Sports
Seahawks ride 'Dark Side' D, Kenneth Walker to Super Bowl LX victory
Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald celebrates with the Vince Lombardi trophy on the podium after defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The “Dark Side” was not going to let history repeat itself. Instead, the Seattle Seahawks’ self-nicknamed defense more than returned the favor.
Eleven years after New England beat Seattle in Super Bowl XLIX with a clinching interception in the end zone, the Seahawks forced a pair of fourth-quarter turnovers to send Seattle to a 29-13 win over the Patriots on Sunday in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium.
It is the second Super Bowl title in franchise history — 12 years after the Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.
Running back Kenneth Walker III rushed for 135 yards to earn Most Valuable Player honors, Jason Myers connected on all five field-goal attempts and quarterback Sam Darnold threw a touchdown pass while Seattle’s offense didn’t turn the ball over.
But it was the “Dark Side” that provided the real fireworks, setting the tone from the outset and closing the door when New England threatened to serve Seattle a second heartbreaking defeat on the game’s biggest stage.
The Seahawks, who led the NFL in allowing an average of 17.2 points per game during the regular season, held the Patriots to 51 total yards in the first half and off the scoreboard until the fourth quarter. And when New England twice appeared to have generated significant momentum, twice the Seahawks’ defense responded with turnovers.
The final blow came with the Patriots trying to rally from a 22-7 deficit with 4:27 remaining in the game. Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon hit Patriots quarterback Drake Maye on a blitz, popping the ball in the air. It was intercepted by linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, who returned it 45 yards for his first career touchdown, all but cementing the second Super Bowl title in Seahawks history.
The final tally for Seattle’s defense was six sacks, eight tackles for loss, three forced turnovers and the touchdown. Three quarterback hits came courtesy of Witherspoon, while Derick Hall and Byron Murphy II each recorded a pair of sacks.
“They just made a decision that they’re going to play a certain way,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald, who also serves as the defensive play-caller, said in accepting the Lombardi Trophy. “They lived up to the ‘Dark Side’ today. It’s going to go down in the history books.
“We love our players, but they made it happen. They made it come to life, and we won the game.”
Sam Darnold threw for 202 yards and a touchdown, and while he led the offense to only one touchdown, he also completed Seattle’s three-game playoff run without throwing an interception.
“I have to give a shout out. Our offensive line, our tight ends, our receivers and, of course, the running backs for everything they did tonight. It’s special in the run game,” Darnold said. “But the defense!”
Three of Myers’ field goals came in the first half, when Seattle took a 9-0 lead to the locker room. However, the Seahawks left the Patriots in the game by failing to reach the end zone despite two trips inside the red zone.
With less than 100 yards in total offense and just 12:58 left in the game, the Patriots quickly capitalized in a break in the action when a fan streaked across the field. After the fan was wrestled to the ground and removed by several security personnel, Maye hit Mack Hollins with a 24-yard completion on the next play.
It was the biggest play of the game for New England’s offense to that point, and Maye immediately went back to the well. He hit Hollins again on a perfectly-thrown 35-yard touchdown strike to the left side of the end zone, beating tight coverage from Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen.
The Patriots appeared to have fully switched the momentum when they forced a punt and Maye marched them to their 44-yard line on the ensuing drive with a 16-yard scramble and a 7-yard toss to Kyle Williams. However, he threw an ill-advised pass into coverage on the next play that was intercepted by Seahawks safety Julian Love.
Love returned it to the Patriots’ 38-yard line. Six plays later, Myers connected on his fifth field goal to extend Seattle’s lead to 22-7.
New England quickly moved the ball back into Seattle territory. But that’s when the Seahawks’ defense struck the decisive blow with Nwosu’s touchdown.
“I’d like to have it back,” Maye said. “I’d like to go back to the beginning and redo it. So many plays that decide and change the game. What was it, 19-7 or 22-7, I had the fumble or throw for a touchdown? It comes down to who makes the plays and who doesn’t.”
Maye added that he required a pain-killing injection in his shoulder in order to play, despite saying that the shoulder was fine all week leading up to game day. A Seattle defense that racked up 11 quarterback hits and forced three turnovers certainly didn’t help.
Patriots rookie left tackle Will Campbell was charged with 16 pressures allowed, per NFL Next Gen Stats, a single-game high for any player this season, including the regular season.
“We can sit here and try to put it on one guy,” Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said. “You’ll be disappointed. That’ll never happen. It starts with us. The coaching staff making sure that we’re doing our part and, obviously, we’ve got to be able to protect. And we do protect we have to progress through, get guys open, help the quarterback.”
New England’s initial first down of the second half didn’t come until Seattle was flagged for defensive holding with 1:23 left in the third quarter. It was also the Seahawks’ first penalty of the game.
The Seahawks opened the scoring on a 33-yard field goal by Myers on their opening drive. Seattle took the kickoff and moved the ball 51 yards in just over three minutes, with Darnold sharp on completions to tight end A.J. Barner and Cooper Kupp in tight coverage, but the drive stalled on the Patriots’ 14-yard line.
