View source for Super Bowl XLIX

{{short description|2015 National Football League championship game}}
{{redirect|2015 Super Bowl|the Super Bowl that was played at the completion of the 2015 season|Super Bowl 50}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox Super Bowl
| type = sb
| name = XLIX
| image = Super Bowl XLIX Logo.png
| image_size = x220px
| visitor = [[2014 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]
| visitor_abbr = NE
| visitor_conf = [[American Football Conference|AFC]]
| visitor_coach = [[Bill Belichick]]
| visitor_record = 12–4
| visitor_place = 1
| home = [[2014 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]]
| home_abbr = SEA
| home_conf = [[National Football Conference|NFC]]
| home_coach = [[Pete Carroll]]
| home_record = 12–4
| home_place = 1
| visitor_qtr1 = 0
| visitor_qtr2 = 14
| visitor_qtr3 = 0
| visitor_qtr4 = 14
| home_qtr1 = 0
| home_qtr2 = 14
| home_qtr3 = 10
| home_qtr4 = 0
| date = February 1, 2015
| time = 4:30 p.m. [[Mountain Standard Time|MST]] ([[UTC-7]])
| stadium = [[State Farm Stadium|University of Phoenix Stadium]]
| city = [[Glendale, Arizona]]{{efn|The game was originally scheduled to be played at [[Arrowhead Stadium]] in [[Kansas City, Missouri]].}}
| attendance = 70,288<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 2, 2015 |title=Chart: Super Bowl XLIX by the numbers |url=https://www.startribune.com/chart-super-bowl-xlix-by-the-numbers/290500001/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref>
| odds = [[wikt:pick 'em|pick 'em]] (even/toss-up)<ref name="odds-espn-final">{{Cite web |last=Purdum |first=David |date=January 31, 2015 |title=Vegas books move lines to pick 'em |url=https://www.espn.com/sports-betting/story/_/id/12261273/late-seattle-seahawks-bets-move-betting-lines-pick-em |access-date=February 1, 2015 |website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref>
| MVP = [[Tom Brady]], [[quarterback]]
| anthem = [[Idina Menzel]]<ref name="Idina Menzel">{{Cite web |date=January 16, 2015 |title=Idina Menzel to sing National Anthem at Super Bowl |url=http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/story/0ap3000000459514/article/idina-menzel-to-sing-national-anthem-at-super-bowl |access-date=January 17, 2015 |website=NFL.com |publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC}}</ref>
| coin_toss = [[Tedy Bruschi]], [[Kenny Easley]]
| referee = [[Bill Vinovich]]<ref name="Super Bowl XLIX officials">{{Cite web |date=January 20, 2015 |title=Super Bowl XLIX officials named; Vinovich to be head referee |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/super-bowl-xlix-officials-named-vinovich-to-be-head-referee-0ap3000000461220 |access-date=January 20, 2015 |website=NFL.com |publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC}}</ref>
| HOFers = '''Patriots:''' [[Darrelle Revis]] <br />'''Seahawks:''' none
| halftime = [[Katy Perry]]<ref name="Katy Perry to headline Pepsi Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show" /> featuring [[Lenny Kravitz]],<ref name="Lenny Kravitz joins Katy Perry">{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2015 |title=Lenny Kravitz joins Katy Perry for Super Bowl Halftime Show |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/lenny-kravitz-joins-katy-perry-for-super-bowl-halftime-show-0ap3000000456026 |access-date=January 10, 2015 |website=NFL.com |publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC}}</ref> [[Missy Elliott]]<ref name="rollingstone">{{cite magazine |last=Reed |first=Ryan |title=Missy Elliott and Katy Perry Will Team Up for Super Bowl Halftime Show |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/missy-elliott-will-join-katy-perry-super-bowl-halftime-performance-20150130 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=January 30, 2015 |access-date=January 31, 2015 }}</ref> and the [[Sun Devil Marching Band|Arizona State University Sun Devil Marching Band]]<ref name="eastvalleytribune">{{cite web |title=ASU marching band practices for Super Bowl pre-game and halftime shows |url=http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/local/article_138f8b60-aa3b-11e4-9c69-0fd4d96cae24.html |work=[[East Valley Tribune]] |date=February 1, 2015 |access-date=February 1, 2015 }}</ref>
| network = [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]]
| announcers = [[Al Michaels]] (play-by-play)<br /> [[Cris Collinsworth]] (analyst)<br /> [[Michele Tafoya]] (sideline reporter)
| rating = 47.5 (national)<ref name="national">{{Cite web |date=February 2, 2015 |title=Super Bowl 49 viewership sets US television record |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/super-bowl-49-viewership-sets-us-television-record-225749457--nfl.html/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160211065702/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/super-bowl-49-viewership-sets-us-television-record-225749457--nfl.html |archive-date=February 11, 2016 |access-date=February 1, 2016 |website=Yahoo! Sports}}</ref><br /> 61.0 (Boston)<ref name="ratings">{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Jon |date=February 2, 2015 |title=Boston Top Market For Super Bowl 49; Seattle Down |url=http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2015/02/local-super-bowl-ratings-boston-second-highest-ever-seattle-down-patriots-seahawks-nbc/ |access-date=February 3, 2015 |website=Sports Media Watch}}</ref><br /> 55.6 (Phoenix)<ref name="ratings" /><br />52.1 (Seattle)<ref name="ratings" /><br />U.S. viewership: 114.4&nbsp;million est. avg.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pallotta |first=Frank |title=Super Bowl XLIX posts the largest audience in TV history |url=https://money.cnn.com/2015/02/02/media/super-bowl-ratings/index.html |publisher=[[CNNMoney]] |date=February 2, 2015 |access-date=February 3, 2015 }}</ref>
| share = 72 (national)
| commercial = $4.5&nbsp;million<ref name=MCastillo>{{cite web |last=Castillo |first=Michelle |title=NBC Has Sold 95% of Super Bowl Ads and Says $4.5 Million Per :30 'Is a Steal' |url=http://www.adweek.com/news/television/nbc-has-sold-95-super-bowl-ads-and-says-45-million-30-steal-162210 |website=[[Adweek]] |access-date=January 27, 2015 |date=January 7, 2015 }}</ref>
| radio = [[NFL on Westwood One Sports|Westwood One]]
| radioannouncers = [[Kevin Harlan]] (play-by-play)<br />[[Boomer Esiason]] (analyst)<br />[[James Lofton]] and [[Mark Malone]] (sideline reporters)
| last = XLVIII
| next = 50
}}
'''Super Bowl XLIX''' was an [[American football]] game played to determine the champion of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[2014 NFL season|2014 season]]. The [[American Football Conference]] (AFC) champion [[2014 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] defeated the defending [[National Football Conference]] (NFC) and [[Super Bowl XLVIII|Super Bowl]] champion [[2014 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]], 28–24. The game was played on February 1, 2015, at [[State Farm Stadium|University of Phoenix Stadium]] in [[Glendale, Arizona]], the second Super Bowl held at the stadium and the third in the [[Phoenix metropolitan area]].

The Patriots' victory was their fourth overall and first since 2004's [[Super Bowl XXXIX]], ending a 10-year championship drought. They finished the regular season with a 12–4 record en route to their eighth Super Bowl appearance, tying the record held by the [[Dallas Cowboys]] and [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], and sixth [[Brady–Belichick era|under the leadership]] of head coach [[Bill Belichick]] and quarterback [[Tom Brady]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-04-09 |title=Super Bowl XLIX Analysis |url=https://www.patriots.com/press-room/super-bowl-xlix |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=New England Patriots}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 31, 2015 |title=Super Bowl XLIX: Patriots vs. Seahawks, by the numbers |url=https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/nfl/article10240286.html |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=Raleigh News & Observer}}</ref> The Seahawks, led by their [[Legion of Boom (Seattle Seahawks)|Legion of Boom]] defense, also obtained a 12–4 record and were making their third Super Bowl appearance, in addition to their second consecutive after winning [[Super Bowl XLVIII]]. As the defending champions, the Seahawks were seeking to become the first to repeat since the Patriots in 2004. For the second consecutive season, both teams were the top [[seed (sports)|seed]] from their respective conference.<ref name="nfl.com"/>

Super Bowl XLIX was kept within a one-possession margin until Seattle took a 10-point lead in the third quarter. New England responded by scoring 14 consecutive points during the fourth to take a 28–24 lead with just over two minutes remaining. The game is most remembered for the Seahawks' last play, in which they threatened to score a winning touchdown from New England's 1-yard line, but were intercepted in the final seconds by Patriots cornerback [[Malcolm Butler]]. Butler's interception is regarded as one of the greatest plays in NFL history, while Seattle's decision to pass instead of run the ball is considered one of the worst calls of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schatz |first=Aaron  |date=January 31, 2024 |title=Ranking every Super Bowl champion team from 1-57 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/39416873/ranking-every-nfl-super-bowl-champion-history |access-date=February 4, 2024 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> Brady, who set the Super Bowl record for completions at 37, was named [[Super Bowl Most Valuable Player|Super Bowl MVP]] for the third time, tying the record held by [[Joe Montana]]. Two years later, Brady would surpass both records in [[Super Bowl LI]].

