Super Bowl 60 is now over. All the hype, production, commercials, performances, and fly-overs are done for another year. Whether you are happy for the Seahawks, or disappointed that the Patriots lost, The Super Bowl is sports most watched event every year. This year’s Super Bowl may not have been the most exciting, especially the first half, but it did give everyone a look at how a team can win consistently, with very few superstars.
The Seahawks have been superb on defense all year. It was coach Bud Grant of the Minnesota Vikings who once said, “Offense sells tickets, Defense wins football games.” I could not agree more. The Seahawks were a clinic all year on playing defense. They can stop the run very efficiently, can rush the passer relentlessly, and on the back end, can cover in their zone defense better than anyone else in the league.
Their performance in the Super Bowl was especially good. The Patriots and young quarterback Drake Maye looked lost all night. I noticed the confusion in his eyes every time he went to the sidelines, like he didn’t have a clue what was happening on the field. That is good defense; disguise what you are doing until the last second, and the Seahawks were excellent at it last night.
On offense, the Seahawks stuck to the game plan. Run the ball, give the quarterback time, throw short, and STICK WITH IT! This was the perfect example of wearing the other team down, which is what happened to the Patriots. They lost because their defense was on the field all the time, and their offense had no answer for the Seahawks’ defense.
Most people I have heard thought the game was boring; that the Patriots especially didn’t look like a very good team. They were the AFC Champions, so yeah, they ARE pretty good! Last night happens to a lot of teams with young quarterbacks, they have to learn. The Patriots had not seen a defense that good all year, and it showed.
Give Drake Maye an off season to look at film, and listen to his offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, and he will learn; he has the talent……he’s just young, and he found out that North Carolina(his Alma Mater) didn’t play teams with this much talent and sophistication. He will be a good quarterback for the future, and the Patriots have good talent, so they will be fine.
One thing I loved about the game was the satisfaction Sam Darnold must feel now. He now has as many Super Bowl wins (1) in the last 32 years he has more Super Bowl wins as the last 4 teams he has played for! (Remember, the Jets won Super Bowl 3 (in 1969) against the Colts!) The other teams he has played for are the Panthers, the 49’ers, and the Vikings. All of them gave up on him because he wasn’t a good fit for them. It is obvious now that HE wasn’t the problem!
One of the main complaints I have with teams is that they draft a great player, and then think only he will change their fortunes without doing anything to help that player! Look at the Bengals, Browns, Jets, and others; all teams with great players who they have either let go or refuse to get their superstar help.
Sam Darnold has the team that showcases his talent and ability. He is not the greatest quarterback in the league; he is the greatest quarterback with the best team talent in the league. This allows Sam to be Sam. Remember this: if you can protect a quarterback, give him some talent to throw to, and have a running game that can take some pressure off, they can all be a Sam Darnold…They just need help….ask Joe Burrow!
This Super Bowl will probably not go down in history as one of the greatest. It wasn’t flashy or overly exciting. It was a study in football and how to be successful. If the Seahawks can stay healthy, a big if, and if they have players that don’t leave for more money, another big if, then they can repeat their success.
I wonder if any other team owners or managers learned anything last night? Probably not…..because “offense sells tickets, defense wins football games” is not very charming, nor is having just a good, not great, offense, nor is spending money and time to compliment your best player. Sometimes……you just can’t teach people!
That’s the way I see it…..from the sidelines!
