GLENDALE, Ariz. — Marshawn Lynch finished with 102 yards rushing. Not 103. He finished with 24 carries. Not 25. He scored one touchdown. Not two.
Instead of giving Lynch the ball at the Patriots’ 1-yard line with 26 seconds remaining in Super Bowl XLIX, Seattle offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell called for a pass that was intercepted. Instead of the Seahawks winning 31-28, they lost 28-24 and failed to repeat as NFL champions.
“Hindsight, if I knew the guy was going to pick it off, I’d do something different,” Bevell said afterward. “I don’t think that’s a great question.”
Lynch did not make himself available for comment at the post-Super Bowl news conference podiums.
Edelman, Gronk and Vereen. Tom Brady wore red cleats and will drive off with a red Chevy truck as the Super Bowl MVP.
With little running game, Brady was aided in the passing game by a well-balanced receiving corps led by receiver Julian Edelman, who had nine catches for 109 yards and a touchdown, and tight end Rob Gronkowski, who had six catches for 68 yards and a touchdown.
Also, running back Shane Vereen had 11 catches out of the backfield.
Can’t stop Gronk. Seattle’s defense struggles against tight ends. The numbers suggest as much. But of the 11 touchdowns allowed entering Sunday, only one came after Week 8. San Diego’s Antonio Gates skewed the statistics with three touchdowns in September. Using a similar formation as the Chargers, Brady found a mismatch with Gronkowski streaking deep for a 22-yard, second-quarter touchdown. Gronkowski pulled in the ball over linebacker K.J. Wright’s helmet.
“It was just called a ‘Go.’ I attacked the defender and gave him a little move and got outside,” Gronkowski said.
Lane lost. Seattle cornerback Jeremy Lane talked confidently about shutting down Gronkow- ski. He pulled off a big play — not against Gronkowski — but his first-half interception of Brady was his last play. Lane fractured his left arm on the interception return, landing awkwardly as he was tackled.
Seattle pass rusher Cliff Avril exited during the second half with a concussion suffered on Bobby Wagner’s interception return, undermining the Seattle pressure.
Sherman surprised. All-pro cornerback Richard Sherman joined millions caught off guard by Seattle’s last offensive play.
“I was a little bit surprised,” said Sherman, who played with a torn elbow ligament. “It was unfortunate. Their guy made a heck of a play.”
Sherman insisted that New England didn’t change its attack in the fourth quarter. The Patriots dominated, benefiting from Seattle’s inability to pressure Brady.
“We had some unfortunate penalties late in drives. We had mistakes on our part,” Sherman said.
Footnotes. Edelman made a declaration after the win. And it didn’t involve the beard he plans to cut. “Tom (Brady) is the best ever,” he said. “I thought Joe Montana was the best. He won four (Super Bowls). But Tom has won four with the salary cap. It’s hard to argue against that.” … Vereen completed a spectacular season for University of California running backs, joining Lynch, C.J. Anderson and Justin Forsett in a starring role. But Vereen is the only reigning champion. “Message sent (to doubters). Nothing else needs to be said,” Vereen said. … Seattle linebacker Bruce Irvin didn’t stomach his team’s defeat well, having trouble digesting a loss that was as improbable as the Seahawks’ NFC title game win. “It’s going to kill me,” Irvin said. “I think I am going to lock myself in my room for two weeks. This one hurts. We had it.”