[[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]]'s broadcast of Super Bowl XLIX set the [[List of most watched television broadcasts in the United States|record for most-watched program in American television history]] and is the fourth-most watched American television broadcast of all time.<ref name="SuperBowlXLIXMostWatched">{{cite web |last=Patra |first=Kevin |title=Super Bowl XLIX is most-watched show in U.S. history |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/super-bowl-xlix-is-most-watched-show-in-u-s-history-0ap3000000467823 |publisher=National Football League |date=February 2, 2015 |access-date=February 2, 2015 }}</ref> The game was seen by an average of 114.4&nbsp;million viewers, with it reaching to 118.5&nbsp;million during the [[Super Bowl XLIX halftime show]] featuring [[Katy Perry]]<ref name="variety20150202">{{cite magazine|last=Kissell |first=Rick |title=Update: Super Bowl on NBC Draws Record U.S. Television Audience |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=February 2, 2015 |url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/ratings/super-bowl-ratings-hit-all-time-high-with-patriots-win-on-nbc-1201421267/ |access-date=February 2, 2015 }}</ref> and peaking to 120.8&nbsp;million during New England's fourth quarter comeback.<ref name="variety20150202"/> It is considered one of the greatest Super Bowls and was ranked eighth on ''NFL.com''{{'}}s 100 Greatest Games, the third-highest Super Bowl game.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-100-greatest-games-no-8-patriots-seahawks-in-super-bowl-xlix |title='NFL 100 Greatest' Games, No. 8: Patriots-Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX |website=NFL.com }}</ref> Butler's game-winning interception was ranked fifth on ''NFL.com''{{'}}s 100 Greatest Plays, the highest defensive play.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 20, 2019 |title=NFL's 100 Greatest Plays: The final five unveiled |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-s-100-greatest-plays-the-final-five-unveiled-0ap3000001056879 |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=NFL.com}}</ref>

==Background==
===Host selection process===
====Initial plan for Kansas City as host city====
[[File:Arrowhead Stadium 2010.JPG|thumb|right|[[Arrowhead Stadium]] was originally selected for Super Bowl XLIX, but plans to add a retractable roof ultimately fell through.]]
NFL owners initially voted in November 2005 to award a Super Bowl to [[Kansas City, Missouri]], in honor of [[Kansas City Chiefs|Chiefs]] owner [[Lamar Hunt]], the founder of the [[American Football League]] (AFL) in the 1960s who helped engineer the annual game. Then-NFL Commissioner [[Paul Tagliabue]] further announced on March 5, 2006, that Kansas City would host Super Bowl XLIX. However, the game was contingent on the successful passage of two sales taxes in [[Jackson County, Missouri]], on April 4, 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 5, 2006 |title=K.C. to host 2015 Super Bowl if renovations approved |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2355537 |access-date=June 2, 2011 |website=[[ESPN.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

The first tax to fund improvements to [[Arrowhead Stadium|Arrowhead]] and neighboring [[Kauffman Stadium|Kauffman]] stadiums passed with 53 percent approval. However, the second tax that would have allowed the construction of a rolling roof between the two stadiums was narrowly defeated, with 48 percent approval. In the wake of the defeat, and opposition by the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and several civic and business groups, Hunt and the Chiefs announced on May 25, 2006, that they were withdrawing the request to host Super Bowl XLIX.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 25, 2006 |title=No rolling roof, no Super Bowl at Arrowhead |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2458407 |access-date=June 2, 2011 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

====Bidding process====
[[File:Cardinals stadium crop.jpg|thumb|right|[[University of Phoenix Stadium]] in [[Glendale, Arizona]], was chosen for Super Bowl XLIX.]]
After the Kansas City plan fell through, the following submitted bids to host Super Bowl XLIX:
* [[Raymond James Stadium]] – [[Tampa, Florida]]<ref name="NFL2010">{{Cite web |date=May 25, 2010 |title=Tampa, Miami move focus to 2015 Super Bowl after losing 2014 bid |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/tampa-miami-move-focus-to-2015-super-bowl-after-losing-2014-bid-09000d5d81850f50 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206010455/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81850f50/article/tampa-miami-move-focus-to-2015-super-bowl-after-losing-2014-bid |archive-date=February 6, 2013 |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=NFL.com |publisher=National Football League |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Hard Rock Stadium|Sun Life Stadium]] – [[Miami Gardens, Florida]]<ref name="NFL2010" />
* [[State Farm Stadium|University of Phoenix Stadium]] – [[Glendale, Arizona]]<ref name="ArizonaRepublic">{{Cite web |date=2010-02-26 |title=New York among remaining bidders |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4950320 |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref>

Tampa and Miami both submitted bids after losing the [[Super Bowl XLVIII]] bid to [[MetLife Stadium]] in [[East Rutherford, New Jersey]].<ref name="NFL2010" /> Arizona had declined to bid for Super Bowl XLVIII, citing the economy, to focus on bidding for Super Bowl XLIX.<ref name="ArizonaRepublic" />

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed in April 2011 that Tampa and Arizona were selected as finalists.<ref name="NFL20110428"/> The league then announced on October 11, 2011, that University of Phoenix Stadium will host Super Bowl XLIX.<ref name="NFL20110428">{{cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81f8a0ea/article/nfl-says-tampa-arizona-are-2015-super-bowl-host-finalists |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429234458/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81f8a0ea/article/nfl-says-tampa-arizona-are-2015-super-bowl-host-finalists |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 29, 2011 |title=NFL says Tampa, Arizona are 2015 Super Bowl host finalists |publisher=National Football League |date=April 28, 2011 |access-date=June 2, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="OwnersVoteArizona">{{cite web |title=Owners vote Arizona as Super Bowl host for third time |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/owners-vote-arizona-as-super-bowl-host-for-third-time-09000d5d82309487 |agency=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=National Football League |date=October 11, 2011 |access-date=February 27, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="chron">{{cite web |last=McClain |first=John |title=NFL owners in Houston for fall meetings |url=https://www.chron.com/sports/texans/article/NFL-owners-in-town-for-fall-meetings-2211975.php |work=Houston Chronicle |date=October 10, 2011 |access-date=October 10, 2011 }}</ref> This is the second Super Bowl contested at University of Phoenix Stadium, which hosted [[Super Bowl XLII]] in February 2008, and the third Super Bowl played in the Phoenix area, as [[Super Bowl XXX]] was held at [[Sun Devil Stadium]] in nearby Tempe in January 1996.

===Teams===
====New England Patriots====
{{main|2014 New England Patriots season}}
[[File:Tom Brady 2011.JPG|thumb|upright|Patriots quarterback [[Tom Brady]].]]
The New England Patriots had a rough start to their 2014 season, starting the season with a 2–2 record and hitting a low point with a humiliating 41–14 loss to the [[2014 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] in week four.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leger |first=Justin |date=2021-09-29 |title=How Brady, Patriots embraced ‘We're on to Cincinnati' mantra |url=https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/nfl/new-england-patriots/how-brady-patriots-embraced-were-on-to-cincinnati-mantra/190531/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=NBC Sports Boston |language=en-US}}</ref> By this point, the Patriots faced heavy criticism in the media, especially quarterback [[Tom Brady]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Monson |first=Sam |last2=Williamson |first2=Matt  |last3=Young |first3=Steve |last4=Hasselbeck |first4=Tim |last5=Parolin |first5=John |date=September 30, 2014 |title=What's wrong with Tom Brady? |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/11617114/tom-brady-espn-experts-analyze-struggles-new-england-patriots-quarterback |access-date=January 20, 2015 |website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref> Former Patriots safety and teammate [[Rodney Harrison]] declared Brady "looked scared to death" in the pocket and "doesn't have any confidence in his offensive line."<ref>{{cite web |last=Schechter |first=Lee |title=Rodney Harrison: Tom Brady 'scared'|url=https://www.espn.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/11618603/nbc-sports-analyst-rodney-harrison-says-new-england-patriots-qb-tom-brady-scared-death-pocket |publisher=[[ESPN.com|ESPNBoston.com]] |date=September 30, 2014 |access-date=January 20, 2015 }}</ref> However, New England recovered with an NFL season long seven game winning streak, beginning with a dominating 43–17 win over the [[2014 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]] in week five, and went on to lose only two more games for the rest of the year (the latter of which was done while [[resting the starters]] the final week of the season), finishing the season with a 12–4 record and the number one seed in the AFC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New England Patriots 2014 Games and Schedule |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nwe/2014/gamelog/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> They finished fourth in the NFL in scoring (468 points) and eighth in points allowed (313), and had the largest point differential in the NFL (with an average margin of victory of 9.7 points). The Patriots defeated the [[2014 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]] 35–31 in the AFC Divisional playoffs, and then defeated the [[2014 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]] 45–7 in the [[AFC Championship Game]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots - January 10th, 2015 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201501100nwe.htm |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship - Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots - January 18th, 2015 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201501180nwe.htm |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

