Defense Reigns in Super Bowl 60: Seahawks, Patriots Deliver a Throwback Battle
Super Bowl 60 kicked off with two of the NFL’s top defensive squads squaring off at Levi’s Stadium - and from the opening whistle, it was clear this one was going to be a grind.
The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots came into the game with defenses that had carried them through the postseason, and the first half lived up to the billing. Every yard was a battle, every first down a small victory.
By the end of the first quarter, only three points had been scored - courtesy of Seattle’s opening drive. At halftime, the Seahawks held a 9-0 lead in what was shaping up to be one of the most defense-dominated Super Bowls in recent memory.
That kind of low-scoring affair naturally brings up a question: where does this game rank among the lowest-scoring Super Bowls of all time?
The Benchmark: Super Bowl 53
To find the gold standard for defensive dominance on Super Bowl Sunday, look no further than Super Bowl 53. Played on February 3, 2019, that matchup between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams turned into a defensive chess match that left offensive coordinators scratching their heads.
The final score? Patriots 13, Rams 3. Just 16 total points - the fewest ever scored in a Super Bowl.
That game was a defensive masterclass from start to finish. It entered the fourth quarter tied 3-3, with neither team managing to find the end zone through three quarters.
For context, the Rams had averaged nearly 33 points per game that season, yet couldn’t crack the code against Bill Belichick’s defense. The lone touchdown came on a 2-yard run by Sony Michel with under seven minutes left in the game - and that was all New England needed.
Julian Edelman, who was seemingly uncoverable all night, earned MVP honors with 10 receptions for 141 yards. But the real MVP might’ve been the Patriots’ game plan, which completely neutralized Sean McVay’s high-octane offense.
When Defense Steals the Show
While today’s NFL is dominated by explosive offenses and quarterback fireworks, history has shown us that a dominant defense can still win championships - and sometimes, it can turn the biggest game of the year into an old-school slugfest.
Here’s a look at the 10 lowest-scoring Super Bowls in NFL history:
| Rank | Date | Total Points | Game | Final Score | MVP |
|---|
| 1 | 02/03/2019 | 16 | Super Bowl 53: Patriots vs. Rams | Patriots 13, Rams 3 | Julian Edelman |
| 2 | 01/14/1973 | 21 | Super Bowl 7: Dolphins vs. Washington | Dolphins 14, Washington 7 | Jake Scott |
| 3 | 01/12/1975 | 22 | Super Bowl 9: Steelers vs. Vikings | Steelers 16, Vikings 6 | Franco Harris |
| 4 | 01/12/1969 | 23 | Super Bowl 3: Jets vs. Colts | Jets 16, Colts 7 | Joe Namath |
| 5 | 01/16/1972 | 27 | Super Bowl 6: Cowboys vs. Dolphins | Cowboys 24, Dolphins 3 | Roger Staubach |
| 6 | 01/17/1971 | 29 | Super Bowl 5: Colts vs. Cowboys | Colts 16, Cowboys 13 | Chuck Howley |
| 7 | 01/11/1970 | 30 | Super Bowl 4: Chiefs vs. Vikings | Chiefs 23, Vikings 7 | Len Dawson |
| 8 | 01/13/1974 | 31 | Super Bowl 8: Dolphins vs. Vikings | Dolphins 24, Vikings 7 | Larry Csonka |
| 9 | 02/05/2006 | 31 | Super Bowl 40: Steelers vs. Seahawks| Steelers 21, Seahawks 10 | Hines Ward |
| 10 | 02/03/2008 | 31 | Super Bowl 42: Giants vs. Patriots | Giants 17, Patriots 14 | Eli Manning |
So where will Super Bowl 60 ultimately land on this list? That depends on how the second half plays out. But with just nine points on the board at halftime and both defenses digging in, there’s a real chance this game joins the ranks of the most hard-fought, low-scoring Super Bowls in NFL history.
And while it might not satisfy fans looking for shootouts and highlight-reel touchdowns, for those who appreciate the art of defense - the disguised coverages, the trench battles, the perfectly timed blitzes - this is the kind of game that reminds us just how much of a chess match football can be at the highest level.