GLENDALE, Ariz. — Russell Wilson did everything to win the Seahawks’ second consecutive Super Bowl – except hand the ball one more time to Marshawn Lynch.
Two completions by Wilson, to Lynch across midfield then by Jermaine Kearse between his legs while on his back, had Seattle at the New England 1 with 20 seconds left. The Seahawks trailed 28-24 but had one time out remaining
One yard from winning it all. Again.
Instead, the Comeback Kid passed one too many times. Wilson intended to hit Ricardo Lockette on a slant route. But New England’s Malcolm Butler cut off Lockette, who didn’t fight through his cover man to the ball. Butler intercepted it at the goal line to end the Seahawks’ season in their 28-24 loss Sunday in a crazy, dramatic Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium.
The jump ball that Jermaine Kearse tapped to himself, put between his legs then cradled at the New England 5 with 1:06 left had Seattle poised for their second consecutive miraculous comeback, and Wilson 15th career fourth-quarter rally to victory.
But game Most Valuable Player Tom Brady’s four touchdown passes with a Super Bowl-record 37 completions in 50 throws trumped Wilson 12 completions for 247 yards, Marshawn Lynch’s 102 yards rushing with a touchdown, former Canadian League receiver Chris Matthews almost-MVP breakout. And it ruined the 24-14 lead Seattle (14-5) took into the final, frantic period.
The Seahawks were denied becoming the eighth franchise ever and first team since the 2003-04 Patriots to win consecutive Super Bowls.
New England (15-4) gained 147 of game’s first 169 yards and had nine of the initial 10 first downs. But Jeremy Lane’s end-zone interception of Brady late in the first quarter on which the nickel back broke his arm kept the Patriots ahead only 7-0 early.
The Seahawks’ scored 17 unanswered points from the end of the first half into the fourth quarter. Matthews’ leaping, twisting, 11-yard touchdown, Steven Hauschka’s 27-yard field goal Matthews set up with another jumping, 45-yard grab and Doug Baldwin’s 3-yard touchdown catch on which he shrewdly sent the man covering him, New England’s Darrelle Revis, into the umpire official on a route across the end zone made it 24-14 Seattle entering the final quarter.
Brady brought New England back with a third and 14 completion to Julian Edelman for 21 yards, despite a hit by Kam Chancellor that spun Edelman around.
Brady to Danny Amendola from 4 yards out, Brady’s NFL-record 12th Super Bowl touchdown, got New England within 24-21 with 8 minutes left.
Ricardo Lockette got tripped in the open field going after a throw by Russell Wilson, then Wilson threw longer than Marshawn Lynch ran on an improvisation route, and Seattle had to give the ball back to Brady.
He continued his short passing, setting a Super Bowl record with his 36th completion while moving New England inside the Seahawks 5. Then Brady threw his fourth touchdown pass, to Julian Edelman. Seattle suddenly trailed 28-24, yet rallied. Again.
Except for the final yard.
This was the third halftime tie in 49 Super Bowls. And it was because of one of the most unlikely heroes in the game.
Chris Matthews?
Seahawks’ nickel back Jeremy Lane made the game’s first big play, an end-zone interception of Tom Brady after Michael Bennett hit New England’s iconic QB and made him shy away from what became an awful throw. That saved Seattle at least three points — but cost it Lane. He appeared to fracture his lower left arm on his landing at the end of his interception return.
That meant on the next defensive drive the Seahawks moved starting cornerback Byron Maxwell from right cornerback inside to nickel and brought second-year man Tharold Simon in to play cornerback. Brady targeted Simon three times on what became the game’s first scoring drive. It ended with Brandon LaFell’s touchdown catch of 11 yards, on a slant inside Simon.
It was Brady’s 50th postseason touchdown throw, an NFL record. His 10th Super Bowl TD pass was one behind Joe Montana’s record.
New England gained 147 of the game’s first 169 yards, but led only 7-0.
The Seahawks stuck with their offensive game plan of establishing Marshawn Lynch’s inside runs. It finally paid off late in the second quarter. Wilson had only thrown two passes when he finally got his first completion on the third throw, to Jermaine Kearse for Seattle’s initial third-down conversion of the game with 5 minutes left before halftime. The Lynch running then set up Wilson’s play-action pass that afforded him time to wait for former Canadian League receiver Matthews to run 35 yards down the right side. Matthews’ first NFL catch, for 44 yards, set up Lynch’s 3-yard touchdown run off right tackle past the knocked-off helmet of guard James Carpenter, and Seattle had tied the game at 7.
But Cliff Avril jumped offside on third and 3, giving New England a first down at the Seattle 43. Brady then found unanimous All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski alone outside one on one with linebacker K.J. Wright. Gronkowski on any linebacker in the league is a mismatch for the Patriots, and the 22-yard pitch and catch had to be one of Brady’s easiest of 11 career TD passes in the Super Bowl. New England led 14-7 with 31 seconds left in the half.
That was still enough time for the Seahawks to score points. Runs of 19 yards by Robert Turbin and 17 yards on a scramble by Wilson set up Wilson’s 23-yard pass to Ricardo Lockette. That and a 10-yard facemask foul on New England cornerback Kyle Arrington put Seattle at the Patriots 11 with 6 seconds left.
After timeouts by each team, Wilson dropped to pass and looked only at Matthews. The 6-foot-5 wide out leaped, twisted and basketball-rebounded the pass to re-tie the game at 14. It was a stunning, 80-yard drive in 25 seconds.
Matthews is only in the receiving rotation because rookie Paul Richardson went out for the year in the NFC divisional round with a knee injury.
Brady completed 20 of 27 passes in that half for 177 yards and the two scores, almost all those on quick throws underneath zone coverage before Seattle’s Bennett could reach him.
Wilson had just four completions in seven throws for 84 yards. But 12 yards per connection wasn’t shabby.
No comments:
Post a Comment