Brady had another fine season in his 14th year as the team's starter, earning his 10th [[2015 Pro Bowl|Pro Bowl]] selection with 4,109 passing yards and 33 touchdowns, with just eight interceptions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tom Brady 2014 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BradTo00/gamelog/2014/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> His top target was Pro Bowl tight end [[Rob Gronkowski]], who caught 82 passes for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns, along with wide receiver [[Brandon LaFell]], who caught 74 passes for 954 yards and seven touchdowns. Wide receiver [[Julian Edelman]] was another key aspect of the passing game, with 92 receptions for 974 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing for 92 yards and returning 25 punts for 299 yards and a touchdown. Running back [[Jonas Gray]] was the team's leading rusher with 412 yards and a 4.6 yards per carry average, while [[Stevan Ridley]] added 340 yards and [[Shane Vereen]] had 391. Vereen was also a reliable pass catcher, hauling in 52 receptions for 447 yards. On special teams, kicker [[Stephen Gostkowski]] was selected to his third Pro Bowl and became the third player ever to lead the NFL in scoring four times (and the first since the [[NFL-AFL merger]]), converting 35 of 37 field goals (94.6 percent) and racking up 156 points. [[Matthew Slater]] also made the Pro Bowl on special teams for the fourth time.

The Patriots defensive line was led by five-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle [[Vince Wilfork]] and defensive end [[Rob Ninkovich]], who compiled eight sacks. Behind them, linebacker [[Jamie Collins (American football)|Jamie Collins]] led the team in tackles (116) and forced fumbles (four), while also intercepting two passes. Linebacker [[Dont'a Hightower]] was also a big contributor with 89 tackles and six sacks. The secondary was led by Pro Bowl cornerback [[Darrelle Revis]], along with safety [[Devin McCourty]], who recorded two interceptions and [[Brandon Browner]], who added a physical presence to the secondary.

====Seattle Seahawks====
{{main|2014 Seattle Seahawks season}}
[[File:Russell Wilson vs Vikings, November 4, 2012.jpg|thumb|upright|Seahawks quarterback [[Russell Wilson]].]]
After winning [[Super Bowl XLVIII]] the previous season, the Seahawks also struggled to begin the season, floundering near the season's midpoint with a 3–3 record. However, they went on from there to win nine of their final 10 regular season games, preventing their opponents from scoring any touchdowns in five of them. By the time they finished with a 12–4 record and entered the playoffs, they had earned the number one seed, and not allowed any touchdowns in the previous 10 quarters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seattle Seahawks 2014 Games and Schedule |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sea/2014/gamelog/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Their defense ranked first in the NFL in fewest points allowed (254) and their offense was tied at first in rushing yards (2,762).<ref>{{Cite web |title=2014 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/opp.htm |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The Seahawks defeated the [[2014 Carolina Panthers season|Carolina Panthers]] 31–17 in the NFC Divisional playoffs, and later defeated the [[2014 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] 28–22 in overtime in the [[NFC Championship Game]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks - January 10th, 2015 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201501100sea.htm |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship - Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks - January 18th, 2015 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201501180sea.htm |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Seattle became the first NFC team to advance to consecutive Super Bowls since the 1996–97 Packers in Super Bowls [[Super Bowl XXXI|XXXI]] and [[Super Bowl XXXII|XXXII]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Musgrove |first=Kole |date=2023-06-24 |title=Seahawks still last NFC team to make consecutive Super Bowls |url=https://seahawkswire.usatoday.com/2023/06/24/seahawks-still-last-nfc-team-to-make-consecutive-super-bowls/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=Seahawks Wire|publisher=USA Today |language=en-US}}</ref>

Quarterback [[Russell Wilson]] was back in control of the Seattle offense, completing 63.1 percent of his passes for 3,475 yards and 20 touchdowns, with seven interceptions, while also rushing for 849 yards and six touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Russell Wilson 2014 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WilsRu00/gamelog/2014/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The team's leading receiver was [[Doug Baldwin]], who caught 66 passes for 825 yards and three touchdowns. Receiver [[Jermaine Kearse]] was another reliable target with 38 catches for 537 yards, while tight end [[Luke Willson]] caught 22 passes for 362 yards. Running back [[Marshawn Lynch]] was selected to his fourth Pro Bowl, ranking fourth in the NFL with 1,306 rushing yards and first in rushing touchdowns with 13. He also caught 37 passes for 364 yards and four more touchdowns. Running back [[Robert Turbin]] chipped in 310 yards and 16 receptions. On special teams, kicker [[Steven Hauschka]] ranked fourth in the NFL with 134 points and made 31 of 37 field goals (83.8 percent).

[[Michael Bennett (defensive lineman, born 1985)|Michael Bennett]] anchored the Seattle defensive line, leading the team with seven sacks, while teammate [[Bruce Irvin (American football)|Bruce Irvin]] ranked second with 6.5 and intercepted two passes, returning both for touchdowns. Behind them, linebackers [[K. J. Wright]] and Pro Bowl selection [[Bobby Wagner]] combined for a staggering 211 tackles (107 for Wright, 104 for Wagner), while Wright also forced three fumbles. But the strongest aspect of the team's number one ranked defense was their secondary. Known as the "[[Legion of Boom (Seattle Seahawks)|Legion of Boom]]", they sent three of their four starters to the Pro Bowl for the second year in a row: cornerback [[Richard Sherman (American football)|Richard Sherman]], free safety [[Earl Thomas (defensive back)|Earl Thomas]], and strong safety [[Kam Chancellor]]. Sherman led the team with four interceptions, while Thomas had 97 tackles and forced four fumbles. Chancellor had 78 tackles and also recorded six passes deflected.

===Playoffs===
{{main|2014–15 NFL playoffs}}

New England became the first playoff team to overcome two 14-point deficits to win a game as they defeated the [[2014 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens 35–31]],<ref name="PatsErase">{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2015 |title=Pats erase two 14-point deficits vs. Ravens, into AFC title game again |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=400749515 |access-date=February 3, 2015 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> pulling ahead for the first time in the game on Brady's 23-yard touchdown pass to LaFell with 5:13 left in regulation. Then safety [[Duron Harmon]] iced the game by intercepting a pass from [[Joe Flacco]] in the end zone on Baltimore's ensuing drive. Although New England only had 14 rushing yards, Brady's franchise playoff record 33 completions for 367 yards and three touchdowns, along with a rushing score, were able to make up the difference.<ref name="PatsErase" />

The Patriots had a much easier time in the [[AFC Championship Game]] against the [[2014 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]]. Although the score was still a close 17–7 by the end of the half, New England dominated the game in the second with touchdowns on their first four drives. Brady had another great game, throwing for 226 yards and three touchdowns with one interception, while Blount rushed for 148 yards and three scores. New England's defense held Colts quarterback [[Andrew Luck]], who had thrown for 4,761 yards and 40 touchdowns during the season, to just 12/23 completions for 126 yards.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 18, 2015 |title=Tom Brady carries Pats to rout of Colts, claims sixth Super Bowl trip |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=400749520 |access-date=February 1, 2015 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> By the end of New England's two postseason games, Brady set new NFL records for postseason passing yards and touchdowns, while coach Bill Belichick set the all-time record for most playoff wins.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Verderame |first=Matt |date=2015-01-18 |title=Belichick owns postseason wins record |url=https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/1/18/7551361/patriots-bill-belichick-most-postseason-wins |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=SBNation.com |language=en}}</ref>

Seattle started off their postseason with a 31–17 win over the [[2014 Carolina Panthers season|Carolina Panthers]]. The score was just 14–10 at the end of the first half, but the Seahawks took control of the game in the second, scoring 17 unanswered points. After a field goal and Russell Wilson's 25-yard touchdown pass to Luke Willson, Chancellor put the game completely out of reach by intercepting a pass from [[Cam Newton]] and returning it 90 yards for a touchdown.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2015 |title=Russell Wilson, Kam Chancellor star as Seahawks roll into title game |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=400749516 |access-date=February 1, 2015 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

