Defense served as the prominent theme during the opening half of Super Bowl 60. Neither offense got into the end zone as only the Seattle Seahawks put points on the board to take a 9-0 lead into halftime.
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The Seattle Seahawks entered the championship game boasting the NFL's top scoring defense. The New England Patriots entered with the fourth-best scoring defense. Both teams showed why during a hard-hitting opening half.
The Patriots, led by quarterback Drake Maye, punted on every possession. The offensive line, featuring two rookies on the left side, gave up three sacks. The rushing attack only gained 33 total yards while top receivers Kayshon Boutte and Stefon Diggs combined for 26 yards on two catches.
The Seahawks offense found more success in the first half. Running back Kenneth Walker rushed for 94 yards, including a 30-yard run. Sam Darnold completed nine of his attempted 22 passes for 88 yards.
The Seahawks traveled into Patriots territory multiple times but had to settle for three field goals. A large reason for this lack of scoring is Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who broke up two passes that could have led to touchdowns.
The first pass was a deep shot intended for speedster Rashid Shaheed. Gonzalez timed his leap correctly and knocked the ball away. The Seahawks ultimately settled for a field goal at the end of the driver.
The second pass occurred with 16 seconds left in the opening half. Darnold dropped back and threw a pass toward receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba at the goal line. Gonzalez dove in at the last second and knocked the ball away. Once again, the Seahawks had to settle for a field goal.
This focus on defense served as a major change from last year's Super Bowl matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles took a 24-0 lead into halftime before ultimately winning 40-22.
The second half of Super Bowl 60 continues in Santa Clara, California. The Patriots will receive the kickoff as Maye attempts to get his offense moving. The Seahawks will continue trying to put more points on the board to maintain the lead.
