Seattle Seahawks fans react during the second half of the Super Bowl in Glendale, Ariz.Photo Gallery
GLENDALE, Ariz. — One play will haunt the Seattle Seahawks for months.
With the Seahawks closing in on a second straight Super Bowl win, the New England Patriots snatched it away.
Facing second-and-goal from the 1-yard line, quarterback Russell Wilson’s pass was intercepted by Malcolm Butler with 20 seconds left.
That doomed Seattle to a 28-24 loss and denied the Seahawks the chance to become just the ninth team to win back-to-back Super Bowls.
“Boy, this is a hard thing to take,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “I can only hope (our fans) can imagine how it hurts our players to have put so much forth to be champions today.”
Trailing 24-14 in the fourth quarter, the Patriots rallied behind Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady. He led two consecutive touchdown drives, the last of which put New England ahead with 2:02 to play.
But Seattle marched down the field, reaching the 5-yard line on an inexplicable 33-yard reception that Jermaine Kearse caught while on his rear.
Two plays later, Butler’s interception changed the whole tone of the Seahawks’ offseason.
“If it was a catch, it would be a completely different story,” Wilson said.
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