Following a year of scandals, mismanagement and questionable decisions by the NFL, the league got the Super Bowl it desperately needed to put the focus squarely back on the field. In a game that went down to the final 30 seconds, the resilient New England Patriots overcame a ten point fourth quarter deficit to defeat the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX, 28-24.
"We were playing a great defense and they’re a great team," said Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, selected the game's MVP following a 37/50, 328 yard effort that included four touchdown passes. "Took everything all the way to the last play. Just proud of our effort and our determination. We showed it all year. Every team has a journey and a lot of people lost faith in us early, but we held strong, we held together, and it’s a great feeling."
Defense Dominated the First Quarter
Although New England had the yardage (75-19) and time of possession advantages, the game remained scoreless after one quarter, thanks to a red zone interception of an errant Brady throw by nickel cornerback Jeremy Lane with 1:50 left on the clock. Lane was injured on the play and did not return to the game.
The Seahawks ran just five plays during their next drive, but had dodged a bullet nevertheless. After one quarter, the game remained scoreless.
Both Teams Broke Through in the Second Quarter
With Seattle misfiring early on offense, New England took advantage in the second quarter. Following a 40-yard Jon Ryan punt, the Patriots went on a nine play, 65 yard march that ended with a Brandon LaFell 11-yard touchdown reception for the early 7-0 advantage. "We made some good plays, said Brady. "We had some great drives. Early in the game, I thought we moved it really well."
Seattle was unfazed. After a three-and-out by both teams, the Seahawks engineered a masterful 70 yard drive, with quarterback Russell Wilson connecting on a 44-yard strike to rookie wide receiver Chris Matthews and Marshawn Lynch bulldozing through the line for 20 yards on five carries. Lynch ran over right tackle for the game-tying tally with 2:22 left in the half.
Undaunted, the Patriots responded quickly, driving 80 yards in just 1:45 to take the lead. Key plays on the drive were a neutral zone infraction by Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril that gave New England a first down at the Seattle 43 yard line, along with two clutch receptions by wide receiver Shane Vereen. One play later, Brady found tight end Rob Gronkowski (six receptions, 68 yards, one TD) with a beautiful 22-yard pass for the touchdown, putting the Patriots on top, 14-7.
As efficient as the Patriots were on their last possession, the Seahawks were even better after receiving the kickoff, driving 80 yards in just 29 seconds to tie the game Wilson's 11-yard back-shoulder toss to Matthews with six seconds remaining was the critical play of the drive.
At halftime, Super Bowl XLIX had the makings of an instant classic, tied 14-14.
Seattle Forged a Lead in the Third Quarter
Throughout the regular season, the Seahawks were recognized as a team that made key second half adjustments. On the biggest of stages, they demonstrated exactly how to get it done in the third quarter.
Outgaining the Patriots 155-22 over the next fifteen minutes, Seattle struck twice to take the lead. The first scoring play was a Steven Hauschka 27-yard field goal, giving the Seahawks their first lead of the game, 17-14. Just over six minutes later, Wilson found Doug Baldwin in the end zone for a three-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 24-14.
The Patriots Rallied
Seattle's mantra throughout the season revolved around how games were finished. In Super Bowl XLIX, it became a rallying cry for the veteran Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
After the Seahawks went three-and-out early in the fourth quarter, the Patriots started their next drive on their 32 yard line. Nine plays later, Brady found wide receiver Danny Amendola with a four-yard touchdown pass, narrowing the Seahawks lead to 24-21. "I scored, but we all played great," said an elated Amendola after the game. "We left some plays out there and it came down to the end, but we’re really happy."
Following yet another Seattle three-and-out, the Patriots drove for the decisive score. Employing the dink-and-dunk approach he favored most of the game, Brady went nine-for-nine on the drive for 65 yards. His last pass play was to wide receiver Julian Edelman, who corralled a three-yard reception for the go-ahead touchdown. "We needed a great play at the end and we got it," said Brady about Edelman's game-winning reception. "Offensively, a lot of guys made huge, huge plays."
The Final Drive
Seattle just doesn't give up, and with 2:02 left in the game, the Seahawks almost pulled off a rally that would have been talked about forever. It still might.
On the first play of the drive, Russell Wilson found Marshawn Lynch (24 carries, 102 yards) on a 31-yard pass play, taking the ball into New England territory. Two plays later, Wilson kept the drive alive, connecting with Roberto Lockett for eleven yards and moving the ball down to the Patriots' 38.
With 1:14 left in the game, Wilson and wide receiver Jermaine Kearse pulled off the type of clutch play they became famous for in the wake of the NFC Championship game. Wilson threw the ball deep down the right side and Kearse reached up and made an unbelievable bobbling, clutching 33-yard catch while tumbling to the ground. The result of the highlight-reel reception was a first and goal at the New England five yard line.
"We had a good chance to end it," lamented Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. "We didn't do a very good job of that."
After a Marshawn Lynch carry to the one yard line, the Seahawks called a play that will be looked upon critically throughout the remainder of the postseason. In lieu of handing the ball off to Lynch, Wilson dropped back to pass, and threw an interception to Malcolm Butler at the goal line. As explained by Carroll: "We decided to call another call. We make these decisions every game, all the time. They work out sometimes, and they don't other times. This one didn't work out for us."
Russell Wilson agreed. "We thought we had them, and I thought it was going to be a touchdown when I threw it. I thought it was going to be game over."
Defense End Michael Bennett put some perspective on the decisive play. "If he had caught that ball we'd be having a different conversation. That guy made a great play, man."
With the final gun, the Patriots had won a thrilling Super Bowl, 28-24.
News and Notes
Russell Wilson's early struggles were nearly record-setting, as he took the second-longest amount of time to complete a pass in Super Bowl history. Wilson ended the game 13-of-21 for 247 yards and two touchdowns, along with the one decisive pick.
Seattle outgained the Patriots, 396-377, but lost in time of possession 33:46 - 26:14.
The Patriots rushed for just 57 yards, versus 162 for the Seahawks.
Seattle won the turnover battle, 2-1.
Following a theme seen all season, the Seahawks were penalized seven times for 70 yards, versus just three times for 36 yards for the Patriots.
Although Tom Brady was the MVP, Wilson's passer rating was actually higher (110.6 -101.1).
Attendance was a reported 70,288, with singer Katy Perry wowing the crowd with an electric (literally) halftime performance.