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GLENDALE, Ariz. - Ten points down in the fourth quarter. Another David Tyree play. Second and goal at the one. 25 seconds left. Marshawn Lynch and Russell Wilson in the backfield.
Pick any of these problematic situations for the Patriots, and you have a Seattle win. They would be the ones celebrating an epic Super Bowl win, their second straight. No team in Super Bowl history had ever squandered a ten-point lead. And even though the Seahawks did just that, they were in prime position to snatch victory away from the Patriots. They simply had to run Lynch from one yard out. It was their best chance to win the game.
Instead, Seattle offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell called for a quick slant pass to Ricardo Lockette. It was a bang-bang play, and rookie Malcolm Butler made the interception to shock the Seahawks and seal a richly satisfying Super Bowl win for the Patriots. All sorts of history was made on Sunday night at University of Phoenix Stadium by the Patriots, but the most overwhelming and joyous fact is that the Patriots beat Seattle to win Super Bowl XLIX, 28-24.
When we say "history", we aren't kidding. You can start and end with Tom Brady, but it goes way beyond that.
Brady won his third Super Bowl MVP, tying Joe Montana with the most in history. Among the many reasons why Brady won the award over other worthy candidates are his setting records for most pass completions in a Super Bowl with 37, and his setting a record for most career Super Bowl touchdown passes with 13, breaking Montana's record of 11. Brady finished 37 of 50 passing for 328 yards, four touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 101.1. And his fourth Super Bowl win as starting quarterback ties Montana and Terry Bradshaw for the most ever.
The fourth Super Bowl win by the Patriots ties Green Bay and the Giants for the third most in Super Bowl history. The Patriots at one point trailed 24-14 in the fourth quarter, making the ten-point rally the biggest fourth quarter deficit ever overcome in Super Bowl history. Bill Belichick ties the late Steeler coach Chuck Noll for the most wins ever as head coach with four.
The Patriots and Seahawks battled all game long. New England dominated the first half statistically, but a foolish interception by Brady at the goal line and the quick strike ability of the Seattle offense produced a 14-14 tie at the half. Seattle won the coin toss, deferred, then pulled on the Patriots what they themselves usually do, scoring on the last drive of the first half and the first drive of the second half. The Seahawks actually scored on three straight drives to build a 24-14 third quarter lead. At the time, the Patriots looked tired, beaten, and out of answers as to how to deal with the now former Super Bowl champs.
Two key plays in the first half helped produce the tie game instead of a sizable Patriot lead. On their second drive of the game, the Patriots drove 58 yards in 13 plays to the Seattle 10-yard line, chewing up 7:41 of the clock. On third down and six, Michael Bennett induced a hurried throw by Brady into the end zone. Jeremy ("Gronkowski isn't that good!") Lane picked off the pass at the goal line, but was injured on the play and had to leave the game for good.
After taking a 14-7 lead, and with 31 seconds left in the first half, Robert Turbin broke off a 19-yard run thanks to Jamie Collins being caught out of position, setting the Seahawks off on a scoring drive that took only 29 seconds of game clock and covered 80 yards in five plays.
To come back from down ten points, the Patriot defense went into lockdown mode, inducing punts on three straight drives covering only 11 plays. Brady then caught fire, using Julian Edelman and Shane Vereen to move the ball well. Danny Amendola caught a five-yard pass to make it 24-21 with 7:55 left. On the next drive, Vereen and Gronkowski led the way on a 10-play, 74-yard drive. Edelman hauled in a three-yard scoring pass with 2:02 left to give the Patriots a 28-24 lead.
Keeping in mind what happened to the Green Bay Packers two weeks ago, and given the Patriots' history for surrendering wacky catches in clutch moments (Tyree, Mario Manningham), the wacky catch happened still again. Wilson drove Seattle from the 20 to the Patriot 38 in a two-minute drill. On first and ten, Wilson lofted a deep pass along the right sideline to Jermaine Kearse. With Butler in good coverage, the ball bounced off Kearse's fingertips and he fell to the ground. The ball fell right on Kearse, and with the ball never touching the ground, Kearse cradled the ball at the Patriot five.
 Malcolm Butler makes the game-clinching interception at the goal line to seal a 28-24 win by the Patriots over Seattle in Super Bowl XLIX. (USA TODAY Images) |
Lynch ran for four yards to the one-yard line. The clock was running with less than 30 seconds left. Patriot Nation was wondering if they should surrender a touchdown like in Super Bowl XLVI to Ahmad Bradshaw just to get the ball back. Or the Patriots might want to call a timeout to save time.
Instead, perhaps the most ill-advised play call in Super Bowl history happened which will leave Bevell and Pete Carroll answering to for perhaps years to come.
The Seahawks had Lynch, nicknamed "Beast Mode". Wilson is the best running quarterback in the league. But Bevell called for a pick play, wanting to hit Lockette on a quick slant from the right side. Butler read the play perfectly and jumped the route, making the interception to seal the championship for the Patriots. Either Lynch or Wilson could have run the ball in. The Patriots escaped with the Super Bowl win but could have very easily lost it in much the same manner as they did their last Super Bowl loss.
The Patriots finally have their fourth Super Bowl win after a decade wait. The duck boats will roll again after a year and a half celebrating the Red Sox and Boston Strong. The amazing run of New England sports prosperity continues with the ninth title since Y2K.
This Super Bowl will go down as a great one, one of the best ever. Skeptics can question the Patriots all they want about videotaping and game ball air pressure. In the end, the Patriots rule the pro football world once again, and the beautiful veneer that envelops their franchise is looking very pretty and polished once again.
Seattle didn't get their second in a row. Carroll didn't beat his old team in the big game. The Patriots are Super Bowl champs.
Feels good. Rest easy, New England, and get out and cheer those boats.
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