That proved to be the only scoring of the opening quarter. New England penetrated Seattle territory on both of its first two drives, only to suffer three negative plays — including a pair of sacks — that resulted in two punts. The Seahawks managed only one more first down in a pair of drives after the field goal.
NOTES: Seattle wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was taken to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion after making a reception in the third quarter, but returned in the fourth quarter and made a catch on Seattle’s final drive. … Seahawks rookie defensive tackle Rylie Mills, who entered the game with one career solo tackle, recorded his first NFL sack when he dropped Maye for a 10-yard loss in the second quarter. Mills suffered a torn ACL toward the end of his 2024 season at Notre Dame, causing him to slide to the fifth round of the 2025 draft. Mills was activated by the Seahawks in November but played only a modest role in the line rotation. … The first penalty of the game wasn’t called until 3:09 remaining in the second quarter, when Patriots left tackle Will Campbell was flagged for a false start.
–Derek Harper, Field Level Media
Sports
No. 1 Arizona brings streak into showdown at No. 11 Kansas
Feb 7, 2026; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) celebrates during the first half of the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at McKale Memorial Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images No. 1 Arizona enters its game at No. 11 Kansas on Monday with the best start in program and Big 12 history, topping the Jayhawks’ performance in 1996-97.
Arizona (23-0, 10-0 Big 12) also has achieved the longest winning streak in its history. Its nine straight weeks ranked No. 1 is also a program record.
The Jayhawks (18-5, 8-2) have won seven consecutive games entering the “Big Monday” showdown at Lawrence, Kan.
“Big game; let’s go,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said after his team routed visiting Oklahoma State 84-47 on Saturday. “I’m sure the preparations have already started with the staff. Like I said, I wish we were playing it (Sunday), we’ll come in and we’ll prepare, and then we’ll jump on the plane and let’s see what we got.”
Arizona is among the nation’s leaders in average scoring margin (fifth at 21.0), rebounding (third at 43.4), field-goal percentage (51.6%), points per game (11th at 89.5) and assists per game (18.2).
“They’re men; they dominate people 12 feet and in,” Kansas coach Bill Self said of Arizona. “We’ve got to play bigger. We’ve got to play tougher. We’ve got to play stronger. We’ve got to play smarter.
“And then, they guard, so we got to give them something to defend on the other end. It’ll be a fun game. It’ll be a fun atmosphere. Only one day to prep, but hopefully we can figure something out to at least slow them down.”
Kansas is 38-0 at Allen Fieldhouse in Big Monday games under Self, but the Jayhawks have never defeated an Associated Press No. 1-ranked team in their current arena. They are 0-5 in such games.
The most recent game Kansas hosted a No. 1 team was in 2003, when Arizona was the opponent. The Jayhawks were outscored 52-22 in the second half, squandering a double-digit lead, and lost 91-74.
Kansas has also lost to top-ranked Oklahoma (1989), Kentucky (1977), Notre Dame (1974), and Cincinnati (1962) at Allen Fieldhouse.
“We played there last year,” Lloyd said, referring to Arizona’s 83-76 loss. “I came away thinking, ‘All right, it is different.’ I have a feeling those Jayhawk fans are going to be out for blood.”
Kansas will counter Arizona’s offensive efficiency with a defense that allows just 67.3 points per game and a home record of 11-1 this season.
The Jayhawks’ success hinges on their shooting accuracy (47.9%) and the emergence of freshman standout Darryn Peterson, who is averaging 20.5 points in 13 games. Peterson has been plagued by cramping.
Arizona’s young talent includes freshmen Brayden Burries (team-leading 15.3 points per game) and Koa Peat (14.6 points and 5.6 rebounds a game).
The Wildcats’ presence inside includes Tobe Awaka (9.9 rebounds a game) and Motiejus Krivas (8.3 boards).
Self will rely on Flory Bidunga (14.6 points and 8.9 rebounds a game) to offset some of Arizona’s inside strength.
“To me, there’s not a better defender, regardless of position anywhere,” Self said of Bidunga. “He’s learning how to not gamble and make somebody score over his length.”
Tre White, a guard, is second on the team in rebounds with 7.1 a game. He also averages 14.6 points.
A key matchup will be on the perimeter between Kansas’ Peterson, White and Melvin Council Jr. (13.7 points and 5.1 assists per game) and Arizona’s Burries, Jaden Bradley (13.8 points and 4.5 assists) and Ivan Kharchenkov (9.4 points and 50.9% field-goal shooting).
–Field Level Media
Sports
James Harden learning on the fly for Cavaliers, who visit Nuggets next
Feb 7, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) shoots the ball against the Sacramento Kings during the third quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images James Harden celebrated his Cleveland Cavaliers debut with a win at Sacramento on Saturday night, but he and his new team will have a tougher challenge when Cleveland visits the Denver Nuggets on Monday night.
Harden had 23 points and eight assists in the Cavaliers’ 132-126 win over the Kings despite not getting a chance to practice first. The veteran guard is learning on the fly, but he has no concerns about it.
