Super Bowl XLIX: The Recap

Last Sunday, the NFL season came to an end with what I thought was going to be a pretty dull Super Bowl. I think I've learned now to never doubt the power of the NFL or the Super Bowl. Super Bowl XLIX brought back the feeling of excitement that I was looking for in this game. For those that read my Super Bowl XLIX story before this, I thought that it would be a somewhat close game with the Seattle Seahawks beating the New England Patriots 37-31 and Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch would be the game's MVP. Perhaps it was karma or something more, but ultimately, the New England Patriots captured their fourth Super Bowl title in franchise history.

#21 cornerback Malcolm Butler intercepts Wilson's pas
s to Ricardo Lockette in order to seal the win 

Despite the outcome, I do feel that I was almost right about two of the three outcomes I predicted; those being the Seahawks winning and Marshawn Lynch being the game's MVP. It all comes back to that one play. You know what play I am talking about too. On the one yard line with just seconds left in the game, the Seahawks were down 28-24, and with the snap of the ball, Russell Wilson drops back and throws it to Ricardo Lockette, who gets bumped out of the way by Patriots' cornerback Malcolm Butler who makes the interception that seals the game. I'm sure many of you who watched the game felt your jaws drop and your voices crack from all the screaming you did, whether they were joyful or outright anger. I know I was shocked when I saw what had happened.

So the big question now: Why did the Seattle Seahawks throw the ball with just one yard to go? After the game, all the media's guns were turned toward Seahawks' head coach Pete Carroll about why he made the call. Carroll basically said that he was using the pass in order to kill more of the clock so that the Patriots would have less time to work with the ball. Obviously, that did not turn out to be the case. 

Marshawn Lynch was running all over the Patriots defense & was
on route to be the game's MVP until coach Carroll made "The Call"

I will say that while I am no NFL head coach, I do understand where Carroll was coming from when you consider that the moment Lynch falls into the endzone, the clock stops which leaves a couple more seconds for the Patriots to use. Just think that by taking the snap, dropping back, and considering the time to throw the pass and for a receiver to come down with it or not could mean that four or five seconds is shaved off the Patriots' chances. 

However, even if the Patriots do have four or five more seconds to use along with quarterback Tom Brady's ability to bring the Patriots back at the very end and the game he was having, your going to try and tell me that the No. 1 defense in the NFL cannot hold off Brady and offense for about 20 seconds or less? I'm sorry but I find that hard to believe.

Because of the call that Carroll made, this may go down as one of, if not the, most controversial Super Bowl in NFL history. I could only imagine how the Seahawks and Carroll must feel knowing that they had a chance to be two-time Super Bowl champions and suddenly had it taken away from them just like that.

Although Butler was the one who tipped the pass that was
somehow caught by Jermaine Kearse, he would eventually
be the hero of the game

History should also make sure to recognize Malcolm Butler, the undrafted free agent cornerback from North Alabama who intercepted the pass to put a stamp on the Patriots' victory. While I do look at that pass and think that it was a lucky INT, I think about it now and realize that it was true skill to bump Ricardo Lockette and also secure the INT in order to redeem himself. Why do I say redeem? Well it's because Malcolm Butler was the cornerback that was defending Jermaine Kearse and tipped the pass that became one of the luckiest catches ever made in the history of the sport of football. After a play like that, I could only imagine the type of frustration and emotions that had to be going through his head. Yet somehow, Butler was able to keep his cool and stay focused, and the next thing you know, he comes out seeking redemption for a play that was made by pure luck and makes the biggest play of the game. So for Butler's amazing comeback, I award him with A.J. Valentin's Spittin' Out Sports Redemption Player of the Year Award.

Instead of both teams simply accepting the outcome,
the two decided to start to throw down some

Finally, when the game almost all said and done, the Seattle Seahawks' defense is called for encroachment with the Patriots just barely out of the endzone. But it was what ensued afterwards that left many people with their faces in their hands and face palms being smacked everywhere as the Seahawks and Patriots began to engage one another in what I could only describe as "the most unnecessary street fight ever". Although it is still unclear to me as to who really started the fight while many say it s was Seahawks' linebacker Bruce Irvin, I put the blame on both teams because I would bet that their were words being exchanged throughout the game and especially there toward the end. Combine that with the mixed emotions of victory and angered sadness, and you get the perfect concoction to fuel a fight to break out. Although I don't condone such acts as fighting and trash talking, it is just another part of the game that has stood over the longest of time, so I understand where and why these types of things happen every now and then.

Tom Brady's Hall of Fame resume is at that point
where "Greatest QB of All Time" could be possible, but
one more Super Bowl victory may just do it

While I am sad to the NFC lose to AFC and also be wrong with my prediction once again, I do congratulate the New England Patriots, the city of Boston, and the entire New England area for their fourth Super Bowl victory. Also, I congratulate Tom Brady on passing Joe Montana's Super Bowl touchdown record, winning his third MVP (ties Montana's record), being one of two players to play in six Super Bowls, and being just one of three QBs to win four Super Bowls (Terry Bradshaw of the Steelers/ Joe Montana of the 49ers). SO with the NFL season over with, we now must look to the offseason schedules of free agency and the 2015 NFL Draft. The only question I have left to ask is: will Tom Brady be able to capture an NFL record fifth Lombardi Trophy?