A Super Bowl moment that still defines two franchises
More than a decade later, one play still hovers over the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. When the two teams meet again in Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, memories of their 2015 championship clash will inevitably resurface not because of how it began, but because of how it ended.
That earlier Super Bowl has become shorthand across the league for late-game decision-making and the narrow margins that separate champions from runners-up.
Revisiting Super Bowl XLIX
The franchises last shared the Super Bowl stage on Feb. 1, 2015, at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona. Both arrived with 12-4 regular-season records and legitimate title expectations.
New England, led by quarterback Tom Brady, was chasing its fourth Lombardi Trophy. Seattle entered as the defending champion, fresh off a dominant victory over the Denver Broncos the previous season.
Read also: “That's your half! F stay there”: Liam Rosenior explains furious Emirates outburst
What followed was a championship game that remained unresolved until its final seconds.
Momentum swings and star performances
Brady delivered one of the most productive Super Bowl performances of his career, completing 37 passes a record at the time for 328 yards and four touchdowns. Seattle answered with balance, as Russell Wilson threw for two scores and Marshawn Lynch powered the offense with 102 rushing yards on 24 carries.
By the end of the third quarter, the Seahawks appeared to be in control, holding a 24-14 lead. New England responded in the fourth, scoring twice to move ahead 28-24 with just over two minutes remaining.
The play that decided the game
Seattle’s final drive moved quickly. A juggling catch by Jermaine Kearse advanced the ball deep into Patriots territory, setting up a goal-line opportunity with less than 30 seconds left.
Read also: Why Ruben Amorim has chosen silence since leaving Manchester United
Instead of turning again to Lynch, Seattle opted for a quick pass. Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler read the play instantly, stepped in front of the throw intended for Ricardo Lockette, and intercepted the ball in the end zone.
The interception sealed New England’s victory and quickly became one of the most dissected plays in Super Bowl history.
Carroll’s explanation and lasting debate
The decision sparked immediate reaction from fans, players, and analysts. In postgame remarks on NBC’s broadcast, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll accepted responsibility for the call, explaining that Seattle was managing the clock with the intention of preserving multiple downs.
“I told those guys, ‘That’s my fault, totally,’” Carroll said. “But we had plenty of time to win the game … we were playing for third and fourth down, give them no time left … but didn’t work out that way.”
Read also: Perfect start not enough yet for Michael Carrick
Reflecting further, Carroll added: “For it to come down to a play like that, I hate that we have to live with that… they gave themselves a shot and then they pulled it off, and they’re world champs, and we’re not.”
History carried into a rematch
As the Patriots and Seahawks prepare to meet again on the NFL’s biggest stage, Super Bowl XLIX remains the defining link between the two organizations. The upcoming matchup does not revisit that night, but it cannot escape it a reminder of how preparation, pressure, and a single decision can shape legacies.
Sources: NBC Sports, USA Today
Read also: Bad Bunny faces possible penalties for ICE protest at Super Bowl
Read also: Barcelona weigh major sale amid transfer interest