Seattle had to mount a furious comeback to defeat their next opponent, the [[2014 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]], as they fell behind 16–0 before [[Jon Ryan]]'s 19-yard touchdown pass to [[Garry Gilliam]] on a fake field goal in the third quarter got them their first score.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Drovetto |first=Tony |date=January 18, 2015 |title=Jon Ryan, Garry Gilliam team up for touchdown on Seahawks fake field goal vs Green Bay Packers |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/jon-ryan-garry-gilliam-team-up-for-touchdown-on-seahawks-fake-field-goal--115696 |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=Seahawks.com |language=en-US}}</ref> They still found themselves trailing 19–7 with just over 5 minutes left when Wilson threw his fourth interception of the day. But after Green Bay was forced to punt, Wilson led the team 69 yards to make the score 19–14 on his 1-yard touchdown run. On the ensuing kickoff, receiver [[Chris Matthews (gridiron football)|Chris Matthews]] recovered an onside kick for Seattle, and they took their first lead on a 24-yard touchdown run from Marshawn Lynch. Now with the score 20–19, the Seahawks managed to go up by 3 points on a dramatic 2-point conversion play in which Wilson was forced to run all the way back to the 17-yard line near the right sideline before hurling the ball to the opposite side of the field, where Luke Willson, who had only been assigned as a blocker for the play, caught the ball and took it into the end zone. Although Green Bay kicked a field goal to send the game into overtime, Seattle's comeback could not be stopped. After winning the coin toss, the Seahawks took the ball and drove 87 yards to win the game on Wilson's 35-yard touchdown pass to Kearse, sending the Seahawks to the Super Bowl for the second year in a row.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 18, 2015 |title=Seahawks rally to stun Packers in OT, clinch return trip to Super Bowl |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=400749519 |access-date=February 1, 2015 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

===Pregame notes===
[[File:Phoenix Super Bowl XLIX.jpg|thumb|300px|Downtown Phoenix before the event.]]
Super Bowl XLIX was the first Super Bowl matchup, and the first postseason matchup, between the Patriots and Seahawks; while Seattle was part of the AFC before moving to the NFC in the NFL's [[2002 NFL season#Expansion and realignment|2002 realignment]], the teams had never met beyond the regular season.

The game was notable for featuring the coach of one team who had replaced the other as head coach; Patriots head coach [[Bill Belichick]] was hired in 2000 to replace [[Pete Carroll]], who went on to become the coach of the Seahawks. This was only the fourth time this has occurred. The other three times were in [[Super Bowl III]] ([[Weeb Ewbank]]'s [[1968 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] vs. Ewbank's former team, [[Don Shula]]'s [[1968 Baltimore Colts season|Baltimore Colts]]), [[Super Bowl XXXIII]] ([[Dan Reeves]]'s [[1998 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]] vs. [[Mike Shanahan]]'s [[1998 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]]), and [[Super Bowl XXXVII]] ([[Jon Gruden]]'s [[2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] vs. Gruden's former team, [[Bill Callahan (American football coach)|Bill Callahan]]'s [[2002 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]). The only previous time that the old coach's former team had won was in Super Bowl XXXIII.

Seahawks linebacker [[Malcolm Smith (American football)|Malcolm Smith]], despite being the [[Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award|MVP]] of the preceding [[Super Bowl XLVIII]], had been returned to a reserve role for the [[2014 NFL season|2014 season]] and did not play in Super Bowl XLIX, since defensive coordinator [[Dan Quinn (American football)|Dan Quinn]] opted to retain [[Bruce Irvin (American football)|Bruce Irvin]], [[K. J. Wright]] and [[Bobby Wagner]] as the starting linebacker trio.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shpigel |first=Ben |date=February 8, 2018 |title=Malcolm Smith Goes From M.V.P. to Capable Reserve on Seahawks' Deep Roster |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/10/sports/football/malcolm-smith-goes-from-mvp-to-capable-reserve-on-seahawks-deep-roster.html |access-date=2024-06-12 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Danny |date=August 30, 2014 |title=Seahawks release updated depth chart |url=https://www.fieldgulls.com/2014/8/30/6088619/seahawks-updated-depth-chart-nfl-roster-cutdowns |access-date=August 30, 2016 |website=FieldGulls.com}}</ref>

The [[betting odds]] for Super Bowl XLIX initially opened after the conclusion of the conference championship games with the Seahawks favored by 2.5 points,<ref name="odds-cbs">{{cite news |last=Brinson |first=Will |title=2015 Super Bowl odds/line: Seahawks early 2.5 favorites against Patriots |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24975957/super-bowl-line-seahawks-early-25-favorites-over-patriots |work=[[CBSSports.com]] |date=January 18, 2015 |access-date=January 18, 2015 }}</ref> but within hours of opening, heavy betting on the Patriots had moved the line to a pick 'em at most sportsbooks.<ref name="odds-gazette">{{Cite news |date=January 18, 2015 |title=Vegas Bookies: Patriots-Seahawks pick 'em for Super Bowl |url=http://gazette.com/vegas-bookies-patriots-seahawks-pick-em-for-super-bowl/article/feed/196892 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119215129/http://gazette.com/vegas-bookies-patriots-seahawks-pick-em-for-super-bowl/article/feed/196892 |archive-date=January 19, 2015 |access-date=January 19, 2015 |work=[[The Gazette (Colorado Springs)|The Gazette]]|agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name="odds-si">{{Cite magazine |date=2015-01-18 |title=Seahawks-Patriots is pick 'em in Super Bowl XLIX spread |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2015/01/19/super-bowl-odds-spread-patriots-seahawks |access-date=January 19, 2015 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |language=en-us}}</ref> Over most of the two-week run-up to the Super Bowl, the line held steady with the Patriots as slight 1-point favorites,<ref name="odds-espn-early">{{cite web |last=Purdum |first=David |title=Vegas, fans favoring Patriots |url=https://www.espn.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/12232230/new-england-patriots-getting-bet-more-seattle-seahawks-las-vegas-sports-books |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=January 27, 2015 |access-date=February 1, 2015 }}</ref> but, on the day before the Super Bowl, a surge of large bets on the Seahawks pushed the line back to a toss-up.<ref name="odds-espn-final" />

After the AFC Championship Game, [[ESPN]] reported an NFL investigation discovered 11 of 12 footballs the Patriots had used during it were under-inflated, while none of the balls used by the Colts had been, although these findings were later shown to be false.<ref>{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Mortensen |title=11 of 12 Pats footballs underinflated |url=https://www.espn.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/12202450/nfl-says-new-england-patriots-had-inflated-footballs-afc-championship-game |work=ESPN |date=January 21, 2015 |access-date=January 27, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-05-13 |title=After further review, a theory on how #DeflateGate initially unfolded |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/a-theory-on-how-deflategate-initially-unfolded |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/the-nfls-basic-due-process-is-the-real-issue-in-the-deflategate-controversy/2015/07/30/ebda3b02-3666-11e5-9d0f-7865a67390ee_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Sally |last=Jenkins |title=DeflateGate's real issue: Due process |date=July 30, 2015 }}</ref> Patriots coach Bill Belichick denied any knowledge that the footballs his team used were not inflated to NFL standards. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick became large targets as controversy swirled around what colloquially became known as [[Deflategate]] just before the week of Super Bowl XLIX.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Ralph |last1=Ellis |first2=Greg |last2=Botelho |first3=Jason |last3=Hanna |title=Tom Brady weighs in on 'Deflategate:' 'I didn't alter the ball' |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/22/us/nfl-patriots-deflategate/index.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=January 23, 2015 |access-date=January 27, 2015 }}</ref> The effects of the incident would drag on for nearly two years, finally being resolved with Brady receiving a 4-game suspension at the start of the 2016 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Farmer |first=Sam |date=2015-05-11 |title=Tom Brady suspended four games, Patriots lose draft picks for Deflategate |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-tom-brady-punishment-deflategate-20150511-story.html |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

As the [[Super Bowl#Home team designation|designated home team]] in the annual rotation between AFC and NFC teams, the Seahawks elected to wear their college navy home jerseys with navy pants,<ref>{{cite news|last=Farnsworth|first=Clare|title=Thursday in Hawkville: Regardless of whether the Patriots run or pass, the Seahawks will be prepared|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/thursday-in-hawkville-regardless-of-whether-the-patriots-run-or-pass-the--115846|publisher=NFL Enterprises|website=Seahawks.com|date=January 22, 2015|access-date=June 1, 2020}}</ref> which meant that the Patriots would wear their white road jerseys.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hart|first=Andy|title=Ask PFW: On to the Super Bowl|url=https://www.patriots.com/news/ask-pfw-on-to-the-super-bowl-221886-x2229|publisher=NFL Enterprises|website=Patriots.com|date=January 27, 2015|access-date=June 1, 2020}}</ref>

Super Bowl XLIX was the first Super Bowl to be played in a [[retractable roof]] stadium with the roof open by league decision (previous Super Bowls played in such stadiums, including [[Super Bowl XLII]], were played with the roof closed). The gametime temperature was {{convert|66|F|C}}, with clear conditions. It was the second time all season, along with the Pro Bowl, the stadium had its roof open during an NFL game or the [[College Football Playoff]]'s [[2014 Fiesta Bowl (December)|Fiesta Bowl]]. It is the home stadium of the [[Arizona Cardinals]], but all Cardinals home games in 2014 had it closed either because of warm temperatures or to provide [[home field advantage]] and hold in crowd noise.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/article8927579.html |title=Super Bowl notes: University of Phoenix Stadium roof left open for game |last=Covitz |first=Randy |date=February 1, 2014 |work=[[Kansas City Star]] |access-date=February 2, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25015833/why-is-roof-open-for-first-time-all-season |title=Super Bowl 49 big question: Why is roof open for first time all season? |last=Hartstein |first=Larry |date=February 1, 2015 |publisher=[[CBS Sports|CBSSports.com]] |access-date=February 2, 2015 }}</ref>

