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PATRIOTS 28 d. SEAHAWKS 24
Super Bowl XLIX was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion New England Patriots and National Football Conference (NFC) champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 2014 season. The Patriots defeated the Seahawks 28–24. The game was played on February 1, 2015, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.[9][10] This was the second Super Bowl played in that stadium (XLII), and the third one held in the Phoenix metropolitan area (XXX at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe). The game was live broadcast in the United States by NBC.[11]
For the second season in a row, but only the third time in 21 seasons, the number one seed from each conference met in the league championship game. This was the first time in a decade that an NFL team played in consecutive Super Bowl games, with the last such instance in 2004 and 2005, when the Patriots played in Super Bowls XXXVIII and XXXIX, respectively. Super Bowl XLIX was the Seahawks' second consecutive Super Bowl appearance, having defeated the Denver Broncos 43–8 in Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014, while the New England Patriots returned for their eighth Super Bowl appearance, and their first since losing 21–17 to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI in 2012. With their appearance in Super Bowl XLIX, the New England Patriots joined the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers as one of the three teams that collectively share the record for most all-time Super Bowl appearances, as each has appeared in eight separate Super Bowls to date.
Pete Carroll was the fourth head coach to face his former team: Weeb Ewbank defeated the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, Dan Reeves lost to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXIII and Jon Gruden defeated the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII; Carroll coached the Patriots from 1997 to 1999, and he was succeeded by Bill Belichick.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who had a Super Bowl-record 37 completions on 50 attempts for 328 yards and four touchdowns, with two interceptions, was named Super Bowl MVP.
Pregame notes
Super Bowl XLIX is notable for featuring the coach of one team who had replaced the other coach at one point. Current Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was hired in 1999 to replace Pete Carroll, who is now the coach of the Seahawks. This is only the third time this has occurred. The other two times were in Super Bowl XXXVII and Super Bowl III. In both cases, the team coached by the man who was replaced by the other won the game.
The betting odds for Super Bowl XLIX initially opened after the conclusion of the conference championship games with the Seahawks favored by 2.5 points,[20] but within hours of opening, heavy betting on the Patriots had moved the line to a toss-up at most sportsbooks.
Teams
New England Patriots
Main article: 2014 New England Patriots season
The New England Patriots had a rough start to their 2014 season, starting the season with a 2–2 record and hitting a low point with a humiliating 41–14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in week four. By this point, the Patriots faced heavy criticism in the media, especially quarterback Tom Brady.[18] Former Patriots safety and teammate Rodney Harrison declared Brady "looked scared to death" in the pocket and "doesn't have any confidence in his offensive line."[19] However, New England recovered with a NFL season long seven game winning streak, beginning with a dominating 43–17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in week five, and went on to lose only two more games for the rest of the year (the latter of which was done while resting the starters the final week of the season), finishing the season with a 12–4 record and the number one seed in the AFC. They finished fourth in the NFL in scoring (468 points) and eighth in points allowed (313), and had the largest point differential in the NFL (with an average margin of victory of 9.7 points). The Patriots defeated the Baltimore Ravens 35–31 in the AFC Divisional playoffs, and then defeated the Indianapolis Colts 45–7 in the AFC Championship Game.
Brady had another fine season in his 14th year as the team's starter, earning his ninth Pro Bowl selection with 4,109 passing yards and 33 touchdowns, with just eight interceptions. His top target was Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski, who caught 82 passes for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns, along with wide receiver Brandon LaFell, who caught 74 passes for 954 yards and seven touchdowns. Wide receiver Julian Edelman was another key aspect of the passing game, with 92 receptions for 974 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing for 92 yards and returning 25 punts for 299 yards and a touchdown. Running back Jonas Gray was the team's leading rusher with 412 yards and a 4.6 yards per carry average, while Stevan Ridley added 340 yards and Shane Vereen had 391. Vereen was also a reliable pass catcher, hauling in 52 receptions for 447 yards. On special teams, kicker Stephen Gostkowski was selected to his third Pro Bowl and became the third player ever to lead the NFL in scoring four times, converting 35 of 37 field goals (94.6 percent) and racking up 156 points. Special Teamer Matthew Slater also made the Pro Bowl for the 4th time.
The Patriots defensive line was led by five time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vince Wilfork and defensive end Rob Ninkovich, who compiled eight sacks. Behind them, linebacker Jamie Collins led the team in tackles (116) and forced fumbles (four), while also intercepting two passes. Linebacker Dont'a Hightower was also a big contributor with 89 tackles and six sacks. The secondary was led by Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis, along with Logan Ryan and safety Devin McCourty, each of whom recorded two interceptions, while Brandon Browner recorded one, and added a physical presence to the secondary.
