The New England Patriots walked off the field in Super Bowl LX battered and overwhelmed, but Mark Wahlberg is already looking ahead.
The actor and longtime Patriots supporter was spotted outside ABC Studios in New York City this week, where he was asked about New England‘s 2913 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks.
Rather than dwell on the lopsided loss, Wahlberg focused on perspective and promise.
“Okay, but he went to the Super Bowl in his second season,” Wahlberg said according to TMZ when asked about critics of quarterback Drake Maye. “That’s pretty good!”
The optimism stands in stark contrast to how Sunday unfolded. Seattle‘s defense dominated from the opening quarter, collapsing the pocket repeatedly and never allowing Maye to settle into a rhythm.
The Patriots‘ offense struggled to sustain drives, and most of their production came in the fourth quarter after the outcome was largely decided.
Maye finished the night with three turnovers and endured constant pressure, absorbing six sacks. The Seahawks‘ defensive front, orchestrated by coach Mike Macdonald, controlled the tempo and dictated nearly every passing down.
Wahlberg, however, framed the result as a lesson rather than a setback.
“They got beat by a better team, and I think the only thing they could’ve done is play a little more free, but injuries and all those things, but you know, go out there and have fun. Do it like you used to do it in the park,” Wahlberg noted.
Record books reflect playoff punishment
The numbers illustrate just how intense the pressure was throughout the postseason. By the end of the Patriots‘ playoff run, Maye had been sacked 21 times, including six in the Super Bowl alone.
According to NFL researcher Tony Holzman-Escareno, that total sets a new record in the Super Bowl era. The previous mark of 19 sacks was held by Joe Burrow during the Cincinnati Bengals‘ 2021 playoff run.
In the three games leading up to the championship, Maye had already been dropped 15 times. The Super Bowl simply extended a trend that followed New England throughout January.
It was not solely the quarterback who struggled. The Patriots‘ offense appeared rattled from early on, with protection breakdowns and limited success on early downs placing Maye in long passing situations against an aggressive Seahawks pass rush.
Yet for Wahlberg, the bigger picture remains intact.
“100%,” Wahlberg said when asked if the Patriots would return to the Super Bowl next season. “We’re gonna be back next year. You know what it is. The dynasty again!”
He even found time to poke fun at the New York Giants, joking that they would not be making an appearance in Super Bowl LXI.
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