By Chris Yingling | Echo
Super Bowl XLIX was one for the ages.
Deflated football controversies aside, this year's NFL championship game was perfect. The on-field fireworks were spectacular as football fans were collectively relieved not to relive last year's 43-8 slaughter of the Broncos. The commercial breaks were actually entertaining, Katy Perry's halftime show was glamorous and Left Shark (Google him) captured the hearts of Internet users everywhere.
Yet the question still remains for fans all over the world: why did Russell Wilson pass on second and one?
We now know that the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator dialed up a pass play on second down with 26 seconds to go, inches away from a Super Bowl victory. Wilson took a three-step drop, targeted his receiver Jermaine Kearse, and let it fly. New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler jumped the route and intercepted the football, clinching the win for his team.
As the confetti fell around the Patriots, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll stated in an interview that the play call on the goal line was his call and the fault entirely laid on him. Later in the post-game press conference, Carroll reiterated that it was nothing Wilson or running back Marshawn Lynch had done to change the call.
Almost the entire football-watching community has criticized Carroll and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell for not giving it to their bruiser of a running back on second and one. Lynch had not been stuffed all game and had gained four yards on the previous run. Seattle had one timeout left just in case Lynch couldn't cross the plane. There really was no reason for them to put the ball in the hands of their young quarterback.
I completely agree that Marshawn Lynch should have carried the football in that situation. However, I have enough respect for Carroll and Bevell to believe they can effectively read a defense and call a play accordingly. They chose a slant off of a receiver pick, typically a routine play at the goal line. Wilson saw Kearse. Kearse was wide open. Easy touchdown pass. Carroll and Bevell called it right.
Wilson was the culprit. The NFL's newest poster boy literally tossed the Super Bowl away.
Let's not take any credit away from Butler; the rookie corner immediately recognized the pick slant and read the play perfectly. He made one heck of a play. But Wilson had his receiver wide open on the goal line and missed him, just by inches. Those inches cost his team a championship.
Super Bowl XLIX will always be talked about for that infamous play when Seattle went with its young gun over its All-Pro running back. Carroll will forever be haunted with making the wrong call on second down.
But perhaps Carroll didn't throw away the game. His quarterback did.
