We Are The Champions

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS

For anyone who questions whether sporting events bring a city together, consider this. You could have walked the streets of Seattle, Sunday night, and yelled out `Sea,’ and chances are someone off in the distance would call back, `Hawks.’

That was the scene on Capitol Hill in Seattle where fans filed out of the numerous watering holes that were showing the Super Bowl to join in a mass celebration. There were chants, cheering, singing ``We Are The Champions,’’ and even fireworks going off in the distance.

The Seattle Seahawks had just defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX (60), 29-13, in a game that seemed more one-sided than the final score would indicate. The Seahawks are now 2-2 in the country’s biggest sporting event, and avenged a loss to the Patriots back in 2015, XLIX (49), 28-24.

Even the appearance of Malcolm Butler in pre-game ceremonies, who made the game clinching interception against Russell Wilson in that ill-fated Feb. 1, 2015 contest, didn’t deter the Seahawks.

Seattle controlled the game throughout, sacking New England quarterback Drake Maye six times. There’s some speculation that Maye had a bad shoulder as the Patriots usually have a few set running plays for the second-year quarterback. However, Maye didn’t get much help from his offensive line, particularly from the left side of the line `anchored’ by Will Campbell, the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Running back Kenneth Walker III was a trendy MVP choice even before the game as some of the national media types who liked the Seahawks in this game didn’t like Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold. Walker lived up to the billing as he rushed for 135 yards on 29 carries, both the second highest totals of his career.

However, if the entire city of Minneapolis can be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize perhaps the Seattle defense as a body could receive MVP honors. When the game was still in doubt, the Seahawk `D’ forced the Patriots to punt eight times and turn the ball over once in their first nine possessions.

The Pats were scoreless in the first three quarters (no team has ever been shutout in a Super Bowl) before two fourth quarter scores. And in the `stats can be meaningless department,’ Maye actually finished the game with more passing yards than Darnold (295 to 202). However, Maye attempted nine more passes than Darnold.

Seattle defensive back Devon Witherspoon said in a Sirius XM interview the day after the game, "We had a `tell’ on their guards and their tackles, how they like to set, they're going to overset on certain rushes, they're going to fall for certain moves any time a group of guys get after them.’’

While Patriot head coach Mike Vrabel was selected NFL Coach of the Year and offensive guru Josh McDaniels was voted Assistant Coach of the Year, apparently neither picked up on the Seahawks knowing (sometimes) what plays were being run.

Witherspoon himself, made a case for MVP honors as he had one sack and forced Maye to throw the ball away on a third down play. He also pressured Maye leading to an Uchenna Nwosu interception return for a touchdown. Witherspoon’s one of three starting defensive players that the Seahawks acquired with draft choices received from Denver in exchange for quarterback Russell Wilson.

While kickers have virtually no chance of winning an MVP Award, place kicker Jason Myers and punter Michael Dickson deserve some recognition. Myers set a Super Bowl record with five field goals, going 5-for-5 in attempts. Myers finishes the season breaking LaDamian Tomlinson’s record for most points by a player in a season (198). Myers finishes the year with 206 points.

Dickson punted seven times for a 47.9 average. The Australian’s kicks were downed at the 2, 4 and 6^th yard lines respectively giving the Patriots terrible field position.

The Seahawks parade commences tomorrow (Feb. 11) in downtown Seattle. A ticketed trophy celebration takes place at Luman Field starting at 10 AM (gates open at 8:30). The parade itself begins at 11:00, starting at 4^th & Washington and ending at 4^th & Cedar. The parade’s expected to last approximately two hours. The Seahawks estimate 850,000 to a million fans attending the event.

Bluer than blue

It was a good weekend for Seattle, which is about as blue politically as a major city can get. Patriot Robert Kraft, who donated a million dollars to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign saw (along with his new wife) his team take it on the chin.

While Trump didn’t make a prediction, he did say the Patriots were an organization he respected. Trump’s least favorite musician (at least for now) Bad Bunny apparently had the best TV ratings of any Super Bowl halftime show in history and his performance was praised by those not living in MAGA world.

Appropriately one of the biggest post-game celebrations on Capitol Hill occurred in front of a lesbian bar, Sunday night. Go Seattle.