New England cornerback Malcom Butler stepped in front of a potential game-winning touchdown pass in the finals seconds of Super Bowl XLIX to secure a heart-throbbing 28-24 victory on Sunday at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
With the win, New England’s coach Bill Belichick became just the second man in league history to guide his team to four Super Bowl titles, joining the great Chuck Noll.
Belichick needed another spectacular performance from quarterback Tom Brady, who drove the team 64 yards in the fourth quarter and tossed a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Julian Edelman to give the Patriots the lead after they’d trailed by 10 points.
“Just like we drew it up,” quipped Brady, who joined Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw as the only quarterbacks with four Super Bowl titles.
Brady, who shook off two interceptions, completed 37 of 50 passes for 328 yards and four touchdowns passes and a passer rating of 101.1.
“Those guys are unbelievable players,” Brady said of Montana and Bradshaw. “(Troy) Aikman and all of those guys have been great, tool. There are a lot of great players.”
Brady, 37, plans to go for a fifth title.
“I’m coming back,” Brady said. “I have a lot of football left. But, I’m going to enjoy this one for a little bit.”
Butler, a rookie, came up the biggest play of the game after being victimized on a four-tap catch on the ground by Seattle wide receiver Jermaine Kearse.
“I made a play to help my team win,” Butler said. “I’ve worked so hard in practice and I just wanted to play so bad.”
After Seattle took a 24-14 lead and appeared headed to back-to-back Super Bowl titles, New England’s defense stiffened and Brady found his groove.
Brady surpassed Montana for the most touchdown passes in Super Bowl history when he capped a nine-play, 68-yard drive by tossing a 4-yard touchdown pass to Danny Amendola to make it 24-21 with 7:55 left. It was his 12th Super Bowl touchdown pass to Montana’s 11.
On the ensuing drive, the Seahawks were forced to punt and New England had the ball back with 6:52 to play.
Brady, who had been under attack because of the deflategate controversy, was on target as he worked the middle of the field and the short flat while moving the Patriots down the field. He completed eight straight passes and overcame an offensive pass interference call to move the Patriots down to Seattle’s 5.
In the dazzling drive, the Patriots never faced a third down. After 2-yard run by running back LaGarrette Blount, Brady found Edelman.
The Seahawks, who rallied from a 16-0 deficit against Green Bay in the NFC championship game, showed the heart of a champion. They needed a miracle, 33-yard four-tap catch by receiver Kearse to help them move in position for the victory.
After run by running back Marshawn Lynch to move the ball down to the 1-yard line and near certain victory, the Seahawks called a pass play to Ricardo Lockette, but Butler spoiled their plans.
The game got off to a slow start with both offenses being forced to punt on their first possessions.
On the Patriots’ second possession, Brady marched the unit from their 32-yard line down to Seattle’s 10 before tossing an interception to Seattle defensive back Jeremy Lane in the end zone. The Patriots covered 58 yards over 12 plays and appeared primed to take at least a 3-0 lead before the play.
Brady, who was under heavy pressure from Seattle defensive end Michael Bennett, appeared to be throwing in the direction of Edelman.
Lane broke a bone in his left arm while trying to land after a tackle. He was carted off the field.
After holding the Seahawks, the Patriots attacked Lane’s replacement Tharold Simon.
On third down-and-9 from Seattle’s 35, Brady connected with Edelman on a short crossing route that he turned into a 23-yard gain after Simon missed a tackle.
After a yard run by Blount, Brady faked the ball to Blount and then tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Brandon LaFell, who cut in front of Simon on the play.
After an exchange of punts, Seattle’s offense, which had been stagnant, received an energy boost from an unlikely source. Wide receiver Chris Matthews, a refugee from the Canadian Football League and a hero for recovering the onsides kick against Green Bay in the NFC championship game, got open deep for a 44-yard gain on second down-and-5 from Seattle’s 45.
After runs of 5 and 3 yards, Lynch slammed into the end zone for a touchdown. Steven Hauschka’sextra point tied the game 7-7.
The Patriots answered with a eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. Brady tossed a 22-yard yard touchdown pass to tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was in a mismatch with linebacker K.J. Wright.
The touchdown pass was Brady’s 11th in Super Bowls and tied Montana for the record.
Seattle raced down for a score to tie it 14-14 at halftime. The Seahawks added a field goal and a Doug Baldwin touchdown catch in the third quarter before Brady took over.
“It’s been a long journey,” Brady said. “This one came down to the end and we made the plays.”