Seattle Seahawks
Main article: 2014 Seattle Seahawks season
Although the Seahawks qualified for a second consecutive Super Bowl appearance, they also started the season slowly just like New England, floundering near the season's midpoint with a 3–3 record. However, they went on from there to win nine of their final 10 regular season games, preventing their opponents from scoring any touchdowns in five of them. By the time they finished with a 12–4 record and entered the playoffs, they had earned the number one seed, and not allowed any touchdowns in the previous 10 quarters. Their defense ranked first in the NFL in fewest points allowed (254) and their offense was tied at first in rushing yards (2,762). The Seahawks defeated the Carolina Panthers 31–17 in the NFC Divisional playoffs, and then defeated the Green Bay Packers 28–22 in the NFC Championship Game.
Quarterback Russell Wilson was back in control of the Seattle offense, completing 63.1 percent of his passes for 3,475 yards and 20 touchdowns, with seven interceptions, while also rushing for 849 yards and six touchdowns. The team's leading receiver was Doug Baldwin, who caught 66 passes for 825 yards and three touchdowns. Receiver Jermaine Kearse was another reliable target with 38 catches for 537 yards, while tight end Luke Willson caught 22 passes for 362 yards. Running back Marshawn Lynch was selected to his fourth Pro Bowl, ranking fourth in the NFL with 1,306 rushing yards and first in rushing touchdowns with 13. He also caught 37 passes for 364 yards and four more touchdowns. Running back Robert Turbin chipped in 310 yards and 16 receptions. On special teams, kicker Steven Hauschka ranked fourth in the NFL with 134 points and made 31 of 37 field goals (83.8 percent).
Michael Bennett anchored the Seattle defensive line, leading the team with seven sacks, while teammate Bruce Irvin ranked second with 6.5 and intercepted two passes, returning both for touchdowns. Behind them, linebackers K. J. Wright and Pro Bowl selection Bobby Wagner combined for a staggering 211 tackles (107 for Wright, 104 for Wagner), while Wright also forced three fumbles. But the strongest aspect of the team's number one ranked defense was their secondary. Known as the "Legion of Boom", they sent three of their four starters to the Pro Bowl for the second year in a row: cornerback Richard Sherman, free safety Earl Thomas, and strong safety Kam Chancellor. Sherman led the team with four interceptions, while Thomas had 97 tackles and forced four fumbles. Chancellor had 78 tackles and also recorded six passes defensed.
Game summary
First half
After the first two drives of the game ended in punts, New England got the first scoring opportunity with a drive to the Seattle 10-yard line. But on 3rd and 6, Tom Brady threw a pass that was intercepted by cornerback Jeremy Lane and returned to the 14-yard line. Lane broke his wrist on the play when he tried to break his fall with his arm extended, and subsequently missed the rest of the game.
The game remained scoreless until New England's first drive of the second quarter, which began with Brady's 17-yard completed pass to Danny Amendola. Brady later completed a 23-yard pass to Julian Edelman on 3rd and 9, and eventually finished the drive with a 11-yard touchdown pass to receiver Brandon LaFell.
Seattle began to make progress when Russell Wilson completed his first pass of the day, a 6-yard completion to Jermaine Kearse on 3rd and 6 and with 5:36 left in the second quarter. After a 5-yard run by Marshawn Lynch, Wilson completed a 44-yard pass to receiver Chris Matthews on the Patriots 11-yard line, setting up Lynch's 3-yard touchdown run to tie the game. Only 2:16 remained in the half after Lynch's touchdown, but the scoring was far from over. Brady completed 5/6 passes for 59 yards on New England's ensuing possession, the last one a 22-yard touchdown completion to tight end Rob Gronkowski with 31 seconds remaining. Taking the ball back on their own 20, Seattle started off their drive with a 19-yard burst from Robert Turbin and a 17-yard scramble by Wilson. Then Wilson completed a 23-yard pass to Ricardo Lockette, with a facemask penalty on linebacker Kyle Arrington adding additional yardage that gave the team a first down on the Patriots 11-yard line. On the next play, Wilson threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Matthews, tying the game at 14 with just 2 seconds showing on the clock.[53]
Second half
Seattle took the second half kickoff and drove 72 yards to the Patriots 8-yard line, featuring a 15-yard run by Lynch and a 45-yard reception by Matthews. Stephen Hauschka finished the drive with a 27-yard field goal, giving Seattle their first lead of the game at 17–14. Then on New England's next possession, linebacker Bobby Wagner's interception of a Brady pass and 6-yard return gave the Seahawks the ball at midfield. Just as with their last interception, Seattle lost a player for the game on the play due to injury, this time defensive end Cliff Avril, who departed with a concussion. But the offense was able to take advantage of the turnover, driving 50 yards in 6 plays and scoring on Wilson's 3-yard touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin. This made the score 24–14, and it would remain this way going into the 4th quarter. Up to now, no team in Super Bowl history had ever overcome a 4th quarter deficit of more than 7 points.
