Seattle wide receiver Percy Harvin finished his hard-luck season with a major bang in Super Bowl XLVIII.
“I can’t even put it in words how this feels,” a jubilant Harvin said.
The fleet receiver took the second half kickoff and raced 87 yards to put the Seahawks up 29-0. He also has two carries for 45 yard and caught a pass for five yards in the first half.
Harvin, the fleet receiver who had just 75 total yards during the season, erupted for 137 total yards in the Super Bowl.
Harvin, 25, who was acquired in a trade with Minnesota and signed a six-year, $67 million contract with the Seahawks, needed potentially career-ending hip surgery Aug. 1.
He made it back for one game against the Vikings, on Nov. 17. He re-injured the hip and missed the rest of the regular season.
Harvin played in the divisional-round playoff game against New Orleans, but suffered a concussion when hit by former Falcons practice squad player Rafael Bush.
“I felt pretty good for that Saints game,” Harvin said. “I was just so happy to overcome my other problems, but to then get knocked out with a concussion it was just (tough).”
Seattle coach Pete Carroll announced on Monday that he would be available to play in the Super Bowl.
“I wasn’t really thinking about (not playing),” Harvin said. “I just knew that I had to get through the (concussion) protocol. It takes about a week to see all of the doctors.”
The Seahawks used Harvin early to help open up the rushing attack.
With Denver keying on Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell used Harvin on a couple of jet sweeps. The plays were similar to the plays he ran while playing at Florida in college.
After Denver’s snap sailed over Peyton Manning’s head and was recovered by Knowshon Moreno for a safety, Seattle go the ball after the free kick.
On Seattle’s second play of the game, Harvin scooted around left end for a 30 yard gain. Later in the first quarter, he picked up 15 yards on the same play.
Seattle held a 22-0 lead at halftime.
Harvin dashed any hopes of Peyton Manning-led comeback, when he returned the second half kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown.
“Our defense, from top to bottom, played lights out,” Harvin said. “They were able to get us quick turnovers at the beginning of the game and that helped us get off to a quick start. That definitely helped us out.”
He was surprised by the final margin.
“I don’t think going into the game that we expected this,” Harvin said. “Going against Peyton Manning and those guys, I don’t think anybody expected this. But we did know that we had a strong defense and they ran a lot of crossing routes. We have a big enforcer with (safety Kam Chancellor) in the middle. He took care of that and started blowing those guys up.”
It was Seattle’s first Super Bowl title and they will look to repeat next season.
“Absolutely, we are a young team,” Harvin said. ‘We are hungry and we love football. We talk football all the time.”
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