Seattle Comes Up Short

The Seahawks' quest to become repeat Super Bowl champions comes up a yard short.

(Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)

Down 4 with the ball at the 1 yard line, Russell Wilson attempted a pass and was intercepted at the goal line by Patriots* rookie Malcom Butler. It was the first interception of his career. The turnover gave the ball to New England* with 24 seconds to play.

The rest was just formality: Tom Brady* took the field, took a knee, and the game was over.

The play left many in shock, as it seemed extremely likely that the Seahawks-- armed with one timeout and the best running back in the NFL-- would handoff the ball and try to pick up the yard on the ground. Lynch was averaging 4.3 yards per carry and had already broken 100 on the day. Instead, Pete Carroll called a pass play and gave credit to Butler for making a great play on the ball.

"I was so confident we were going to get it done," Carroll said. "Making the call we made was just part of the sequence. We were very confident in the sequence. We had a very clear thought about what was going on.

"We thought about our personnel who were coming in the game after the first play [a 4-yard run to the 1 by Lynch on first down] when we came up short, with three wide receivers in the game [on second down]. We had thought about throwing the ball there. That was part of the reason we sent that group in. When [the Patriots] sent their goal-line guys in, I know we have the advantage on the matchups in the passing game."

Fans and players were quick to lambast the play call on the internet-- even the broadcasters were shocked at the call and subsequent change of events.

(indystar.com)

A miraculous catch by Jermaine Kearse had taken the Seahawks down to the 5 yard line with just over a minute to play, recalling fond memories of the late-game grabs by David Tyree and Mario Manningham that doomed the Patriots* in Super Bowls past.

The Seahawks were set up with first and goal, 1:06 on the clock, and on first down gained 4 yards on the ground, courtesy of Marshawn Lynch. He was tripped up and unable to maintain his balance, or there was a great chance he would have taken the ball into the end zone. Instead, he fell a yard short, and would never see the ball again.

Conspiracy theories circled immediately about the call being changed deliberately in order to prevent media-nightmare Marshawn Lynch the opportunity to win the game and be named MVP. These theories had no substance and were quickly denounced by Seattle's coaches and players.

Meanwhile, allegations about cheating and the Deflategate scandal continue to be investigated by the NFL. It seems that the league was able to push the issue aside and redirect attention toward the game itself, which turned out to be as exciting as a game could be and was close util the very end.

However, the legacy of the Brady*, Belichick* and the Patriots* continues to be questioned, even after emerging victorious and adding another Super Bowl title to their resume.

Debate over the league's handling of the Deflategate issue, specifically the timing and speed of the investigation, will continue to haunt the Patriots* and their fans.

This is little solace for Pete Caroll and the Seahawks, however.

Their nightmares have just begun.