GLENDALE, Ariz. – A recap of the Seahawks' 28-24 loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday night:
PLAYER OF THE GAME: TOM BRADY
The Patriots' quarterback was voted Super Bowl MVP after turning in a record-setting effort and a fourth-quarter performance for the ages to win his fourth Super Bowl.
The 37-year-old Brady was voted Super Bowl MVP for the third time after passing for four touchdowns, giving him a Super Bowl-record 14 in his career. His 37 completions, in 50 attempts, also were a Super Bowl record. And by passing for 328 yards, he became only the second QB to surpass 300 against the Seahawks' No. 1-ranked defense this season – and the first since the Denver Broncos' Peyton Manning in Week 3.
| YOU DON'T SAY |
"For it to come down to a play like that, I hate that we have to live with that, because we did everything right to win the football game."Seahawks coach Pete Carroll on Butler's interception at the goal line |
And Brady saved his best for last, as he was 8 of 8 for 65 yards on the 10-play, 64-yard drive to his game-winning TD pass to Julian Edelman. And on the fourth-quarter drive that ended with his TD pass to Danny Amendola that cut the Seahawks' lead to 24-21, Brady was 5 of 7 for 60 yards.
All of that after throwing two interceptions – one at the goal line in the first quarter by Seahawks nickel back Jeremy Lane and the other by All-Pro middle linebacker Bobby Wagner in the third quarter that set up the Seahawks' third touchdown.
"It wasn't the way we drew it up. Certainly, throwing a couple of picks didn't help," Brady said. "It was a lot of mental toughness. Our team has had it all year. We never doubted each other, so that's what it took. That was a great football team we beat. I'm just so happy for our team."
UNSUNG HERO: CHRIS MATTHEWS
The 6-foot-5 former CFL receiver was waived on the Seahawks' final roster in August and then was on and off the practice squad before being signed to the active roster in December.
Sunday night, Matthews turned in a performance that could have won him the MVP award if the Seahawks had won the game. He had four catches for 109 yards.
He contributed a 44-yarder the Seahawks' first touchdown drive, and made the catch despite Patriots' cornerback Kyle Arrington grabbing his jersey. He caught an 11-yard TD pass that allowed the Seahawks to tie the score at 14 just before halftime. He added a 45-yarder on the first series of the second half that ended with a field goal.
PLAYS OF THE GAME
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Offense: **The obvious choice is Brady's game-winning TD pass to Edelman. But our choice is the Russell Wilson pass that Patriots rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler tipped that turned into a 33-yard completion by Jermaine Kearse and got the Seahawks to the New England 5-yard line on the Seahawks' ill-fated final possession.
And how does that happen? While Kearse was on the ground, the ball hit his leg and then his hand before he was able to control it.
Defense:After being "burned" on the pass to Kearse, Butler intercepted Wilson's quick-slant pass to Ricardo Lockette at the goal line to ice the Patriots' victory.
Special teams: Unlike last year's Super Bowl, there was only one scoring play on special teams – Steven Hauschka's 27-yard field goal to cap the Seahawks' possession to open the second half.
INJURY REPORT: JEREMEY LANE INJURES ARM ON FIRST CAREER INTERCEPTION
Talk about your memorable/regrettable plays. Lane made his first career interception at the goal line on a Brady pass that was intended Edelman. But on the return, Lane appeared to break his forearm while bracing himself as he fell.
The loss of Lane forced the Seahawks to move Byron Maxwell to the nickel back spot and replace him at right cornerback with Tharold Simon. It was a move that Brady exploited by going to Simon's man several times – including his 11-yard TD pass to Brandon LaFell for the game's first score and a 23-yarder to Edelman on the same drive; and also his 3-yard TD pass to Edelman for what proved to be the game-winning TD.
Defensive end Cliff Avril left the game in the third quarter to be checked for a concussion and did not return.
Super Bowl game action photos.
Receiver Doug Baldwin celebrates his first touchdown of the game with Seahawks mascot "Blitz."
Michael Bennett, who often refers to himself as "Black Santa," got into the holiday spirit with the Sea Gals after the game.
WORTH NOTING
Marshawn Lynch ran for 102 yards, his sixth 100-yard performance in the postseason; and scored on a 3-yard run, his ninth TD in the postseason. He has scored a TD in eight of his 10 playoff games with the Seahawks.
Doug Baldwin caught a TD pass in the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year, this one a 3-yarder.
The Patriots were 8 of 14 in third-down conversions, or 57 percent. It was highest third-down percentage allowed by the Seahawks since Week 6 loss to the Dallas Cowboys (59 percent, 10 of 17).
The Patriots' 377 yards also were the most allowed by the Seahawks' defense since they surrenders 401 to the Cowboys in their Week 6 loss at CenturyLink Field.
The loss snapped the Seahawks' eight-game winning streak, and left the Seahawks 1-2 in Super Bowl appearances.