The Patriots had also appeared in the only other Super Bowl to be held at [[University of Phoenix Stadium]] to date, having fallen short in their quest for a 19–0 undefeated season with a 17–14 loss to the [[New York Giants]] there in [[Super Bowl XLII]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XLII - New York Giants vs. New England Patriots - February 3rd, 2008 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200802030nwe.htm |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> In fact, this game marked the Patriots' return to University of Phoenix Stadium for the first time since that contest.<ref name="patriots.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.patriots.com/news/2016/09/06/game-preview-patriots-cardinals|date=October 6, 2016|title=Game Preview: Patriots at Cardinals|publisher=[[New England Patriots]]|quote=The Patriots have played two Super Bowls in the stadium, Super Bowl XLII on Feb. 3, 2008 and Super Bowl XLIX on Feb. 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024044424/http://www.patriots.com/news/2016/09/06/game-preview-patriots-cardinals|archive-date=October 24, 2017|access-date=November 3, 2017}}</ref>

====Team facilities====
The Patriots used the [[Arizona Cardinals]] headquarters, in [[Tempe, Arizona]], while the Seahawks used the [[Arizona State Sun Devils football#Practice facilities|Arizona State University]] practice facilities, also in Tempe.<ref>{{cite web |last=Root |first=Jess |title=Super Bowl 49: Patriots to use Cardinals facility, Seahawks are home team in big game |url=http://www.revengeofthebirds.com/2015/1/19/7852249/super-bowl-49-patriots-to-use-cardinals-facility-seahawks-are-home |website=[[SB Nation]] |date=January 19, 2015 |access-date=January 27, 2015 }}</ref>

====Tickets====
Ticket prices for Super Bowl XLIX rose quickly, with the lowest-cost tickets reaching over $8,000 by January 29.<ref>{{cite web |last=Breech |first=John |title=Super expensive: Cheapest Super Bowl ticket costs over $8,000 |work=CBS Sports |date=January 29, 2015 |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25007018/super-expensive-cheapest-super-bowl-ticket-costs-over-8000 |access-date=February 2, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="Miller">{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Jeff |title=Miller: Super Bowl prices out true fans |newspaper=[[The Orange County Register]] |date=January 29, 2015 |url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/bowl-649671-super-phoenix.html |access-date=February 3, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |title=Super Bowl tickets 2015: Still available if you want to spend $9,000 each |url=http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2015/01/super_bowl_tickets_2015_still.html |work=[[The Times-Picayune]] |date=January 31, 2015 |access-date=January 31, 2015 }}</ref> The average ticket price charged by brokers was $10,352, an increase of more than three times over the previous year's prices.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wray |first=Cheryl |title=How much does a Super Bowl ticket cost? More than you can probably imagine |url=http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/01/how_much_does_a_super_bowl_tic.html |work=[[The Birmingham News]] |date=January 31, 2015 |access-date=February 2, 2015 }}</ref> The raise in ticket prices was due to a shortage caused by the [[Short (finance)|short selling]] practice of brokers and resale sites.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fanhospitality.com/blog/2017/10/09/biggest-super-bowl-ticket-scandals/|date=October 9, 2017|title=The Biggest Super Bowl Ticket Scandals|publisher=fanhospitality.com|access-date=November 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rovell |first=Darren |author-link=Darren Rovell |date=March 6, 2015 |title=Super Bowl ticket shortage suit filed |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/12437041/first-class-action-lawsuit-filed-super-bowl-xlix-ticket-shortage |access-date=November 3, 2017 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> Jeff Miller, writing for the ''[[Orange County Register]]'', observed that the cheapest tickets were nearly as expensive as a year's tuition at the University of Phoenix, and commented that the $28,888 price of seats near the 50-yard line "should not only buy you [[Katy Perry]]'s halftime show but also [[Katy Perry]] singing again from your backseat halfway through your drive home."<ref name="Miller"/>

==Broadcasting==
===Television===
====United States====
Super Bowl XLIX was televised by [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]] in the United States, with [[play-by-play]] announcer [[Al Michaels]] and [[color analyst]] [[Cris Collinsworth]] calling the game from the booth and [[Michele Tafoya]] working as [[sideline reporter]]. Game coverage was preceded by a six-hour [[pre-game show]] featuring the ''[[Football Night in America]]'' crew, including [[Bob Costas]], [[Dan Patrick (sportscaster)|Dan Patrick]], [[Josh Elliott]], [[Tony Dungy]], [[Rodney Harrison]], [[Hines Ward]], [[Mike Florio]] and [[Peter King (sportswriter)|Peter King]]. [[John Harbaugh]] served as a guest analyst. Michaels, Collinsworth and Tafoya also contributed to the pre-game coverage along with [[Liam McHugh]], Carolyn Manno, [[Randy Moss]] and [[Doug Flutie]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/01/27/nbc-sports-presents-six-hours-of-super-bowl-xlix-pre-game-coverage/356171/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150131065611/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/01/27/nbc-sports-presents-six-hours-of-super-bowl-xlix-pre-game-coverage/356171/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2015 |title=NBC Sports Presents Six Hours of Super Bowl XLIX Pre-Game Coverage |last=Kondolojy |first=Amanda |publisher=TV by the Numbers |date=January 27, 2015 |access-date=January 29, 2015 }}</ref> It became the most watched broadcast in the history of American television, only one year removed from [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]'s previous year's record-setting telecast of [[Super Bowl XLVIII]].<ref name="SuperBowlXLIXMostWatched" /> The presentation of the Lombardi Trophy was handled by Dan Patrick of NBC.

A [[Spanish language]] telecast of the game was carried by [[NBC Universo]], with play-by-play announcer René Giraldo and color analyst Edgar López. Formerly known as mun2, the network's re-branding was scheduled to coincide with the game.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://laopinion.com/latinowire/nbc-universo-to-air-the-exclusive-spanish-language-telecast-of-super-bowl-xlix-for-millions-of-viewers-on-multiple-platforms/ |title=NBC UNIVERSO to Air the Exclusive Spanish-Language Telecast of Super Bowl XLIX for Millions of Viewers on Multiple Platforms |work=La Opinión |date=January 28, 2015 }}</ref> As with other major events broadcast by the network, the telecast was [[cross-promotion|cross-promoted]] with other [[NBCUniversal]] properties, with various [[NBC News]] and [[NBC Sports]] programs either broadcast from Phoenix or featuring reports from the game. [[Golf Channel]] cross-promoted the game with its early-round coverage of the [[Phoenix Open]] golf tournament (the weekend rounds of the tournament aired on [[PGA Tour on CBS|CBS]], as per agreements for CBS and NBC to swap tournaments if they conflict with the Super Bowl or [[Winter Olympics]]),<ref>{{Cite web |title=PGA Tour finds another title sponsor for Phoenix |url=https://www.golfchannel.com/article/associated-press/pga-tour-finds-another-title-sponsor-phoenix |access-date=October 4, 2022 |language=en |via=Golf Channel |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> and live episodes of ''[[Feherty (TV series)|Feherty]]'' from the [[Orpheum Theatre (Phoenix, Arizona)|Orpheum Theatre]].<ref name=mcn-bigeventplan>{{cite web |title=NBCU's 'Big Event' Game Plan in Play for Super Bowl |url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/marketing/nbcus-big-event-game-plan-play-super-bowl-xlix/387113 |website=Multichannel News |access-date=January 28, 2015 }}</ref>

An episode of ''[[The Blacklist (TV series)|The Blacklist]]'', "[[Luther Braxton]]", served as NBC's [[List of Super Bowl lead-out programs|lead-out program]]. Following a break for late local programming, NBC also aired a special live episode of its [[late-night talk show]] ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon]]'' from the Orpheum.<ref name="pbj-orpheumfallon">{{Cite news |last=Ringle |first=Hayley |date=January 28, 2015 |title=What it takes for the Orpheum Theatre to prepare for Jimmy Fallon's Super Bowl 'Tonight Show' |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2015/01/28/what-it-takes-for-the-orpheum-theatre-to-prepare.html |access-date=May 8, 2015 |work=Phoenix Business Journal |publisher=Advance Publications}}</ref>

