The Moments That Made Super Bowl XLIX One Of The Best Ever
BOSTON (CBS) -- As we all knock off some rust from our Super Bowl-induced haze on Monday, many are still rubbing their eyes and wonder if what they witnessed Sunday night actually happened.
It did. The Patriots are Super Bowl Champs, and there's a parade on Tuesday to prove it.
Super Bowl XLIX had a storybook ending, and followed a similar script to New England's three previous Super Bowl wins. But make no mistake, this one was as unique as they come. While Tom Brady was once again The Man when it mattered most, many of the game's biggest plays came from players busting out of relative obscurity. And even the smallest of plays can be analyzed over and over again for how they dictated the outcome.
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That is the beauty of Super Bowl XLIX, and what makes the game one of the best ever -- if not the best Super Bowl. And that's not even including Katy Perry's dancing sharks.
It's just a shame that the end of the Super Bowl means the end of football for the next few months. So let's relive the moments that will forever cement Sunday's Patriots-Seahawks tilt in NFL history.
Touchdowns Before The Half
The Patriots and Seahawks combined for just seven points in the game's first 27:38 minutes, but put up 21 points in the final 2:22 of the first half.
After Marshawn Lynch punched in a three-yard touchdown to knot the game at 7-7, it was Brady's turn to go to work. Knowing the Seahawks had the ball to start the second half, it was imperative the Patriots put points on the board.
The Patriots put together a near perfect drive, marching 80 yards down the field in 1:45 and putting seven on the scoreboard when Brady hit Rob Gronkowski with a beautiful over-the-shoulder touchdown in the corner of the end zone. Gronk delivered a monstrous Super Bowl spike, and the Patriots were up 14-7.
It was only near perfect because it left time for Russell Wilson to work some magic of his own. New England played some horrendous defense and let the Seahawks put together their own 80-yard drive. They gave up 19 yards on a first down run by Robert Turbin, followed by a 17-yard scramble by Wilson. Two plays later, it was a 23-yard reception to Ricardo Lockett with a Kyle Arrington 10-yard facemask penalty tacked on to the end.
Wilson hit Chris Matthews on the next play from 11 yards out and the score was tied again. It was a terrible breakdown by the New England defense, and really changed the tone of the game heading into halftime.
Who The Hell Is Chris Matthews?
Not many people had heard of Chris Matthews ahead of the NFC Championship game, but he made a name for himself after recovering Seattle's onside kick near the end of regulation against Green Bay.
On Sunday, he showed what he can make plays in the passing game as well.
Matthews, signed off the practice squad in December, didn't have a reception in his NFL career until Sunday night. His first catch was a nice 44-yarder late in the second quarter that set up Lynch's touchdown to tie the game. He recorded his second catch a few minutes later, hauling in his first career touchdown to tie the game just before halftime.
Anyone can step up in the Super Bowl, and Matthews was the guy for the Seahawks on Sunday night. It's all part of the beauty of the game.
Kearse Drop Gives Patriots Life
With the third quarter winding down, Wilson and the Seahawks were looking to deliver a knockout blow to the Patriots. Adding any points to their 10-point advantage would have drastically changed the outcome, but that chance slipped right through their hands.
Facing a 3rd-and-2 at the New England 47, Wilson went looking for Jermaine Kearse deep downfield. He nearly connected with the receiver for what would have been a huge gain, but Kearse couldn't corral the catch. Instead of that knockout blow, the Seahawks were forced to punt.
That drop knocked the wind out of their sails and gave life to the Patriots, as Seattle went three-and-out on their next two possessions while the Patriots scored touchdowns each time they got the ball.
David Tyree 2.0
Kearse nearly made up for his drop, and when he somehow came down with his bobbling catch with 1:14 to go, setting the Seahawks up at the New England five-yard line, the collective feeling around New England was "please, not again!"
The catch was David Tyree all over again; a fluky and improbable catch that would lead to the demise of the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. Malcolm Butler played Kearse well, and even got a hand on the pass, but it caromed off the two players and eventually landed in Kearse's hands, while the receiver was on his back.
