Winners and Losers

It’s a commonly used storyline by pundits and bobbleheads. Did Team X win the game or did Team Y lose it?

The worst call in the history of forever. 2nd and goal from 1. Instead of handing the ball to could-have-been-MVP Marshawn Lynch to close the deal, the Seahawks dial up a pass that’s intercepted by Malcolm “Even I Don’t Know Who I Am” Butler.

The Seattle coaches only outsmarted themselves. Sure, everyone on the planet thought they would run the ball, including the Patriots’ defense but come on, man. A pass from the 1-yard line?

It’s obvious, isn’t it? The Patriots didn’t win Super Bowl XLIX; the Seahawks lost it.

Maybe.

Here’s something I noticed in the critical two-play sequence that decided the game which might as well be playing on an endless loop on ESPN and the NFL Network this fine, snowy Monday morning in New England.

On Marshawn Lynch’s 1st and goal run from the 5-yard line, the Seahawks had their receivers stacked on the right side of the formation and ran the same pick action with Ricardo Lockette wide open. If they had thrown the pass on 1st down, Lockette would’ve walked in untouched. Could the Seattle coaches have seen that? I think they might’ve said something to that effect given the shit storm of criticism they suffered after the game so I’ve got to believe it was more the case that this is just what the Seahawks do. They like to run these pick plays in the short passing game. Belichick said he wasn’t surprised. Malcolm Butler was beaten on the same play in practice. Clearly, this was a play the Patriots thought the Seahawks would run. And they did and when they did, Butler made a play that could easily be described as Revis-esque. Because the Patriots practiced it and practice repetitions become game day reality.

It is obvious, isn’t it?

The Seahawks didn’t lose Super Bowl XLIX, the Patriots won it.