Game-changing plays of Super Bowl XLIX
It was right there for the Seahawks: two consecutive Super Bowl titles, another bitter Super Bowl loss for the New England Patriots. And then, a bizarre play call at the one-yard line.
Super Bowl XLIX became an instant classic, with the Patriots rallying from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter before the Seahawks drove to the one-yard line … but instead of handing the ball to Marshawn Lynch, they elected to throw. Here are seven pivotal moments in the Patriots’ 28-24 victory.
Scroll to continue
1:39 left in 1st quarter
Jeremy Lane injured after goal-line INT
The play
Jeremy Lane made the first big play of the game when he intercepted a short pass intended for Julian Edelman at the Seahawks goal line, returning it for 14 yards before he was pushed out of bounds. Lane suffered an ugly arm injury during the play that took him out of the game. Read story by Bob Condotta →
Score after series: 0-0
4:11 left in 2nd quarter
Chris Matthews’ 44-yard catch leads to Marshawn Lynch TD
The play
Russell Wilson did not complete a pass in the first quarter and had only just completed his first pass two plays earlier when he connected with Jermaine Kearse. But on 2nd and 5 from the Seattle 45-yard line, Wilson found Chris Matthews for 44 yards. It was the first NFL catch for Matthews, whose biggest moment before that point had been recovering the onside kick in the NFC Championship game. Three plays later, Marshawn Lynch powered in from 3 yards to tie the score at 7-7 with 2:16 to go in the first half. Read story by Seattle Times staff →
Score after series: 7-7
0:02 left in 2nd quarter
Chris Matthews’ 11-yard TD ties score
The play
After giving up a touchdown with 31 seconds left, the Seahawks drove 80 yards in five plays, capping the possession with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to Chris Matthews, who had two catches for 55 yards in the first half. Read story by Ryan Divish →
Score after series: 14-14
8:07 left in 3rd quarter
Bobby Wagner INT leads to Doug Baldwin TD
The play
Tom Brady had thrown only two interceptions in his five previous Super Bowl appearances. But on Sunday, he was intercepted twice by the Seahawks, the second coming halfway through the third quarter when linebacker Bobby Wagner snagged a pass intended for Rob Gronkowski at the New England 40 and returned it 6 yards. After a penalty moved them back to midfield, the Seahawks scored six plays later on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to Doug Baldwin with 4:54 to go in the third quarter. Read story by Ryan Divish →
Score after series: 24-14 Seahawks
2:02 left in 4th quarter
Julian Edelman TD catch puts Patriots ahead
The play
The Patriots took over at their 36 with 6:52 to go, and Tom Brady proceeded to drive New England 64 yards in 10 plays. It was a ruthless and efficient performance capped off by a 3-yard touchdown pass to Julian Edelman that put the Patriots ahead, 28-24. Read story by Matt Pentz →
Score after series: 28-24 Patriots
1:06 left in 4th quarter
Jermaine Kearse comes down with a 33-yard catch off his body
The play
In a play that surely gave Patriots fans flashbacks to the helmet catch by the Giants’ David Tyree in Super Bowl XLII (also in Glendale, Ariz.), Russell Wilson let a deep pass fly from the New England 38. The Patriots’ Malcolm Butler seemed to knock down the pass, except it bounced off Kearse’s leg and Kearse was able to corral it for an incredible 33-yard reception that gave the Seahawks first-and-goal at the New England 5. Read story by Bob Condotta →
Score after series: 28-24 Patriots
0:20 left in 4th quarter
Malcolm Butler intercepts a Russell Wilson pass at the goal line
The play
And after all that, Jermaine Kearse’s catch ended up as a footnote. That’s because after Marshawn Lynch ran the ball to the 1-yard line, the Seahawks elected to pass the ball. Wilson threw a slant pass intended for Ricardo Lockette that Malcolm Butler anticipated and intercepted, preserving New England’s lead. Read story by Jerry Brewer →