No.4: Pats end a decade of disappointment.

If New England needed a hero.

Number 4 is Super Bowl 49 where you had the number one ranked teams and a highly rated quarterback going against a legendary defence. This game was one of the most closely fought matches of all time. It also provided one of the most controversial moments in NFL history. And it sparked the end of a potential dynasty and the start of one that is still developing to this day.

Brady playing with his reputation on the line

For the Patriots it has been a case of so close yet so far. Since their last Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl 39, they had been to the Super Bowl twice. Both times going against the New York Giants and losing to them on both occasions with miraculous plays involved in the winning drives. Their 2014 season hadn't started off well as they were 2-2 with the worse being a 41-14 defeat at Kansas City on Monday Night Football. And the pundits were talking about it being the end of the Tom Brady era in New England and that the Patriot might start someone else as the quarterback. However, after this, they only lost two more games winning the rest to end the regular season with the number 1 seed with a 12-4 record. Brady had new weapons on offence with Tight End Rob Gronkowski, Wide receivers Brandon LaFell and Julian Edelman. His running back options were a real mixed bag with three different running backs in LeGarrette Blount, Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley.


Their defence, however, had improved over the season and became one of the best in the league with veterans Vince Wilfork and Rob Ninkovich anchoring the defensive line. Both Jamie Collins and Donta Hightower also had big seasons both combining for nearly 200 tackles 4 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions. Their secondary, however, was their main area with Darrelle Revis, Devin McCourty and Brandon Browner.

TE Rob Gronkowski and LB KJ Wright

Meanwhile, the Seahawks, who were coming off winning the previous Super Bowl, were looking to build a dynasty. However, after 6 weeks, were looking like they had a Super Bowl hangover with a record of 3-3. However, by the end of the regular season, they ended up with the number 1 seed in the NFC with a 12-4 record. Russel Wilson was enjoying his 3rd season as quarterback for the team, throwing for 3,475 yards, 20 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. His main targets were Doug Baldwin who had 835 yards and 3 touchdowns from 66 catches, Jermaine Kearse who had 537 yards from 38 catches and tight end Luke Wilson had 362 yards from 22 catches. However, their offence ran through running back Marshawn Lynch, who was nicknamed "Beast Mode". He finished 4th in the NFL in rushing yards with 1,306 yards but was the leading scorer in running backs with 13 touchdowns.

Beast Mode diving in for the score

Their central unit, however, was their defence. On the front line, Michael Bennett anchored it, leading the team with 7 sacks to his name. His other top lineman was Bruce Irvin, who had 6.5 and also intercepted two passes. Behind them, their linebacker corps of K.J. Wright and Bobby Wagner combined for 211 tackles, and Wright forced 3 fumbles himself. However, their main threat was their secondary nicknamed the "Legion of Boom". Three of them, Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas, was selected for the Pro Bowl for the second year running. Sherman intercepted 4 passes, Chancellor had 78 tackles and deflected 6 passes, while Thomas had 97 tackles and 4 forced fumbles.

The playoffs for the Seahawks were home games against the Panthers and the Packers. They beat the Panthers 31-17, and then in the NFC Championship, they came from 19-7 down with three minutes to go in the game, beating them 28-22 in overtime. Meanwhile, the Patriots started off the playoffs with a hard-fought win over the Baltimore Ravens 35-31. Then in the AFC Championship, it looked like it was so easy for the Patriots as they beat the Colts 45-7 however, after the game, it became apparent the Patriots under-inflated their footballs to gain an advantage. This was the most significant talking point before the Super Bowl, as everyone was focused on that storyline.

To the game itself, the first quarter itself was a deadlock as the only chance for a score came when Brady led the Patriots to Seattle's 10-yard line and then on 3 and 6. Brady threw an interception to Jeremy Lane; however when he extended his arm out when being tackled by Edelman, he broke his wrist and tore his ACL, which took him out of the game. The first points actually came with 9 minutes to go in the second quarter as the Patriots ended a 9-play 65-yard drive to Brendon LaFell. The Seahawks were next to score, going 70 yards in 8 plays finishing off with Beast Mode doing what he does the best, scoring through a lot of bodies for 3 yards to level the scores. New England felt that they had the lead going into the half with an 80-yard drive with 30 seconds left in the game after Rob Gronkowski caught a 22-yard pass to make it 14-7. However, Wilson and the Seahawks went 80 yards in 28 seconds, with the star of the first half for the Seahawks, Chris Matthews levelling the score again at 14 on the stroke of halftime.

After Katy Perry performed the Halftime show, the 3rd quarter was all Seahawks as they scored all 10 points in the quarter. The first 3 came off a Stephen Hauschka 27-yard field goal on the first possession of the second half. The next scoring drive for them was a 50-yard 6-play drive capped off with Doug Baldwin catching a 3-yard touchdown. That made the score 24-14. Then in the 4th quarter, Brady and the Patriots scored two unanswered touchdowns, the first being a Danny Amendola touchdown coming off a 9 play 68-yard drive. Later New England retook the lead going 64 yards in 10 plays with Edelman scoring the touchdown. However, there were 2 minutes left on the clock and then came the wildest drive in NFL history.

Wilson leaving the pitch in sorrow.

Seattle started with the ball on its 20-yard line, and on the first play, Marshawn Lynch went 31 yards to take Seattle into New England territory. 3 plays later Wilson threw it Ricardo Lockette for an 11-yard pass then on the next play Wilson threw a 50-50 ball and everyone thought it was tipped, but Kearse caught the ball lying on his back. The defender realised it was still a live play tackled Kearse on the 5-yard line. After replays showed it was a completion the Patriots had a feeling of "It's happened again". After Lynch took it to the 1-yard line, Wilson tried to throw in the winning pass however the same defender that was involved in the Kearse catch Malcolm Butler intercepted the ball and after the Patriots kneeled down the game ended 28-24.

Brady won the MVP after throwing for 357 yards 4 touchdowns on 37 completions and 2 interceptions. Blount was his leading rusher with 40 yards on 16 carries. His top receiver was Edelman with 109 yards and 1 touchdown on 9 catches. For the Seahawks, Wilson had a great game with 247 yards and 2 touchdowns on 21 completions with the 1 interception that ended the game. Beast mode also had a great game 102 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. Wilson's main target was Chris Matthews with 109 yards and 1 touchdown on 4 catches.

I'll be back with the top 3 shortly.

KRO Mark