Overtime

And that’s a wrap on the 2026 NFL season, a year that will be remembered as nothing short of extraordinary. If you’d told me a year ago that the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks would meet in Super Bowl LX, I would have laughed, just as most fans would have. Yet here we are, twelve months later, watching what may be the dawn of new contenders and, perhaps, the twilight of others whose championship windows have quietly closed.

Prior to meeting at Levi’s Stadium a couple of Sundays ago, both teams had traveled very different paths to Super Bowl LX. The Patriots came into this season fresh off a 4–13 finish that left them last in the AFC East. What followed was one of the most dramatic single-season turnarounds in recent memory: a 14–3 campaign that vaulted them to the top of the division and back into relevance. A mix of favorable breaks, including Bo Nix’s broken ankle the week before the AFC Championship, combined with standout performances from their star players, helped secure their ticket to Santa Clara. Seattle’s rise was steadier but no less impressive. After a 10–7 finish in 2024 that fell short of the playoffs, the Seahawks built on that momentum to claim the NFC’s top seed in 2025, their first since 2020.

Both franchises began the year with something to prove, with New England seeking redemption and Seattle seeking validation. Yet by season’s end, despite their Super Bowl meeting, each stood curiously diminished, changed by the journey and perhaps no longer quite the team it had been when the quest began.

From the opening kickoff to the final whistle, Super Bowl LX had its share of highs and lows, standout performances, and moments that will be replayed for years. Here’s my take on what worked, what didn’t, and how the Patriots and Seahawks measured up on football’s biggest stage.

The Game:

In all honesty, the game wasn’t nearly as entertaining as I had expected, especially in the first half. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed it, but for long stretches it felt uneventful outside of a few brilliant individual efforts in key moments. Defence was the story for both teams, shutting down opposing drives again and again. Neither side could find the end zone before halftime, though the Seahawks managed to edge ahead with a handful of field goals to take the lead into the break.

The scoreline, however, could have looked far worse for New England if not for some outstanding defensive plays. Christian Gonzalez, who has been exceptional all postseason, produced multiple diving efforts at the goal line to save what looked like certain touchdowns. Without him, Seattle likely adds at least two majors before halftime. At the other end, the Seahawks’ defensive line was relentless all night. They overwhelmed the Patriots’ protection and brought down quarterback and MVP runner-up Drake Maye a Super Bowl-record six times.

Despite their defence keeping them within reach, the Patriots’ offence never found rhythm. Poor protection and consistently ineffective route running led to punts on what felt like nearly every possession. Seattle, by contrast, began to settle into the game in the second half, gradually taking control and closing the door on any upset hopes. A pair of late turnovers ultimately sealed the result and capped a defensive performance that defined the night.

The Patriots were simply not ready for this stage. Through no real fault of their own, as they can’t control their schedule or the injuries suffered by opponents, they ultimately had a smoother path to the Super Bowl and looked unprepared for the level of physicality and execution Seattle brought from the opening drive. That being said, the Patriots season was still a huge success and will likely carry momentum into the next season. With a MVP worthy, young, developing franchise quarterback in that of Drake Maye, a core of young guns, and tons of capspace, we could very well see them back next year.

Unfortunately, defensive masterclasses aren’t nearly as entertaining as a high-scoring, tightly contested shootout, and this game never quite escaped that grind. While purists can appreciate the discipline, tackling, and pass-rush dominance on display, the lack of sustained offensive success made long stretches feel stagnant rather than tense. What should have felt like a heavyweight clash instead drifted into a controlled, methodical Seattle performance, impressive in its own right but rarely thrilling.

That ultimately became the defining theme of the night: one team imposing its identity, the other unable to respond. The Patriots’ remarkable season may have ended with them looking short of the moment, but it also felt like the beginning rather than the end. Their window appears to be just opening, and the experience gained on this stage could prove invaluable in the years to come. The Seahawks, meanwhile, leave as deserved champions with every indication they will reload and return next season just as formidable, now carrying the expectations that come with defending the title.

The Entertainment:

What’s a Super Bowl without its infamous entertainment? The afternoon was led off by Green Day, performing several of their biggest hits, including Good Riddance, Holiday, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, and American Idiot. As a lifelong Green Day fan, the performance was outstanding and a great way to get everyone going. The game was then preluded by an absolute masterclass of a national anthem by Charlie Puth. The rendition was nothing but riveting, claiming praise from fans and critics all over the world.

The halftime show was definitely one of the more unique ones we’ve seen in recent years. Bad Bunny, alongside special guests Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, performed a medley of their biggest hits on a stage designed to resemble a vibrant Puerto Rican village. The production leaned heavily into cultural celebration, with colourful set pieces, traditional imagery, and choreography that highlighted Latin heritage throughout.

I’ll admit I wasn’t the biggest fan of the performance overall, largely because Bad Bunny’s musical style isn’t really my taste, and the language barrier made it harder for me to connect with the songs. That said, I could still appreciate what the show represented and how meaningful it likely was for many Latin American viewers to see that culture showcased on such a global stage. I do really like Ricky Martin, though, so I especially enjoyed his segment, which brought a familiar energy and nostalgia that resonated more with me personally.

Summary

Overall, Super Bowl LX may not go down as the most thrilling championship game in recent memory, but it will be remembered for what it revealed. It showed just how dominant defence can still be on the sport’s biggest stage, how thin the margin is between a contender and a champion, and how experience at this level still matters. Seattle arrived ready to impose its will and did so with authority; New England arrived ahead of schedule and ultimately looked it.

Yet there’s little shame in that for the Patriots. Seasons like this often mark the beginning of a rise rather than the end of a run, and the lessons learned under the brightest lights tend to shape the teams that return stronger. The Seahawks, meanwhile, leave Santa Clara not just as winners on the night but as the league’s standard entering next season, a team that proved its formula works when it matters most.

In the end, this Super Bowl wasn’t defined by fireworks or drama, but by control, discipline, and readiness. One team had it, one team is building toward it, and that contrast told the story of the night. See you all next year in Atlanta!