“I just got to figure out where I fit in,” Harden said after beating Sacramento. “That won’t be hard at all. I told the guys just do what you all do and I’ll figure it out. I’m good enough to figure it out and insert myself in.”
Cleveland acquired Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers before the trade deadline last week to improve its chances in the Eastern Conference, where it sits fourth, two games behind New York and Boston for second place.
Harden bolsters the Cavaliers’ backcourt and his combined 25.4 points a game this season adds to the guard scoring punch. Darius Garland, who went to Los Angeles in the deal, was averaging 18 points a game but has been out since Jan. 14 with a toe injury.
Donovan Mitchell leads Cleveland with a 28.9 average and combined with Harden they average 14 assists per game. Evan Mobley is third in scoring at 17.9 points a game and leads the Cavaliers with 8.8 rebounds, but he has not played since Jan. 26 due to a calf strain.
He has been ruled out against Denver, which has suffered its share of injuries as well. The Nuggets, already without power forward Aaron Gordon to a right hamstring injury, saw his replacement, Peyton Watson, go down with the same injury.
Watson was hurt in a double-overtime loss at New York on Wednesday night and will miss a month. Denver did get a boost in Saturday night’s win at Chicago with the return of Cameron Johnson from a right knee bruise. Johnson scored 14 points in his first game since Dec. 23 and is averaging 11.8 points for the season.
The Nuggets got another scare in the 136-120 win when Jamal Murray left late in the game in apparent discomfort. Head coach David Adelman said after the game that it was a hip issue.
“He seemed confident that he was OK,” Adelman said.
Murray helped carry the team when Nikola Jokic missed 16 games with a left knee injury. Murray is averaging career-highs in points (26) and assists (7.5) and has 14 double-doubles this season after finishing with 28 points and 11 assists against the Bulls.
Jokic reached another milestone on Saturday night with the 182nd triple-double of his career. That broke a tie for second with Oscar Robertson, behind only former teammate Russell Westbrook, who has 207.
Jokic has not shown any rust after missing a month. In the five games since his return, he is averaging 24.6 points, 12.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists; he is averaging a triple-double for the season — 28.9 points, 12.2 rebounds and 10.7 assists.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Short-handed Thunder look for others to step up against Lakers
Feb 7, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain (3) shoots against the Houston Rockets during the first half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images The Oklahoma City Thunder again will be without star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as they try to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season in a visit to the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.
Gilgeous-Alexander has missed two games with an abdominal injury as the Thunder lost to the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets. In Saturday’s 112-106 home loss against Houston, Cason Wallace had 23 points for Oklahoma City, while Isaiah Joe had 21 off the bench.
Not only is Gilgeous-Alexander out through next weekend’s All-Star break, the Thunder have been without guards Jalen Williams (hamstring) and Ajay Mitchell (abdomen). Gilgeous-Alexander was selected as an All-Star, while Mitchell was chosen for the Rising Stars competition.
Oklahoma City did see Jared McCain make his team debut Saturday and he scored five points in 14 minutes after his trade from the Philadelphia 76ers.
Without Gilgeous-Alexander running the offense, the Thunder committed 17 turnovers, their most in a game since Nov. 17 — 18 in a 126-109 win at New Orleans. The Rockets turned the miscues into 27 points.
“Obviously, this is a different group than we’re used to playing with, but we had enough resources on both ends of the floor to win,” Oklahoma City head coach Mark Diagneault said. “… I didn’t think the loss was because of who we were missing.”
The Thunder already have a victory over the Lakers, 121-92 in Oklahoma City on Nov. 12 when Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 30 points and nine assists.
LeBron James, who had not yet made his season debut when the Lakers last played the Thunder, scored 20 points with 10 assists as Los Angeles earned a 105-99 home victory over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.
The Lakers were without star guard Luka Doncic (hamstring), while Rui Hachimura moved back into the starting lineup and had 18 points. Austin Reaves, in his third game since returning from a calf injury, had 16 points with eight assists.
“It wasn’t pretty, but at the end of the day, the win’s all, all that matters,” Reaves said. “I wouldn’t say we played good but played good enough.”
Both teams struggled on offense in the first half, with the Lakers breaking free with a 38-point third quarter. Los Angeles ended up shooting 50.7% from the floor and overcame 23 turnovers, including seven from James.
Luke Kennard, who was acquired from the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday, scored 10 points with two made 3-pointers in his Lakers debut.
“A lot of people kind of harp on his shooting, obviously, because he shoots the ball so elite,” James said of Kennard. “But his playmaking ability (is solid) as well. He is able to crack the defense when they run him off the (3-point) line.”
Doncic’s hamstring injury, that occurred in a victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, has been deemed mild, though he was ruled out for Monday. The injury happened in Reaves’ second game back from missing 19 games because of his calf issue.
James is averaging 21.8 points with 6.8 assists and 5.7 rebounds in 34 games of his record 23rd NBA season. His 15 total turnovers in back-to-back victories are his most in consecutive games this season.
–Field Level Media
No. 1 Arizona brings streak into showdown at No. 11 Kansas
James Harden learning on the fly for Cavaliers, who visit Nuggets next
