Similar Story, But Thanks to Butler, a Much Different Outcome
 Butler helped the Patriots do something they hadn't been able to do in their last two tries. He helped them close out a Super Bowl victory. (USA TODAY Images) |
The Patriots weren't a stranger to this situation.
After Tom Brady put together a 10 play, 64-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Julian Edelman to put New England back on top 28-24, the Patriots found themselves in a familiar scenario.
There were two minutes to go, and with a lead against the Seahawks, all the defense needed to do was come up with either a stop or a turnover to allow them to finally clinch their elusive fourth title.
But as usual, the problems that plagued them in the past came to the forefront Sunday night after Russell Wilson opened the drive with a 31-yard play to Marshawn Lynch. That took the Seahawks from their own 20 to the Patriots 49, and four plays later, something all too familiar happened that had brought back memories that are almost too painful to think about.
After getting down to the New England 38 yard line, Wilson threw a great pass to Jermaine Kearse that Malcolm Butler made a terrific leaping play to knock the pass down, but as Kearse hit the ground he managed to fall underneath the football before it hit the ground. The result was an amazing 33-yard completion that stunned the fans who were on hand to witness it, which more or less left everyone believing this football team was cursed considering it had shades of the David Tyree helmet catch and the miraculous grab by Mario Manningham that stole away two other opportunities for New England.
"Yeah, I've seen two of them," said Belichick after the game, referring to the two big plays the Giants made against them in their previous two losses. “I thought it was incomplete and then he ended up with the ball. I saw the replay and it was a tremendous catch, great concentration. It was a tremendous catch, kind of like two other ones I’ve seen.”
In those match-ups, the result saw him walk off the field on the wrong end of the outcome, sabotaging what would have been another championship for his football team.
But on Sunday night, this was a different group and a different team. What had been missing in their two losses was for someone to come up with a big play in a critical situation, and fortunately on this night it would be Butler who would get another shot at redemption.
Facing a 2nd-and-1 from the Patriots goal line, the Seahawks took a shot at the endzone with a slant pattern that Butler sniffed out. He jumped the route and stepped in front of Wilson's throw, snatching it out of the grasp of Ricardo Lockette and sealing the win for the Patriots.
Butler said after the game the formation tipped him off that the ball was coming.
“I knew they were going to throw it," said Butler. "Our defensive coordinator (Matt Patricia) is real smart and with a goal line, three cornerback (formation). We knew they were going to throw the ball.”
Knowing it's coming is one thing, being able to make the play is another and Butler was fortunately able to do something that hadn't happened in their last two trips to the NFL's biggest stage. He was able to make a big play, and he was glad he was able to help his team win.
“I feel good," said Butler. "I made a play to help my team win. I’ve worked so hard in practice and I just wanted to play so bad and help my team out, I got out there and did exactly what I needed to do to help my team win.”
It was great to see from a football team that has had issues in the past in closing out the game when they had the lead. The Patriots know far too well the sting of losing a game like this, and Sunday night certainly had shades of not turning out the way they hoped.
Fortunately this time around, thanks to Butler, that didn't happen and now the Patriots are World Champions.