=====Advertising=====
NBC set the sales rate for a 30-second [[Super Bowl advertising|advertisement]] at US$4.5&nbsp;million,<ref name="wsjtadena">{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/cmo/2015/01/12/super-bowl-ad-prices-have-gone-up-75-over-a-decade/|first=Nathalie |last=Tadena|date=January 12, 2015|title=Super Bowl Ad Prices Have Gone Up 75% Over a Decade|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=November 3, 2017}}</ref> a price $500,000 above the record set by the two preceding Super Bowls.<ref name=forbesads>{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Smith |title=Could a Super Bowl commercial really be worth $10 million? Surprisingly, yes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2015/01/16/could-a-super-bowl-commercial-really-be-worth-10-million/ |work=[[Forbes]] |date=January 16, 2015 |access-date=January 19, 2015 }}</ref> For the first time, the network also offered 15-second ad spots.<ref name=nytads>Steel, Emily (January 30, 2015). [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/31/business/media/newcomers-buy-ad-time-at-the-super-bowl.html?_r=0 Newcomers buy ad time at the Super Bowl]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved February 1, 2015.</ref> A large number of automotive advertisers reduced their advertising during the game, replaced by a wave of fifteen first-time Super Bowl advertisers, including [[Skittles (confectionery)|Skittles]], [[Carnival Cruise Lines]],<ref name="wsjtadena" /> [[Loctite]], [[Wix.com]],<ref name="wsjtadena" /> [[Jublia]], a coalition of Mexican [[avocado]] growers, and [[Always (brand)|Always]] among several others. NBC posted the commercials on a [[Tumblr]] blog as they aired throughout the game; the blog was promoted through NBC's own live stream, as it did not contain all of the same commercials as the television broadcast.<ref name=nytads/><ref>{{cite news |last=Horovitz |first=Bruce |title=Super Bowl ads still not sold out |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2015/01/07/super-bowl-advertising-commercials-sell-out-marketing-nbc/21391839/ |work=USA Today |date=January 7, 2015 |access-date=January 19, 2015 }}</ref><ref name=variety-superbowltumblr>{{cite news |last=Spangler |first=Todd |title=Super Bowl Ads: NBC Turns to Tumblr to Post Spots After They Air on TV |url=https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/super-bowl-ads-nbc-turns-to-tumblr-to-post-spots-after-airing-on-tv-1201410862/ |website=Variety |date=January 21, 2015 |access-date=January 29, 2015 }}</ref> The network had more difficulty than in recent years selling out the advertisements, with the last ads selling out four days before the game.<ref name=nytads/>

[[Paramount Pictures]], [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]], [[The Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]], [[20th Century Fox]], and [[Lionsgate Studios|Lionsgate]] paid for movie trailers to be aired during the Super Bowl. Paramount paid for ''[[The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water]]'' and ''[[Terminator Genisys]]''. Universal paid for ''[[Fifty Shades of Grey (film)|Fifty Shades of Grey]]'', ''[[Pitch Perfect 2]]'', ''[[Jurassic World]]'', ''[[Minions (film)|Minions]]'', ''[[Furious 7]]'', and the debut trailer for ''[[Ted 2]]''. Fox paid for ''[[Kingsman: The Secret Service]]''. Lionsgate paid for ''[[The Divergent Series: Insurgent]]'' during the [[pre-game show]]. Disney paid for ''[[Tomorrowland (film)|Tomorrowland]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 28, 2015 |title=2015 Super Bowl Trailers: What Ads to Expect During the Big Game Read More: 2015 Super Bowl Trailers: What Ads to Expect During the Big Game |url=https://screencrush.com/2015-super-bowl-trailers-guide/?trackback=tsmclip |access-date=January 28, 2015 |website=Screen Crush}}</ref>

====International====
Super Bowl XLIX aired on [[Seven Network]], [[7mate]], and [[ESPN Australia|ESPN]] in Australia, [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] in Canada, [[Sky Television (New Zealand)|Sky Television]] in New Zealand, and [[Channel 4]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Biggest ever season of American Football coming soon to Channel 4 |url=http://www.nfluk.com/news/tvcoverage/article-1/Biggest-ever-season-of-American-Football-coming-soon-to-Channel-4-/c5d46ed6-188e-4cb8-82b9-68565e110899 |website=nfluk.com |publisher=[[National Football League]] |access-date=January 27, 2015 |date=September 2, 2014 }}</ref> [[Sky Sports]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Sky Sports agree five-year agreement with the NFL |url=http://www.nfluk.com/news/tvcoverage/article-1/Sky-Sports-agree-five-year-agreement-with-the-NFL/2235b05a-2dad-4e84-b84a-4892da49c46a |website=nfluk.com |publisher=NFL Enterprises |access-date=January 27, 2015 |date=September 25, 2014 }}</ref> and [[BBC Radio 5 Live]]<ref>[http://www.nfluk.com/news/superbowl/article-1/BBC-5-Live-to-air-Super-Bowl-XLIX-from-Arizona/04ba3e98-1546-48e9-82ba-8b69b6b367dc BBC 5 Live to air Super Bowl XLIX from Arizona]. Retrieved January 9, 2015.</ref> in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

[[NFL Network]] produced an international television feed of the game carried in some markets, with alternate English-language commentary provided by [[Bob Papa]] (play-by-play) and [[Charles Davis (defensive back)|Charles Davis]] (color analyst).

The Canadian broadcast was the most-watched broadcast on television that week, with 8.26&nbsp;million viewers, while the pregame ceremonies in the half-hour preceding the game attracted 5.16&nbsp;million viewers, making it the second most-watched program of the week.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://assets.numeris.ca/Downloads/January%2026%20-%20February%201,%202015%20(National).pdf |title=Top 30 Programs (January 26-February 2, 2015) |work=Numeris |date=February 10, 2015 |access-date=February 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211023423/http://assets.numeris.ca/Downloads/January%2026%20-%20February%201%2C%202015%20%28National%29.pdf |archive-date=February 11, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the United Kingdom, the game was watched by 191,000 viewers, making it the eighth highest-rated program on [[Sky Sports 1]] that week.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/whats-new/weekly-top-10? |title=Weekly Top 10 |work=Broadcasters' Audience Research Board |access-date=February 17, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718204656/http://www.barb.co.uk/whats-new/weekly-top-10 |archive-date=July 18, 2014 }} Note: The ratings must be searched for.</ref> It was the most viewed broadcast on pay television in Australia that day, with 94,000 viewers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2015/02/monday-2-february-2015.html |title=Monday 2 February 2015 |last=Knox |first=David |date=February 3, 2015 |work=TV Tonight |access-date=February 17, 2015 }}</ref>

The game aired live in France on channel W9.

The game was broadcast live in India on [[Sony SIX]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Sony Six brings American football to India with NFL |url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/sports/sony-six-brings-american-football-to-india-with-nfl-140917 |website=Indian Television Dot Com |access-date=April 17, 2019 |language=en |date=September 17, 2014}}</ref>

===Streaming===
NBC livestreamed the game for free on NBCSports.com on computers and the NBC Sports Live Extra app on tablets.<ref>{{cite news |first=Amit |last=Chowdhry |title=NBC To Live-Stream Super Bowl XLIX Free Online Without Requiring A Cable Subscription |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2015/01/21/watch-super-bowl-xlix-online/ |work=Forbes |date=January 21, 2015 |access-date=January 27, 2015 }}</ref> Mobile device rights were exclusive to [[Verizon Wireless]] NFL Mobile for its subscribers who pay for NFL Mobile and they had to use NFL Mobile app instead of NBC Sports Live Extra.

===Radio===
====National coverage====
The game was broadcast nationally on [[NFL on Westwood One Sports|Westwood One]] radio, with [[Kevin Harlan]] as play-by-play announcer, [[Boomer Esiason]] as color analyst, and [[James Lofton]] and [[Mark Malone]] as sideline reporters. [[Jim Gray (sportscaster)|Jim Gray]] anchored the pre-game and halftime coverage, with [[Larry Fitzgerald]], [[Tom Brady]], [[Scott Graham]], [[Rod Woodson]] and [[Kurt Warner]] contributing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://westwoodonesports.com/super-bowl-xlix-on-westwood-one/ |title=Super Bowl XLIX on Westwood One |publisher=Westwood One Sports |access-date=January 31, 2015 }}</ref> Scott Graham also handled public address duties inside the stadium for pregame introductions and postgame awards.

====Local market coverage====
The [[flagship station]]s of each station in the markets of each team carried their local play-by-play calls. In Seattle, [[KIRO-FM]] (97.3) and [[KIRO (AM)|KIRO]] (710 AM) carried the game, with [[Steve Raible]] on play-by-play and [[Warren Moon]] on color commentary. As a [[clear-channel station]], KIRO's commentary was audible over much of the West Coast of North America after sunset. In [[Greater Boston]], [[WBZ-FM]] (98.5) carried the game, with [[Bob Socci]] on play-by-play and [[Scott Zolak]] on color commentary. Per contractual rules, the rest of the stations in the Seahawks and Patriots radio networks carried the Westwood One feed.

====International radio coverage====
Westwood One's coverage was simulcasted on [[TSN Radio]] in Canada.

In the United Kingdom, [[BBC Radio 5 Live]] returned to coverage after the previous year's NFL broadcaster, [[Absolute Radio 90s]], dropped out of sports coverage. [[Rocky Boiman]] and Darren Fletcher return as commentators.