With 12:10 left in the game, New England mounted a 68-yard drive to cut their deficit to 24–21 on Brady's 4-yard touchdown toss to Amendola. The drive included two 21-yard completions from Brady to Edelman, the first one converting a 3rd and 14 from the Patriots 28-yard line. Following a three-and-out for Seattle, New England got the ball back on their own 32 at the 6:52 mark. Brady started off the possession with two completions to running back Shane Vereen for 13 total yards, and followed it up with a 9-yard pass to Edelman. Following a penalty against New England, Gronkowski caught a pair of passes that moved the team up 33 yards to the Seattle 19. Then Vereen rushed for 7 yards, Brady passed to Lafell for 7 more, and Blount ran the ball 2 yards to the 3-yard line. Finally with 2:02 left in the game, Brady gave his team a 28–24 lead with a 3-yard touchdown toss to Edelman.[54]
After a touchback gave Seattle the ball on their 20, Wilson started off the Seahawks drive with a 31-yard completion to Lynch. Then after two incompletions, he picked up another first down with an 11-yard pass to Lockette. The following play gave Seattle a golden opportunity to win the game. Wilson threw a deep pass down the right sideline to Kearse, who was covered by reserve rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler. Both players dove through the air for the ball, and Butler managed to deflect it with one hand, but the pass fell right into the hands of Kearse, who tipped it to himself and caught the ball while he was laying on his back. Butler managed to recognize the catch and recover in time to shove Kearse out of bounds as he got up, preventing a Seattle touchdown, but the play netted 33 yards and gave the Seahawks a first down at the Patriots 5-yard line with 1:05 left in regulation. Commentator Cris Collinsworth compared the play to two other unusual receptions by Patriots opponents that had defeated them in prior Super Bowls: David Tyree's Helmet Catch in Super Bowl XLII and Mario Manningham's sideline catch in Super Bowl XLVI. Al Michaels also compared it to Antonio Freeman's famous Monday Night Football catch known as "he did what?"[55]
On the next play, Lynch ran the ball 4 yards to the 1-yard line. Seattle then ran the clock down to 26 seconds before taking the snap for what turned out to be the most critical play of the game. The Seahawks had called a pass play in which Kearse ran a pick on the right side of the field to draw defensive backs away from Lockette as Lockette ran a slant to the middle. Lockette appeared to be uncovered at the 1-yard line when Wilson threw him the ball, but before the ball arrived, Butler correctly read the play and positioned himself to make a clutch interception. The turnover gave New England the ball on the Seattle 1-yard line with 20 seconds left to go. Butler's performance on the single play alone, garnered him consideration by the voters for Super Bowl MVP.
The game was not quite over for Seattle at this point, as New England could not take a standard quarterback kneeldown without the risk of giving Seattle a safety, which would have given the Seahawks two points and possession of the ball. Thus, they needed to make forward progress or no gain on one or two plays. However, the Seahawks defense spared them the need to do so, as defensive lineman Michael Bennett was flagged for encroachment before Brady had to take a single snap, moving the ball out to the 6 and triggering a short brawl between both teams. Seattle was penalized another 15 yards as a result (and charged their third and final timeout), and linebacker Bruce Irvin was ejected from the game for throwing a closed hand punch at Rob Gronkowski.[56][57] Brady took a kneeldown at the 21, and ended the game,[57] walking off the field with his fourth Super Bowl win and third Super Bowl MVP award.
Game statistics
Brady completed 37/50 passes for 328 yards and 4 touchdowns, with 2 interceptions. His 37 completions set a new Super Bowl record, surpassing Peyton Manning's 34 set the previous year against Seattle in Super Bowl XLVIII. He also surpassed Joe Montana's record for career touchdown passes in Super Bowls, setting a new record that now stands at 13.[58] His top receiver was Edelman, who caught 9 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 7 yards and returning 3 punts for 27. Vereen caught 11 passes for 64 yards and rushed for 13. For Seattle, Wilson completed 12 of 21 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns, with 1 interception, while also rushing for 39 yards. Lynch was the top rusher of the game with 102 yards and a touchdown, and also caught a pass for 31 yards. Matthews, an undrafted rookie who had not caught any passes in the regular season or postseason up to now, caught 4 passes for 109 yards and a score. Wagner had 12 tackles (10 solo) and an interception. Linebacker K. J. Wright had 11 tackles (10 solo).[59]
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