By John Marshall
The Associated Press
GLENDALE, Ariz. — A late-game interception by defensive back Malcolm Butler saved the Super Bowl for the New England Patriots.
That the pass was thrown at all may haunt Seattle coach Pete Carroll, who told a news conference: “It was my decision.”
A quick rundown of the play that clinched Sunday’s Super Bowl, won by the Patriots 28-24:
THE SETUP
The Patriots took a 28-24 lead when Patriots quarterback Tom Brady hit Julian Edelman on a 3-yard touchdown pass with 2:02 left.
The Seahawks started the next drive at their 20-yard line and moved 75 yards in five plays. Jermaine Kearse had one of the greatest catches in Super Bowl history during the drive, juggling the ball before hauling it in while on his back.
Kearse’s 33-yard grab put the Seahawks on New England’s 5-yard line with 1:06 left, seemingly plenty of time to go in for the winning score.
THE PLAY
Seattle ran another play after Kearse’s catch, reaching the 1-yard line on a run by Marshawn Lynch.
The Seahawks still had 26 seconds left, but instead of running again, Carroll called for a pass.
The play was supposed to be quick-hitting, with Ricardo Lockette ducking inside Kearse to interrupt New England’s coverage.
Butler reacted quickly, though, going around Kearse and teammate Brandon Browner to reach the ball at the same time as Lockette. Butler ran into Lockette around the goal line and came up with the ball, falling forward after making the interception.
THE DECISION
Carroll has been known as a gambler and he rolled the dice with success at the end of the first half, calling for a pass play with 6 seconds left that led to a touchdown.
With the Seahawks seemingly in position to win their second straight Super Bowl, Carroll took another risk by deciding to throw the ball instead of running.
Seattle had some success running the ball and Lynch, who ran for 102 yards on 24 carries, is one of the NFL’s toughest running backs to tackle.
Lynch gained four yards on the play after Kearse’s spectacular catch and the Seahawks still had 26 seconds left, enough time to run the ball at least twice more.
Instead, Carroll called for a pass and Butler picked it off to seal the Patriots’ fourth Super Bowl title.
“For it to come down to a play like that, I hate that we have to live with that,” Carroll said.
