In Super Bowl LX, Sam Darnold delivered a steady, mistake-free performance that ultimately outshone Drake Maye, leading the Seattle Seahawks to a 29–13 victory over the New England Patriots. While neither quarterback was spectacular, Darnold’s ability to protect the football and manage the game proved decisive. Maye, meanwhile, was overwhelmed by pressure and mistakes, turning what was expected to be a defining moment into a harsh lesson on the sport’s biggest stage.
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The contrast between the two quarterbacks was evident from the opening drive. Darnold avoided risky throws and capitalized on the favorable field position created by Seattle’s defense. Maye, on the other hand, spent much of the night scrambling for survival, absorbing hits and struggling to find rhythm. That difference shaped the entire contest and framed much of the postgame discussion.
Former MVP Cam Newton offered one of the most honest and detailed evaluations of Maye’s performance. Speaking about the game, Newton acknowledged that Darnold was not at his peak, but stressed that he did enough to win.
“Sam didn’t play his best game,” Newton said. “But he played a good game. Good enough for them to win. Yes, sir.”
Newton then turned his focus to Maye, delivering a nuanced assessment rather than a harsh critique.
“And the truth is, Drake didn’t necessarily play a bad game,” Newton explained. “He just played bad enough to lose the game. He’s played worse games and they found ways to win. And that’s the truth.”
According to Newton, the context of the opponent mattered just as much as Maye’s individual mistakes.
“That wasn’t a lesser opponent,” he said. “They was strapped and ready to go. That was probably the first team they played at their best in two months.”
Seattle’s preparation and intensity showed up in the statistics. Maye was sacked six times, pressured on 19 dropbacks, and watched his offense go scoreless through the first three quarters. The Patriots managed only 58 yards in the first half and failed to score on their first 10 possessions.
“And the Patriots, man,” Newton added. “They scored no points in the first three quarters. Had 58 total yards in the first half. Unacceptable.”
Despite the ugly numbers, Newton refused to single out Maye as the sole reason for the loss. Instead, he emphasized that responsibility was spread across the entire offense.
“Everybody wants to point to Drake,” Newton said. “Everybody wants to point to Will Campbell. Everybody wants to point to Josh McDaniels. Everybody wants to point to the whole offense. But it’s enough blame to go around.”
He cited multiple breakdowns that left Maye in impossible situations.
“We didn’t adjust. We didn’t have in-game adjustments,” Newton continued. “We didn’t run the football properly. Our receivers didn’t get separation. From the protection to separation, it wasn’t too much that Drake May could do.”
In Newton’s view, the lack of adaptability was just as damaging as the physical pressure. Seattle consistently changed looks, disguised coverage, and forced New England into uncomfortable third-down situations. Without effective counters, the Patriots’ offense stalled repeatedly.
Still, Newton made it clear that great quarterbacks are judged by how they respond when everything breaks down.
“This is what makes elite players elite players,” he said. “Good players play good. Great players play great. When we need you to be elite, this is the moment.”
He stressed that leadership and playmaking must replace finger-pointing in moments like these. “Let’s take turns making plays,” Newton said, “not taking turns pointing blame.”
Newton summarized his message with a metaphor that quickly went viral.
“Sometimes you can be invited to the party,” he said, “but the true question is, can you dance? The Super Bowl dance is a little different. That’s with the big stars.”
Seattle’s defensive game plan made that “dance” nearly impossible for Maye. Throughout the season, scouts had praised his arm strength and fearlessness, but some evaluators also noted that his approach to reading defenses was highly structured. Rather than reacting instinctively, Maye often followed the script of the play too rigidly.
By collapsing the pocket and disguising coverages, Seattle disrupted that structure. Instead of moving fluidly through his reads, Maye appeared locked onto his first option. The hesitation gave defenders extra time to close throwing lanes and apply pressure.
The turning point came in the fourth quarter when safety Julian Love intercepted Maye and effectively ended New England’s comeback hopes. Love later explained that he had recognized Maye’s tendencies.
“Classic young quarterback,” Love said. “As soon as the back foot hits, he’s going to where he wants. But he’s pausing for a second to confirm he’s open.”
Love compared Maye’s approach to that of veterans such as Matthew Stafford, who throw with anticipation rather than waiting for receivers to separate.
Beyond Maye’s decision-making, the Patriots’ offensive structure also collapsed. The offensive line struggled to handle blitzes and stunts, particularly on the left side. Play-calling failed to create easy completions, and receivers rarely generated clean separation.
Within Josh McDaniels’ system, Maye struggled to adjust once Seattle neutralized his primary options. Without a consistent rhythm, the offense fell into long-yardage situations and predictable patterns.
While New England unraveled, Darnold delivered exactly what Seattle needed. After leading the league in turnovers during the regular season, he finished the postseason without a single giveaway. He stayed patient, avoided unnecessary risks, and let his defense dictate the game.
Seattle’s defense, meanwhile, produced one of the most dominant Super Bowl performances in recent memory. The unit forced eight punts and three turnovers, held New England to 78 yards through three quarters, and allowed only one late touchdown. Their dominance paved the way for Kenneth Walker III to earn Super Bowl MVP honors.
After the loss, Maye spoke quietly but honestly about the disappointment. “Definitely hurts,” he said. “They played better than us tonight.”
Despite receiving a pregame injection for a shoulder injury, he refused to use it as an excuse. “I wouldn’t put the team in harm’s way to not be myself,” Maye said. “Just didn’t make plays tonight.”
Sitting in grass-stained pants with tears in his eyes, he also reflected on the personal toll. “Family traveled all this way,” Maye said. “Don’t ruin their night. Because it sucks and it hurts.”
Historically, losing a Super Bowl debut can be difficult to overcome. Only a small number of quarterbacks have returned to win after falling short the first time. Yet Newton’s assessment suggests that this loss does not define Maye’s career. Instead, it exposes what must change.
To take the next step, Maye must speed up his internal clock, trust anticipation over confirmation, and develop greater situational patience. Better protection and smarter adjustments will help, but growth ultimately depends on how he responds to this setback.
Super Bowl LX was supposed to mark Drake Maye’s arrival as the unquestioned future of the Patriots. Instead, it became a reminder of how unforgiving the championship stage can be. As Cam Newton put it, Maye earned his invitation to the party. The next challenge is proving that, when he returns, he’s ready to dance.
