By Fred Arnold   

A heated game developed between the Patriots and the Seahawks in a riveting Super Bowl February 1st. The consistent change in momentum between quarters, the ridiculous plays – receptions and interceptions – and an unbelievable finish that led to a minute long brawl session, the 2015 Super Bowl ended with the Patriots on top, 28-24.

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A first quarter dominated by the Patriots, keeping the Seahawks down to negative five passing yards, was met with a Seattle dominated second and third quarter. The Seahawks were no push overs. They began to pick apart the Patriots offense, defending the pass, and stomping out their run game. Even their defensive line began to pressure Brady leading to another interception in the third. With a score of 24-14 to start the fourth, the Patriots came back strong for two touchdowns. The Seahawks remained diligent in their last drive of the game, they pushed back – literally – and fought for every yard. Two large passes, one with a tumble-roll-fumble that seemed illogical, led to a Seahawks first and ten within the ten yard zone. The stakes stood high. The heart rates were up – would Seattle win a second straight Super Bowl? Russell Wilson snapped the ball, he launched it clean down the middle, but it connected with the wrong player. A pass meant for Ricardo Lockette (#83) turned into a blind interception by rookie Malcolm Butler (#21), which led to a Patriots win.

Seattle looked unstoppable. Wilson gave the Patriots the slip consistently, the man had no leash, and the “Beast” Marshawn Lynch broke the defensive line on almost every run, their duo pushing the Patriots to their limits.

In the end, an exciting game turned into a Patriots win after Seattle took out their anger in a physical way. After the interception by Butler, and an encroachment call on the Seahawks, chaos erupted as punches from the Seahawk defensive line tumbled into the Patriots offensive. A minute of testosterone built tension forced shouts from the head coaches as each player was pried from each other.

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Both teams played an excellent game, and the Patriots showed nothing but the utmost respect for their adversaries. Brady, a quarter back who is now tied with Joe Montana for most MVPs at a Super Bowl, was quoted by ESPN saying, “It wasn’t the way we drew it up. It was a lot of mental toughness. Our team has had it all year. We never doubted each other, so that’s what it took.”

When ESPN asked Marshawn Lynch if he was surprised about the call to pass rather than have him run it, he said, “No. Because we play football. It’s a team sport.”

“For it to come down to a play like that, I hate that we have to with that,” coach Pete Carroll of the Seahawks told ESPN, “because we did everything right to win the football game.”

There was no doubt that the Seahawks meant business in this Super Bowl 49. They gave the Patriots a game to remember, a game that was decided by a rookie making a big play. Will the Patriots retain their status for next year? Will they meet the Seahawks for another epic game?

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