Ceci Ferrara
February 2, 2015
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
For the fourth time in 14 years, and the first time in a decade, the New England Patriots are Super Bowl champions. Their victory, their first since 2005, came amidst controversy. In the two weeks leading up to the big game, New England was entangled in “Deflategate” — the scandal surrounding illegally under-inflated balls the team used in the AFC Championship game on January 18th. The Patriots won that game with a blowout of the Indianapolis Colts’ 45-7.
Despite denials by both the Patriots’ coach, noted curmudgeon Bill Belichick and star quarterback Tom Brady, the public wasn’t convinced that there hadn’t been some purposeful tampering of the game balls by the team. After all, New England has a history of questionable conduct.
In 2007, they were disciplined by the league for videotaping New York Jets’ defensive signals during a September game. During the ensuing investigation, accusations were made that the Patriots had taped other teams’ practices in the early 2000s, but those claims could not be validated.
Heading into Super Bowl XLIX, the Patriots had fallen short in their past two appearances – 2008 and 2012, both to the New York Giants. Despite the controversy surrounding them, they seemed confident they would be able to dethrone the reigning world champs.
After a quiet first quarter, the Patriots scored the first points of the game with an 11-yard touchdown pass by Brady early in the second. Seattle running-back Marshawn Lynch rushed for the Seahawks’ first TD and by half-time, each team had scored another touchdown for a 14-point tie.
The game turned in Seattle’s favor in the second half. They scored a field goal to kick off the third quarter and then capitalized on a Brady interception, his second of the game. The 10 answered points led to a fourth-quarter lead, leaving Brady with his work cut out for him.
“We were down 10 and we just said, ‘Look, we’ve got to put one good drive together to get us back in the game,’” Brady said. “We made the plays. We overcame a couple of penalties, then got the ball back and scored again. These games, they’re tough. They go down to the end. I’m glad we finally pulled it out.”
After scoring a touchdown early in the fourth, Brady went 8-of-8 on the game-winning drive to move ahead 28-24. Though the quarterback ended the night 27-of-50 with 328 yards and a record-tying third Super Bowl MVP award, it was a defensive play by rookie Malcolm Butler that sealed the victory for New England.
After the Patriots regained the lead, Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson led his team down the field and into the red zone. They bled the clock, trying to ensure there would be no time left for the Patriots to get the ball back. With 20 seconds left and second and goal on the one-yard line, the Seahawks had three chances to punch the ball in. A two-yard rush by Lynch — who had already rushed for 102 yards and one touchdown — would have won the game and given the Seahawks their second consecutive Super Bowl. Lynch is arguably the best running back in the league.
Instead, Seattle coach Pete Carroll called a pass play. The ball traveled from Wilson’s hand, narrowly missed the intended receiver and fell into the arms of Butler. The New England sideline erupted, while Carroll threw off his headset in disbelief.
The Seahawks drew a penalty that pushed the Patriots away from the goal line to end a potential safety. Then a fight broke out between the two teams before New England took their final kneel-down to end the game. Afterwards, a somber Carroll defended his last call, which has drawn universal criticism. He insisted there was no intent to run the ball, and that throwing was always a part of the plan.
“One of those downs we were likely to throw the ball; maybe two of those downs we would have thrown the ball depending on how we had to save the clock. We had to get all of our plays,” Carroll said.
On Monday Carroll, despite standing by his decision, admitted the loss was a hard pill to swallow.
“It’s something that we have to deal with that in the long run of it will make us stronger, and we’ll be able to put it in some kind of perspective. It’s pretty hard right now,” he said.
While Seattle grapples with their season-ending final play, the Patriots’ celebrations will continue as they head home to Boston.
“It’s been a long journey,” said Brady, who joined Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana as the only quarterbacks to win four Super Bowls. “It’s just a great win. We left it all on the field.”
