With the usual cast of characters in the NFL postseason gone, few predicted this year’s Super Bowl LV participants. The Patriots and Seahawks may have been a surprise to make it to the title game, but there were no surprises with the outcome. The superior defense of the Seattle Seahawks shutout the New England Patriots for the first three quarters, holding them scoreless en route to their 29-13 win in Santa Clara, California.

It was a Super Bowl void of any Super Bowl superstars, without the draw of big names like Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, or Josh Allen. It was an international draw, Bad Bunny, who stole the show with a record-breaking viewership for the halftime show. And not exactly a household name, running back Kenneth Walker III was named the Super Bowl LX MVP.

In one possession, Walker had runs of 29 yards and 30 yards in the span of three plays. He accounted for 100 of the Seahawks’ first 183 yards. The Seahawks took a 9-0 halftime lead. Walker would finish with 135 yards on 27 carries.

“Honestly, I feel like I’m just a team player,” Walker said. “I’m not really focused on my personal gains. I just want to make the best impact on my team in the best way possible.

“When I started to feel it. You start to break big runs. At first (head coach) Mike (Macdonald) always talks about it’s a softening process – and then the bigger runs started to come, and that’s when I really started to feel it.”

This was not your grandfather’s Patriots, who won six Super Bowls under Tom Brady. They were looking to take an NFL-best seventh title, but Seattle took their second Lombardi Trophy in a rematch of Super Bowl 49.

Quarterback Russell Wilson was in attendance at Levi’s Stadium for the game. It was his interception at the goal line that gave the Patriots the win in their last meeting 11 years ago. But it was also Wilson who gave the Seahawks their first Super Bowl win, a blowout over the Denver Broncos 12 years ago.

This time around, it was journeyman quarterback Sam Darnold who led the Seahawks to the title win. Darnold completed 19 passes for 202 yards and one passing touchdown. Neither team scored a touchdown until the fourth quarter. Seahawks kicker Jason Myers was five-for-five, scoring 15 of the Seahawks’ points.

The Seahawks’ championship was celebrated with the Seahawks World Champions Parade in Seattle on Wednesday morning. Attendance at the celebration was estimated at over one million fans.

“This year’s Seahawks team brought all of Seattle together with the strongest, loudest, and most united spirit I’ve ever seen,” said Seattle Mayor Katie B. Wilson. “And (Sunday), they delivered in historic fashion, beating the Patriots and bringing a second Lombardi Trophy home to Seattle. Now it’s time to celebrate.”

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