By Liora Zeqiri / Sports Editor

Every year on the second Sunday of February, millions of fans from all walks of life pause their routines to gather around and watch the Super Bowl. This season, we had a somewhat unexpected matchup–considering neither of these teams last year made the playoffs, the New England Patriots versus the Seattle Seahawks. The Patriots found success in their new head coach Mike Vrabel, and how well he worked with the quarterback Drake Maye. The Seahawks had traded for quarterback Sam Darnold in the offseason from the Minnesota Vikings, where he led them to a 14-3 season. The Seahawks is the fifth team Darnold has joined since being drafted in 2018. To end the regular season and in the playoffs, both of these teams were dominant mainly because of their defenses. Ultimately, the Seahawks’ defense and running back Kenneth Walker III propelled them to victory, 29-13.

From the opening kickoff, Seattle’s defense smothered the Patriots’ offense. The Seahawks’ defensive line overwhelmed Maye, recording six sacks and forcing multiple turnovers that kept the Patriots off balance the entire night. The Seahawks repeatedly disrupted the Patriots’ rhythm and held them from scoring until late in the fourth quarter. Special teams also played a big role in the Seahawks’ win. Kicker Jason Myers tied a Super Bowl record by converting five field goals, keeping the scoreboard moving when touchdowns were hard to come by.

Running back Kenneth Walker III earned the Super Bowl MVP title after a historic performance. Walker rushed for 135 yards on 27 carries, becoming the first running back since Terrell Davis in 1998 to win Super Bowl MVP. His running abilities were central to keeping drives alive and to Seattle’s offensive success. With the Patriots’ defense focused on stopping the pass, Walker shined and helped set up scoring opportunities for his team.

The halftime performance by Latin music superstar Bad Bunny stole the show with it capturing over 128.2 million viewers. This was the first performance to be almost entirely delivered in Spanish and brought Bad Bunny’s heritage to the forefront. The visual backdrop of sugar cane fields and vibrant street-market scenes paid homage to Puerto Rico’s agricultural roots and everyday community life. The show featured surprise guest appearances by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, adding to the layers of diversity. When asked about what made the performance special to her, Roosevelt student Angie Velazquez said: 

“To me, it’s a reminder that we are all human, we all bleed the same color. I think a lot more people need to start realizing that.” Through these choices, the performance became more than entertainment; it was a statement of visibility and cultural pride. 

Looking ahead for these football teams, the Seahawks cemented their place among the NFL’s elite and if they keep their team together, can very well be in the same position next season. For the Patriots, the loss serves as a reminder of the challenges facing even the biggest contenders in today’s NFL. New England’s youth and talent remain promising, and will be at the top of the league for years to come.