Seahawks' Kearse has Big Super Bowl XLIX Memory
Seahawks' Kearse has Big Super Bowl XLIX Memory
Photo: Drew McKenzie, Sportspress Northwest

Adam Lewis

The Seahawks final drive should be remembered for Jermaine Kearse's incredible, juggling catch. But it won't.

Jermaine Kearse's catch will probably be forgotten. At the least, it will be overshadowed because Russell Wilson threw an unthinkable interception two plays later on a play the hometown metro newspaper accurately dubbed the worst call in Super Bowl history.>

Regardless, Sportspress Northwest photographer Drew McKenzie captured the beginning of Kearse's astounding 33-yard reception that preceded Wilson's ill-fated slant pass intended for WR Ricardo Lockette.

Even if the 28-24 Patriots win in Super Bowl XLIX is unbearable to relive for 12's, Kearse's catch is worth another look.

First came the tip, with Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler, the eventual unlikely hero, in coverage.

Seahawks' Kearse has Big Super Bowl XLIX Memory
Kearse finished with 45 receiving yards on three catches, none bigger than this
Photo: Drew McKenzie, Sportspress Northwest

 

Then Kearse fell backward, while Butler went horizontal.

 

Seahawks' Kearse has Big Super Bowl XLIX Memory
Doesn't exactly have the makings of a guy about to make a game-altering catch, does it?
Photo: Drew McKenzie, Sportspress Northwest

 

As Kearse fell, he kept tracking the tumbling ball.

 

Seahawks' Kearse has Big Super Bowl XLIX Memory
Kearse again showed Sunday his penchant for making unbelievable plays
Photo: Drew McKenzie, Sportspress Northwest

 

Another look at it:

 

Seahawks' Kearse has Big Super Bowl XLIX Memory
At this point, there was hope Kearse might have kept the ball in play
Photo: Drew McKenzie, Sportspress Northwest

 

Because Kearse wasn't touched by a defensive player when he was on the ground, he wasn't considered down. So he got up and ran.

Had Butler not forced him out at New England's five-yard line, the conversation Monday morning might have been very different.

 

Seahawks' Kearse has Big Super Bowl XLIX Memory
After the catch, Kearse leaped up but was pushed out by Butler, the eventual hero.
Photo: Drew McKenzie, Sportspress Northwest

Apologies to Lynn Swann, David Tyree, and Mario Manningham, but Kearse's grab, because of its timing and incredible difficulty, should go down as the best in Super Bowl history.

It probably won't because of the game's finish.

For those who still can't believe the Seahawks lost, or still can't fathom why coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell decided throwing an inside slant to Lockette was a better option than giving the ball to Marshawn Lynch, perhaps the best running back in the league, or how Butler, an undrafted rookie cornerback, could make a game-clinching interception – cheer up.

Here's WR Doug Baldwin, following his 3-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter, pretending to poop out a football.

He was penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct, and afterward declined to identify the target of his tasteless, costly stunt: "That's between me and the person it was intended for."

A fairly public place for a private feud, eh Doug?

 

Super Bowl XLIX Scoring Summary

2nd Qtr. (Patriots 7-0): Brandon LaFell 11 pass from Tom Brady (Stephen Gotkowski kick), 9:47. Drive: 9 plays, 65 yards in 4:10. Key Plays: Danny Amendola 17 pass from Brady; Julian Edelman 23 pass from Brady.

2nd Qtr. (Seahawks 7-7): Marshawn Lynch 3 run (Steven Hauschka kick), 2:16; Drive: 8 plays, 70 yards in 4:51; Key Play: Chris Matthews 44 pass from Russell Wilson.

2nd Qtr. (Patriots 14-7): Rob Gronkowski 22 pass from Brady (Gotkowski kick), 0:31. Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards in 1:45. Key Play: Shane Vereen 16 pass from Brady; Cliff Avril neutral zone infraction.

2nd Qtr. (Seahawks 14-14): Matthews 11 pass from Wilson (Hauschka kick), 0:02. Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards in 0:29. Key Plays: Robert Turbin 19 run; Ricardo Lockette 23 pass from Wilson plus face mask penalty on Kyle Arrington, giving Seahawks a first down on New England 11.

3rd Qtr. (Seahawks 17-14): Hauschka 27 FG, 11:09. Drive: 7 plays, 72 yards in 3:51. Key Play: Matthews 45 pass from Wilson.

3rd Qtr. (Seahawks 24-14): Doug Baldwin 3 pass from Wilson (Hauschka kick), 4:54. Drive: 6 plays, 50 yards in 3:13. Key Plays: Bobby Wagner interception at the 50; Wilson 15 run; Lynch 14 run.

4th Qtr. (Patriots 24-21): Danny Amendola 4 pass from Brady (Gostowski kick); 7:55. Drive: 9 plays, 68 yards in 4:18; Key Play: Edelman 23 pass from Brady on 3rd and 14.

4th Qtr. (Patriots 28-24): Edeman 3 pass from Brady (Gostowski kick), 2:02. Drive: 10 plays, 64 yards in 4:50.Key Play: Rob Gronkowski 20 pass from Brady.

 

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Article: Courtesy SportsPressNW.com

"Seahawks' Kearse has Big Super Bowl XLIX Memory

 

 

 

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