Return to Glory: Patriots Defeat Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX

Such an amazing game. Seriously incredible.

At the Boston Globe, "Patriots rally to beat Seahawks in Super Bowl":

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The last time the New England Patriots played a Super Bowl in the Arizona desert, it was a most unlikely hero that made the play of the game, a play that broke the Patriots’ backs.

This time the Patriots returned to the desert for Super Bowl XLIX, and it was again a most unlikely hero that made the play of the game, this time the play that delivered Lombardi Trophy No. 4 to New England.

The Patriots beat the Seattle Seahawks, 28-24, to reclaim the title of NFL champions thanks to an interception in the end zone by undrafted rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler.

Facing second-and-goal from the 1, the Seahawks made the stunning decision to pass rather than hand it off to power back Marshawn Lynch. Russell Wilson threw right into traffic, and Butler, who a little more than a year ago was playing for West Alabama, stepped in front of Ricardo Lockette for the play of his young career.

The Patriots become the sixth franchise in NFL history to win at least four Super Bowls, joining the Steelers, Cowboys, Giants, Packers, and 49ers.

The Patriots are also the first team to come back from a 10-point, second-half deficit in the Super Bowl to win.

The game-winning touchdown came with 2:02 to play, a 3-yard Tom Brady-to-Julian Edelman strike, Brady looking to his most-trusted receiver when it mattered most. Edelman finished the game with nine receptions for 102 yards and a TD.

Brady, the first quarterback to start six Super Bowls and chosen as the game’s most valuable player (for the third time), set a slew of records: his 37 completions (he was 37 for 50 for 328 yards, 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions) are a Super Bowl record, his 13 Super Bowl touchdown passes put him past his childhood idol, Joe Montana (11), and he became the first quarterback in league history with 50 touchdowns in his postseason career...

Well, I still can't believe the finish.

See Mike Vaccaro, at the New York Post, "Pete Carroll threw away Super Bowl with one awful decision."

I'll have more on Pete Carroll. What really was he thinking?