The Patriots managed just 52 yards in the first half of Super Bowl LX. Bad Bunny covered more ground during his halftime performance.
Seattle dominated the first two quarters, outgaining New England 183-52 while building a 9-0 lead. Drake Maye, the second-year quarterback who led the league in completion percentage during the regular season, threw for only 18 passing yards before intermission. The Seahawks sacked him three times.
The social media account NFL Memes posted what became the game’s defining joke on social media. The account noted that Bad Bunny picked up more yards during the halftime show than the Patriots did in the first half.
NBC Sports echoed the sentiment, writing that the Puerto Rican artist “eschewed traditional stage setups to spend his entire show on the run (and probably gained more yards than the Patriots in the first half combined).”
New England’s struggles went beyond quarterback pressure. After their opening drive netted 28 yards, they failed to reach 10 yards on any subsequent possession before halftime. The offense managed just 2.1 yards per play.
CBS Sports pointed out that the league-worst Browns averaged 4.3 yards per play this season, making the Patriots nearly twice as ineffective.
Patriots offense delivers one of worst Super Bowl first halves
The 52 yards ranked as one of the more dismal offensive outputs in franchise Super Bowl history. Only Super Bowl XX against the Bears in 1986, when New England managed minus-19 yards in the first half, was worse.
Seattle’s defense forced five consecutive punts after that initial Patriots drive. Kenneth Walker III carried the ball 14 times for 94 yards, accounting for most of Seattle’s offense.
The Seahawks converted three field goals from Jason Myers, but couldn’t reach the end zone. Christian Gonzalez is breaking up two potential touchdown passes.
Mike Vrabel’s team entered halftime trailing but still within striking distance. No team has ever been shut out in the first half and won a Super Bowl.
Bad Bunny makes history while Patriots make memes
Bad Bunny took the stage in an all-white jersey with “Ocasio” on the back, starting with “Tití Me Preguntó.”
Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin joined him, along with appearances from Pedro Pascal, Jessica Alba, Cardi B and Karol G.
The Grammy winner became the first native Spanish speaker to headline a Super Bowl halftime show. His performance came one week after winning Album of the Year at the Grammys.