Not. Again. It sparked instant flashbacks to Tyree in 2007 and Mario Manningham in 2011. It could have been the feature of a million anti-Patriot memes.
Luckily, an undrafted rookie had other plans.
The Butler Did It
Malcolm Butler was not one of the 256 players drafted last May. He got an invite from the Patriots to participate in the team's rookie OTAs, and turned enough heads to earn a contract by the end of the preseason.
He played sparingly throughout the season, but never stopped putting in the work. He kept turning heads by making plays in practice, and on Sunday, all that hard work paid off with the game on the line.
With Arrington struggling to defend Matthews throughout the game, Butler was trust into action in the second half. He had his share of problems, but made the biggest play of the game -- and season -- for the Patriots.
With the Seahawks at the New England one-yard line, Butler saved the Super Bowl. For whatever reason the Seahawks passed the ball, and Butler stepped in front of Ricardo Lockette and out-muscled him for the football. The interception, the first of Butler's NFL career, all but sealed the victory for New England.
Brady was named the game's MVP, but it was an undrafted rookie who saved the victory. It's doesn't get more Super Bowl than that.
Pete's Play Call
Whatever the reason behind Pete Carroll's play calling at the end of the game, let's send him a great big thank you basket from everyone in New England.
Carroll explained that he wanted to throw because the Patriots were defending the run. Believe him or not, he took the ball out of the hands of the best running back in the NFL, who would have had a couple of chances to gain just one yard against an exhausted New England defense.
It's a decision that will likely be debated until the end of time, and one we may never truly understand.
But thanks, Pete. We appreciate it here in New England.
Edelman's Refusal To Go Down
Super Bowl victories take gutsy performances from players who are not at 100 percent. By the time Super Sunday rolls around, players have endured the grueling regular season and at least two hard-fought playoff games to get to the big stage.
Julian Edelman takes a beating every time he steps on the field, and Sunday was no different. The "Legion Of Boom" sent Mini-tron flying on several occasions, and nearly knocked him out for the count late in the game. But as usual, Edelman just refused to go down.
With the Patriots down 10 early in the fourth quarter, Brady put together his first of two touchdown drives to win it (more on Brady's role in a bit). He went to Edelman for 42 of the 68 yards on the drive, a pair of 21-yard receptions over the middle.
Edelman took a shot on the first one, which moved the chains on 3rd-and-14, but still got up to run for some YAC before the refs whistled him down. A few plays later, with New England facing a 3rd-and-8, Brady went back to Edelman, and Edelman once again found himself on the ground thanks to a booming hit. He didn't look right after the play, but still lined up and was targeted by Brady in the end zone. Brady overthrew Edelman on a quick out, but the receiver got the needed separation against backup Seattle corner Tharold Simon. A play later, Danny Amendola came down with the ball in the end zone and the Patriots were within three, but Brady and Edelman kept that play in the back of their minds (at least Brady did; there's no telling what was in Edelman's mind after that rough stretch).
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On the Patriots next drive, Brady and Edelman went back to that same play when facing a 2nd-and-goal at the Seattle three-yard line. This time it resulted in a touchdown, the eventual game-winner, that gave the Patriots a 28-24 lead.
Edelman may get knocked down, but it takes a lot to knock him out. He finished with nine catches, 109 yards and a touchdown, and some could argue that he would have been a very worthy MVP candidate (he also made the tackle in the first quarter after Jeremy Lane picked off Brady). But those honors were reserved for someone else.
Vintage Tom Terrific
What is there left to say about Tom Brady? He's simply the best at what he does.
Brady wasn't having a particularly good game through three quarters, but was flat-out terrific when the game was on the line. On New England's two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter, Brady went 13-for-15 for 120 yards and two touchdowns. He performed surgery against the best defense in the league, and guided his team down the field and into the end zone despite the heavy pressure the Seahawks were sending at him.
We could gush about Brady's fourth quarter play, and career, for years (and probably will). But really, all you can do is shake your head at just how good he is.
His fourth championship, and third Super Bow MVP, should all but end the Brady-Peyton Manning discussion, and propel the Patriots quarterback to the top of the All Time QB list as well.