Yahoo Sports
GLENDALE, Ariz. – On the ropes, down 10 points in the fourth quarter, Tom Brady engineered a comeback to give the New England Patriots a 28-24 lead over the Seattle Seahawks with a little more than two minutes left in Super Bowl XLIX.
Brady and the rest of the Patriots couldn’t exhale until defensive back Malcolm Butler picked off Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson at the goal line with 20 seconds left to secure a dramatic championship in what will go down as one of the most exciting Super Bowls ever played.
“I made a play to help my team win,” Butler said. “I’ve worked so hard in practice and I just wanted to play so bad and help my team out. I got out there and did exactly what I needed to do to help my team win.”
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Seattle opted to pass on second down – with plans to run on third and fourth downs, if necessary – because New England’s defensive scheme was geared to stop the run.
“I’m a little bit surprised,” Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman said. “It was an unfortunate play.”
