SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Seahawks went back to a different era in their 29-13 win over the Patriots in Super Bowl LX on Sunday. It was all about their defense and ground game.
Running back Kenneth Walker III wasn’t spectacular, but he was steady as he rolled up 135 yards on 27 carries and claimed MVP. That tied Thurman Thomas for eighth-most in a Super Bowl. He also caught two passes for 26 yards.
Walker nearly put himself among the all-time rushing performances with what would’ve been a 49-yard run late in the game, but that play was waved off because of a holding penalty.
The Seahawks needed Walker to carry the load in the playoffs after they lost running back Zach Charbonnet to a torn ACL in the divisional round of the playoffs, and he did. In their playoff wins over the 49ers, Rams and Patriots, Walker totaled 313 yards and four touchdowns.
Among the Seahawks’ running backs, Walker took all but two carries.
The Seahawks’ passing game struggled as quarterback Sam Darnold opened the game 6-for-17 passing before leveling out to finish 19-for-38 passing for 202 yards with a touchdown, but Walker got them moving enough to take an early lead. He had their two longest plays of the game with runs of 29 and 30 yards in the second quarter as they took a 9-0 lead at halftime.