The Seattle Seahawks delivered their payback in the form of a Super Bowl blowout over the team that crushed the hearts of The 12's and all Seahawks fans everywhere else two decades ago, the New England Patriots.
Drake Maye could not avoid the Seahawks' defense, while Sam Darnold came through when he had to (with a little help from his running back) to lead his team to the win. Darnold wasn't great, but he didn't have to be, and that's the secret to Seattle's greatness this season.
There were a few Seahawks who were great Sunday night on offense and on defense, keeping the Patriots at bay and bending but not breaking in the second half. The Seahawks' defense was the story of the year in Seattle, and tonight, a few names managed to steal the spotlight in the most significant way.
Kenneth Walker III and Sam Darnold cash in as Seattle Seahawks winners in the Super Bowl
Winner: Kenneth Walker III, RB
It's official: Kenneth Waker III is the first ever running back of the 21st century to capture the Super Bowl MVP. Walker was every bit exceptional on Sunday evening and carried the Seahawks' offense while Darnold struggled to connect with his receivers.
Walker turned it on in the second half of the season, and he didn't stop during the playoffs, and capped off his season with a tear through the Patriots' defense. Walker racked up 135 yards on the ground and 26 through the air, averaging 5.0 yards per carry and two receptions. What a way for a soon-to-be free agent to end a season.
Winner: Cooper Kupp, WR
Cooper Kupp's second Super Bowl ring may very well have punched his ticket into the Hall of Fame one day. He already had a ring with the Los Angeles Rams (of which he was the SB MVP), and now, a second with the Seahawks. Aside from the two rings, though, is the stellar Triple Crown season he had during the Rams' Super Bowl run. Count everything together, and Kupp looks like a Hall of Famer.
Kupp was also Darnold's primary target on Sunday night, catching six balls for 61 yards, including a clutch 23-yard pickup. Kupp was already having a tremendous postseason, catching timely balls in critical moments for Seattle, but on Sunday, he was simply the No. 1 target and came through.
Winner: Byron Murphy II, DT
There was no shortage of stellar and exceptional plays from Seattle's defense across the board, but Byron Murphy II led the way in more ways than one. In just his second year in the NFL, Murphy has already made his mark and probably solidified himself as a part of Seattle's defense for the long-term future.
Against the Patriots, Murphy not only recorded two huge sacks but also recovered a fumble caused by teammate Derick Hall. Maye was driving the Patriots' offense to the halfway point of the field before Murphy's recovery, giving the ball back to Seattle's offense. Murphy's second season was exceptional, but his Super Bowl performance was memorable.
Loser: Riq Woolen, CB
It could have been the NFL's first Super Bowl shutout in history, but Riq Woolen's mistake got in the way. On a touchdown pass thrown by Mayer, Woolen's coverage was mishandled, and Mack Hollins was able to haul it in for a score. All it was was slow recognition on Woolen's part.
Now, thankfully for Woolen, the Seahawks had the game in their hands all the way through, and his poor coverage didn't turn the tables. And, the Patriots would score again. That said, if you were thinking "shutout" after the first half, you weren't alone. Had Woolen read the play better, who knows if any points at all would have come from it, or any plays afterward.
Winner: Sam Darnold, QB
The biggest winner of them all is Darnold, who might have one of the best stories in NFL history. In a draft class that included Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Baker Mayfield — well, where are their Super Bowl wins? Nowhere. Where is Darnold's?
He's living it out now, and while this achievement doesn't necessarily make him elite, one of the best, or a lock for the same success for years to come, Darnold just did something many better quarterbacks have not done in the same time frame of playing as he has. Additionally, Darnold may have found a permanent home after this, and the Seahawks fans are no doubt satisfied with it.