==Entertainment==
===Pregame===
[[Idina Menzel]] performed the [[The Star-Spangled Banner|national anthem]] and [[John Legend]] performed "[[America the Beautiful]]".<ref name="Idina Menzel" />

===Halftime show===
{{Main|Super Bowl XLIX halftime show}}
{{multiple image
| align    = right
| image1   = Katy Perry UNICEF 2012.jpg
| width1   = 160
| caption1 = [[Katy Perry]] headlined the halftime show
| image2   = Lenny Kravitz by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| width2   = 159
| caption2 = [[Lenny Kravitz]] made an appearance at the halftime show
}}
On October 9, 2014, ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' announced that [[Katy Perry]] would perform at halftime and the NFL confirmed the announcement on November 23, 2014.<ref name="Katy Perry to headline Pepsi Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show">{{cite news |title=Katy Perry to headline Pepsi Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/katy-perry-to-headline-pepsi-super-bowl-xlix-halftime-show-0ap3000000433189 |publisher=National Football League |date=November 23, 2014 |access-date=November 23, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Stutz |first=Colin |date=October 9, 2014 |title=Katy Perry Performing at Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show |url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/6281349/katy-perry-performing-at-super-bowl-xlix-halftime-show |access-date=October 9, 2014 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> At the start of the halftime show, on-field participants held up light globes which created a [[bird's-eye view]] of the [[Pepsi]] logo.<ref name="USA Today">{{cite news |last=Chase |first=Chris |title=Katy Perry blew away the Super Bowl halftime show |url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/02/katy-perry-halftime-show-review-super-bowl |access-date=February 1, 2015 |work=[[USA Today]] |date=February 1, 2015 }}</ref> Perry entered the stadium riding atop a large, golden mechanical lion, opening her set with a performance of "[[Roar (song)|Roar]]".<ref name="CBS Sports">{{cite web |last=Peterson |first=Nate |title=A recap of the crazy that was Katy Perry's Super Bowl halftime show |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25016371/a-recap-of-the-crazy-that-was-katy-perrys-super-bowl-halftime-show |publisher=CBS Sports. CBS Broadcasting |access-date=February 3, 2015 |date=February 1, 2015 }}</ref> She then proceeded to sing "[[Dark Horse (Katy Perry song)|Dark Horse]]", with [[3D rendering]] on the field creating a chessboard visual where the turf constantly turned into "different shapes and sizes", as acrobats surrounded the singer.<ref name="USA Today" /><ref name="Billboard">{{cite magazine |last=Lipshutz |first=Jason |title=Katy Perry Shines During Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/super-bowl-2015/6458199/katy-perry-super-bowl-xlix-halftime-show-review |access-date=February 1, 2015 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=February 1, 2015 }}</ref> Following this, Perry joined [[Lenny Kravitz]] for a duet version of "[[I Kissed a Girl]]", which included her "rubbing up against" Kravitz and flames exploding behind them.<ref name="Billboard" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Ishler |first=Julianne |title=Lenny Kravitz's daughter mocks him for twerking on Katy Perry |url=http://www.aol.com/article/2015/02/03/lenny-kravitz-s-daughter-mocks-him-for-twerking-on-katy-perry/21138318/ |website=[[AOL.com]] |publisher=AOL |access-date=February 3, 2015 |date=February 3, 2015 |archive-date=February 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203172639/http://www.aol.com/article/2015/02/03/lenny-kravitz-s-daughter-mocks-him-for-twerking-on-katy-perry/21138318/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> During these three songs, Perry was clothed in a "flame-adorned" dress, with her black hair in a ponytail.<ref name="Billboard"/> The costume has been described as the "clothing equivalent of a flame",<ref name="Huffington Post">{{cite news |last=Goodman |first=Jessica |title=Katy Perry's Outrageous Super Bowl Halftime Show Includes Missy Elliott Throwback, Lenny Kravitz |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/01/katy-perry-super-bowl_n_6556670.html |website=The Huffington Post |access-date=February 3, 2015 |date=February 1, 2015 }}</ref> and "dress of fire".<ref name="USA Today" /> The stage and field rendering transitioned into a "breezy" beach setting, with dancers dressed as sharks, palm trees and smiling beach balls dancing around Perry. She underwent a wardrobe change, and progressed into a "campy" medley of "[[Teenage Dream (Katy Perry song)|Teenage Dream]]" and "[[California Gurls]]".<ref name="CBS Sports" /><ref name="Billboard" /> Rapper [[Missy Elliott]] subsequently appeared, performing her songs "[[Get Ur Freak On]]" and "[[Work It (Missy Elliott song)|Work It]]", while Perry played "hype-woman" beside her, having now changed once again into a custom Super Bowl 49 jersey. After Perry briefly disappeared, Elliott performed "[[Lose Control (Missy Elliott song)|Lose Control]]".<ref name="Billboard" /> Perry returned, now sporting a "star-encrusted gown" for her closing song, "[[Firework (song)|Firework]]". She rose out of midfield on a narrow platform that was attached to a shooting star prop, and flew above the crowds. During this performance, fireworks exploded around Perry and the stadium.<ref name="Billboard" /><ref name="Huffington Post" /> The star Perry flew around the stadium attached to was heavily compared to ''[[The More You Know]]''{{'}}s [[public service announcement]]s logo.<ref name="Huffington Post" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Sherman |first=Rodger |title=Super Bowl halftime show 2015: Katy Perry kills it |url=https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/2/1/7961231/super-bowl-2015-halftime-show-recap |publisher=[[SB Nation]]. [[Vox Media]] |access-date=February 3, 2015 |date=February 1, 2015 }}</ref> It is the most-watched halftime show of all time, with a total TV audience of 120.7&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|last=Patten|first=Dominic|title=Eagles' 1st Super Bowl Win Draws 103.4M Viewers, Smallest Audience In Nine Years – Update|url=https://deadline.com/2018/02/super-bowl-ratings-eagles-patriots-this-is-us-nbc-1202278181/|website=Deadline|date=February 5, 2018 |access-date=February 12, 2018}}</ref>

In August 2014, it was reported that the NFL had a [[short list]] of three potential acts for the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show, including [[Coldplay]], [[Katy Perry]], and [[Rihanna]].<ref name="NFLAsksMusicians">{{cite magazine |last=Blistein |first=Jon |title=NFL Asks Musicians for Money to Play Super Bowl |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/nfl-super-bowl-rihanna-coldplay-katy-perry-20140819 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=August 19, 2014 |access-date=August 19, 2014 }}</ref> It was also reported by ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' that league representatives asked representatives of potential acts if they would be willing to provide [[Pay to play#In music|financial compensation]] to the NFL in exchange for their appearance, in the form of either an up-front fee, or a cut of revenue from concert performances made following the Super Bowl. While these reports were denied by an NFL spokeswoman, the request had, according to the ''Journal'', received a "chilly" response from those involved.<ref name="NFLAsksMusicians"/><ref name="The Wall Street Journal-pay2play">{{cite news |first=Hannah |last=Karp |title=NFL to Coldplay: Pay to Play the Super Bowl |url=https://online.wsj.com/articles/nfl-to-coldplay-pay-to-play-the-super-bowl-1408465018 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=August 20, 2014 |date=August 19, 2014 }}</ref>

==Game summary==
{{external media|video1={{YouTube|0RFXLwZV_fA|Full game broadcast on NBC}}}}
===First half===
After the teams exchanged punts to start the game, New England got the first scoring opportunity with a drive to the Seattle 10-yard line. However, on 3rd-and-6, quarterback [[Tom Brady]] threw a pass that was intercepted and returned to the 14-yard line by cornerback [[Jeremy Lane]]. Lane broke his wrist and tore his ACL on the play when he tried to break his fall with his arm extended after being tackled by wide receiver [[Julian Edelman]], and was subsequently taken out of the game. After the Patriots forced another Seahawks punt to start the second quarter, they mounted a 65-yard drive in nine plays, which began with Brady's 17-yard pass to wide receiver [[Danny Amendola]]. Brady later completed a 23-yard pass to Edelman on 3rd-and-9, then finished the drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver [[Brandon LaFell]] two plays later, giving the Patriots a 7–0 lead.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Greenberg |first=Chris |date=February 1, 2015 |title=Brandon LaFell Does his Job and Patriots Take 7-0 Super Bowl Lead |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/new-england-patriots/2015/02/01/brandon-lafell-does-his-job-and-patriots-take-7-0-super-bowl-lead/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=Boston.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

