The Seattle Seahawks, led by defensive guru Mike Macdonald, claimed their first Super Bowl title in 11 years with a stunning 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots. The win was built on a brilliant defensive gameplan designed to confuse Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.
Macdonald, known for his analytical and calculating approach, crafted a scheme full of disguised coverages and unexpected blitzes. The strategy aimed to make Maye hesitate, disrupting his rhythm and forcing mistakes. "Just make him hold the ball a little bit longer than he normally does," said cornerback Devon Witherspoon.
The plan worked to perfection. Maye was pressured on over 52% of his dropbacks, sacked six times, and turned the ball over three times. A key moment came when Witherspoon, who rarely blitzed during the season, was unleashed for six pressures and a sack, including a forced fumble returned for a touchdown.
In an era dominated by high-powered offenses, Seattle bucked the trend by winning with a defensive identity. "He coaches defense like offensive coaches coach offense," colleagues said of Macdonald. The victory, sealed by a defense that created an "illusion of complexity," has the rest of the NFL reconsidering the path to a championship.