Super Bowl XLIX

Super Bowl XLIX was the championship game of the National Football League's 2014 season, played on February 1, 2015. The American Football Conference champion New England Patriots defeated the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks by a score of 28–24. The game was held at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, and was broadcast nationally by NBC.

Background

The matchup featured the New England Patriots, led by head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, seeking their first championship since Super Bowl XXXIX. Their opponents were the defending champion Seattle Seahawks, coached by Pete Carroll and featuring the "Legion of Boom" defense led by Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas. The Patriots entered the game after defeating the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship Game, while the Seahawks advanced by overcoming the Green Bay Packers in a dramatic NFC Championship Game. The game was a rematch of a regular-season contest from 2012, which the Seahawks had won. Pre-game storylines focused on the Deflategate controversy involving the Patriots and the contrasting styles of the two franchises.

Broadcasting

The game was televised in the United States by NBC, with the broadcast team of Al Michaels on play-by-play and Cris Collinsworth providing color commentary. Michele Tafoya served as the sideline reporter. The broadcast was notable for its high ratings, becoming the most-watched television program in U.S. history at the time, with an average audience of 114.4 million viewers on NBC. The halftime show was headlined by pop star Katy Perry, with guest performances by Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott. Commercial time during the game was sold for a record $4.5 million per 30-second spot, with notable advertisements from brands like Budweiser, Nationwide, and Doritos.

Game summary

The first quarter ended scoreless, marking the first scoreless opening period in a Super Bowl since Super Bowl XXXIV. The Patriots scored first in the second quarter on a 11-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady to Brandon LaFell. The Seahawks responded with a 3-yard touchdown run by Marshawn Lynch, but Brady connected with Rob Gronkowski just before halftime to give New England a 14–7 lead. In the third quarter, the Seahawks took control, with Steven Hauschka kicking a field goal and Doug Baldwin catching a 3-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to put Seattle ahead 24–14. In the fourth quarter, Brady led two touchdown drives, finding Danny Amendola and then Julian Edelman for scores to regain a 28–24 lead. With less than a minute remaining, the Seahawks drove to the Patriots' 1-yard line, but an interception by undrafted rookie Malcolm Butler on a pass intended for Ricardo Lockette sealed the victory for New England.

Aftermath

The victory gave the New England Patriots their fourth Super Bowl title, tying them with the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants for third-most all-time at the time. Tom Brady was named Super Bowl MVP for a third time, joining Joe Montana as the only players to achieve that feat. The game's final play call by the Seattle Seahawks—a pass instead of a run with Marshawn Lynch—became one of the most debated decisions in NFL history. In the following months, the Deflategate investigation led by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell resulted in the suspension of Tom Brady for the first four games of the 2015 NFL season, a penalty that was later overturned in federal court. The Seahawks' Legion of Boom defense began to see changes, with key members like Byron Maxwell departing in free agency.

Official records

Several Super Bowl records were set or tied during the game. Tom Brady set records for most completions in a Super Bowl (37) and most career Super Bowl touchdown passes (13), surpassing Joe Montana. His 50 pass attempts tied the record set by Peyton Manning in Super Bowl XLVIII. The Patriots' 28 fourth-quarter points set a record for points in a final period. The combined 37 pass completions by Brady and Russell Wilson also set a new record for a Super Bowl. The game marked the tenth consecutive Super Bowl decided by ten points or fewer, extending a record streak of close contests. University of Phoenix Stadium became the third venue to host multiple Super Bowls in a nine-year span, following Sun Life Stadium and Louisiana Superdome.

Category:Super Bowl