New England rallied from a 28-3 deficit towards Atlanta for a 34-28 additional time victory.
However Maye, who was runner-up to Matthew Stafford for the AP NFL MVP award within the closest race in twenty years, didn’t come shut. He had an opportunity to get it nearer, however his ill-advised move into triple protection was picked by Love and the Patriots trailed by 15 after they acquired the ball again with 5:35 left.
Then got here Nwosu’s landing, a becoming method to cap an awesome effort by the NFL’s stingiest protection.
“Undoubtedly hurts. They performed higher than us tonight,” Maye stated.
Maye’s 7-yard TD move to Rhamondre Stevenson late within the recreation solely made the margin smaller.
The Seahawks took a 3-0 lead on Myers’ 33-yard discipline purpose on the sport’s opening drive. Myers related from 39 and 41 yards to increase the result in 9-0 at halftime. He was good from 41 on Seattle’s first drive of the third quarter to make it 12-0.
Cornerback Christian Gonzalez made two excellent performs to stop potential touchdowns within the second quarter. He raced again and leaped within the air to slap away a deep move to Rashid Shaheed that might have been a 76-yard TD.
On Seattle’s final drive within the first half, Gonzalez knocked down a move to All-Professional vast receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba that might have been a 23-yard TD.
Rylie Mills pushed left guard Jared Wilson into Maye and took each of them down on considered one of Seattle’s sacks.
Unhealthy Bunny headlined a visually beautiful halftime performance that additionally featured appearances by Woman Gaga and Ricky Martin. The Grammy-winning Puerto Rican artist solely in Spanish.
The Patriots didn’t win the franchise’s seventh Tremendous Bowl, which might have set an NFL document. They’re tied with the Steelers with six championships.
Vrabel, the AP NFL Coach of the Yr, was aiming to turn into the fifth particular person to win a Tremendous Bowl as a participant and head coach and the primary to do each with the identical workforce.
The 23-year-old Maye was making an attempt to turn into the youngest QB to win a Lombardi Trophy. Ben Roethlisberger nonetheless holds that mark.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
