Super Bowl Recap
Seahawks 29, Patriots 13
In a season dominated by strong defenses, the Seahawks’ victory over the Patriots was a fitting ending. Seattle’s defense was dominant, sacking Drake Maye six times, forcing three turnovers, and even adding a defensive touchdown to put the game away.
Quarterback play largely took a back seat. Sam Darnold did just enough to manage the game, while Maye struggled throughout the night. Kenneth Walker was arguably the only offensive player who consistently made an impact, although Mack Hollins did produce one notable drive with two big receptions and a touchdown.
Seeing Sam Darnold raise the Lombardi Trophy was a great moment considering where his career looked to be just a few years ago. He may not be an elite quarterback, but he has clearly proven he can lead a team and will likely spend the latter portion of his career as a stable starter in Seattle’s system.
Offseason Impact
Kenneth Walker peaks at the right time
Walker had a solid regular season, surpassing 1,000 rushing yards, but lost a significant number of goal-line opportunities to Zach Charbonnet, which limited him to just five rushing touchdowns. Entering the postseason, there were legitimate questions about whether he was losing his grip on the lead back role.
Then Charbonnet suffered a torn ACL, and Walker responded by reminding everyone how productive he can be. Across three playoff games, he totaled 313 rushing yards and four touchdowns, capped by a Super Bowl MVP performance. As he heads toward free agency, Walker positioned himself for a significant contract, whether that ends up coming from Seattle or another team.
Drake Maye still has a long way to go
To be clear, Maye was far from the only problem for New England’s offense. The offensive line struggled against Seattle’s four-man rush, and outside of Mack Hollins, receivers consistently failed to create separation without scheme assistance.
That said, Maye had a difficult game. Mike Macdonald’s defense forced him to process complex zone looks quickly and mixed in pressure packages he struggled to diagnose. As a result, several potential big plays were missed due to rushed mechanics and inconsistent footwork.
Maye and Josh McDaniels will need to spend the offseason addressing pre-snap recognition and pocket discipline. Despite a strong overall season, the Super Bowl performance highlighted areas that must improve if New England hopes to sustain its recent success in 2026.
The Era of Defense Is Back
The Kansas City dynasty appears to finally be over, and this postseason reinforced that defense remains the foundation of championship teams. Both Seattle and New England reached the Super Bowl primarily because of elite defensive play, and several other playoff teams followed the same formula.
The NFL is a copycat league, so expect continued emphasis on pass rushers who can win with power and defensive backs with length and versatility in both the draft and free agency.
Super Bowl Hangover: What’s Next
Seattle fans will understandably spend the offseason celebrating their first championship since the Russell Wilson era, but for everyone else, the long stretch without football has officially begun.
Fortunately, the calendar fills up quickly. The NFL Combine is only a few weeks away, followed by pro days, free agency, and the draft. We’ll be covering all of it as teams rebuild, retool, and prepare for the 2026-27 season.
If you’re looking for ongoing coverage, including mock drafts, free agency analysis, and early 2026 projections, be sure to check in with us Sandman Sports throughout the offseason.
If this was your kind of read, you’ll like what’s next. Get The Sandman Ticket, our free, weekly newsletter with picks, insights, and a little bit of everything we love about sports.