After another exchange of punts, the Seahawks began to make progress when quarterback [[Russell Wilson]] completed his first pass of the day, a 6-yard completion to wide receiver [[Jermaine Kearse]] on 3rd-and-6 and with 5:36 left in the half. Wilson then completed a 44-yard pass to wide receiver [[Chris Matthews (gridiron football)|Chris Matthews]] on the New England 11-yard line. Running back [[Marshawn Lynch]] also recorded six runs for a total gain of 25 yards during the drive, the last run being for a 3-yard touchdown to tie the game, 7–7. Only 2:16 remained in the half after Lynch's touchdown, but both teams' offenses abruptly exploded in the final two minutes of the half. Brady completed five of six passes for 59 yards on New England's ensuing possession, including three passes to running back [[Shane Vereen]] for 26 yards, and finished the drive with a 22-yard touchdown completion to tight end [[Rob Gronkowski]] with 31 seconds remaining in the half. Taking the ball back on their own 20, Seattle started off their drive with a 19-yard burst from running back [[Robert Turbin]] and a 17-yard scramble by Wilson. Then Wilson completed a 23-yard pass to wide receiver [[Ricardo Lockette]], with a face-mask penalty on cornerback [[Kyle Arrington]] adding an extra 11 yards that gave Seattle a first down on the New England 11-yard line. Only six seconds remained until halftime at this point, but coach [[Pete Carroll]] decided to take a shot at the end zone rather than kick a field goal, a gamble that paid off as Wilson threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Matthews on the next play, tying the game at 14 with just two seconds showing on the clock. This was Matthews' first NFL career touchdown.<ref name=guardian>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2015/feb/01/super-bowl-xlix-new-england-patriots-v-seattle-seahawks-live |title=Super Bowl XLIX: New England Patriots 28-24 Seattle Seahawks – as it happened!|date=February 1, 2015|work=The Guardian |access-date=February 2, 2015 }}</ref>

===Second half===
Seattle took the second-half kickoff and drove 72 yards to the New England 8-yard line, featuring a 15-yard run by Lynch and a 45-yard reception by Matthews. After Lynch was stopped for no gain on 3rd-and-1 in the red zone, kicker [[Stephen Hauschka]] finished the drive with a 27-yard field goal, giving Seattle their first lead of the game, 17–14.<ref name=barnwell_02022015>{{cite news|last=Barnwell|first=Bill|title=Super Bowl Wrap-up: What Was Pete Carroll Thinking?|date=February 2, 2015|work=Grantland|url=http://grantland.com/the-triangle/super-bowl-new-england-patriots-seattle-seahawks/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202172151/http://grantland.com/the-triangle/super-bowl-new-england-patriots-seattle-seahawks/|archive-date=February 2, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> On the Patriots' next possession, Seattle linebacker [[Bobby Wagner]] intercepted a Brady pass and returned it 6 yards to the New England 34, but an illegal blocking penalty against cornerback [[Richard Sherman (American football)|Richard Sherman]] after Wagner's interception forced the Seahawks to start their ensuing possession at midfield. Just as with their last interception, Seattle lost a key defensive player to injury. Defensive end [[Cliff Avril]] lay on the field motionless. After finally getting to his feet, he entered concussion protocol and did not re-enter the game. Seattle's pass rush, particularly [[Michael Bennett (defensive lineman, born 1985)|Michael Bennett]] inside and Avril outside, had hurried Brady into several drive-ending incompletions as well as the first interception. Wrote Gregg Bell of the ''Tacoma News Tribune'', "At times that night in the desert Bennett and Avril controlled the line of scrimmage almost by themselves."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.kitsapsun.com/sports/seahawks-avril-wont-re-watch-super-bowl-loss-40fc5853-622c-6f2d-e053-0100007fefe2-400791801.html |title=Seahawks' Avril won't re-watch Super Bowl loss |work=Kitsap Sun |last=Bell |first=Gregg |date=November 10, 2016 |access-date=January 21, 2022 }}</ref> With Avril out, the Patriots were able to double-team Bennett and give Brady more time in the pocket.

Despite the penalty against Sherman, Seattle's offense took advantage of the turnover, driving 50 yards in six plays, which featured three runs by Lynch for 18 yards and a 15-yard scramble by Wilson. The drive ended with Wilson's 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver [[Doug Baldwin]], who was penalized 15 yards on the kickoff after the play for an inappropriate celebration.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aol.com/article/2015/02/01/baldwin-mystery-penalty-a-poop-joke/21137740/ |title=Baldwin mystery penalty |date=February 1, 2015 |work=AOL.com |agency=Associated Press |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202160036/http://www.aol.com/article/2015/02/01/baldwin-mystery-penalty-a-poop-joke/21137740/ |archive-date=February 2, 2015}}</ref> The score increased Seattle's lead to 24–14, and it would remain this way going into the fourth quarter. Until this game, no team in Super Bowl history had come back to win after facing a fourth-quarter deficit of more than a touchdown.

With 12:10 left in the game, New England mounted a 68-yard drive to cut their deficit to a field goal at 24–21 on Brady's 4-yard touchdown toss to Amendola. The drive included two 21-yard completions from Brady to Edelman, the first one converting a 3rd-and-14 in what was described by Bleacher Report as "the NFL's worst nightmare". Edelman was clearly concussed by safety [[Kam Chancellor]]'s helmet-to-helmet hit, "suffering an apparent brain injury, staggering around on the field in plain view of the biggest television audience ever, per Deadline.com, and receiving no treatment."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2350953-julian-edelman-concussion-scare-was-nfls-nightmare-and-it-cant-happen-again |title=Julian Edelman Concussion Scare Was NFL's Nightmare, and It Can't Happen Again |last=Schalter |first=Ty |work=Bleacher Report |date=February 2, 2015 |access-date=January 21, 2022 }}</ref> Dave Birkett of the ''Detroit Free Press'' reported that "a medical observer was overheard radioing someone a second time saying Edelman needed to be examined."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/02/super-bowl-xlix-domestic-violence-concussion-head-injury/385077/ |title=America's Ugly Super Bowl |work=The Atlantic |last=Chandler |first=Adam |date=February 2, 2015 |access-date=January 21, 2022 }}</ref> "I thought he was going to go to sleep the way he was running," LaFell told Matt Pentz of ''The Seattle Times''. Nevertheless, Edelman remained in the game and eventually caught the game-winning touchdown pass.

Following a three-and-out for Seattle, New England got the ball back on their own 32 at the 6:52 mark. Brady started off the possession with two completions to Vereen for 13 yards, and followed it up with a 9-yard pass to Edelman. Following an offensive pass interference penalty against Amendola (which was mistakenly called against Edelman), Gronkowski caught a pair of passes that moved the team up 33 yards to the Seattle 19. Over the next three plays, Vereen rushed for 7 yards, Brady passed to LaFell for 7 more, and running back [[LeGarrette Blount]] ran the ball 2 yards to the 3-yard line. Finally, with 2:02 left in the game, Brady gave his team a 28–24 lead with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Edelman.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/american-football/31065423 |title=Patriots beat the Seahawks in dramatic finale |date=February 1, 2015 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=February 2, 2015 }}</ref>

After a touchback gave Seattle the ball on their 20, with a chance to mount a game-winning drive, Wilson started off with a 31-yard completion to Lynch. Then after two incompletions, Wilson picked up another first down with an 11-yard pass to Lockette. The following play gave the Seahawks an opportunity to win the game. Wilson threw a deep pass down the right sideline to Kearse, who was covered by cornerback [[Malcolm Butler]]. Both players dove through the air for the ball, and Butler managed to deflect it with one hand, but the pass fell right into the hands of Kearse, who tipped it to himself and caught the ball while he was lying on his back. Butler managed to recognize the catch and recover in time to shove Kearse out of bounds as he got up, preventing a Seattle touchdown, but the play netted 33 yards and set up 1st-and-goal for the Seahawks at the New England 5-yard line with 1:05 left in the game. Announcer [[Cris Collinsworth]] compared the play to two other acrobatic receptions by Patriots opponents, both of the [[New York Giants]], that had defeated them in prior Super Bowls: [[David Tyree]]'s [[Helmet Catch]] in [[Super Bowl XLII]] (which took place at the same stadium) and [[Mario Manningham]]'s sideline catch in [[Super Bowl XLVI]]. [[Al Michaels]] also compared it to [[Antonio Freeman]]'s famous ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' catch known as "He did what?" (a play that Michaels had himself called).

[[File:Malcolm Butler (American football).JPG|thumb|left|[[Malcolm Butler]], seen here in 2015, made the game-clinching interception]]

On the next play, Lynch ran the ball 4 yards to the 1-yard line where he was brought down by linebacker [[Dont'a Hightower]]. Since New England did not call a timeout, Seattle was able to run the clock down to 26 seconds before taking the snap for the next play. The Seahawks called a pass play in which Kearse would run a pick on the right side of the field to draw defensive backs away from Lockette as Lockette ran a [[Slant (route)|slant]] to the middle, but cornerback [[Brandon Browner]] blocked Kearse at the line of scrimmage, preventing him from reaching Butler. Lockette appeared to be uncovered at the 1-yard line when Wilson threw him the ball, but before the ball arrived, Butler correctly read the play and rushed into position to make the interception.<ref name="nfl.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/photoessays/0ap2000000314258 |title=Ranking all 52 Super Bowls |website=NFL.com }}</ref> The turnover—after an unsportsmanlike conduct call for excessive celebration—gave New England the ball on their own 1-yard line with 20 seconds remaining in the game.

The game was not quite over at this point. Since the ball was placed on the 1-yard line, Brady had to take the snap in his own end zone. If he [[quarterback kneel|took a knee]] or the Patriots otherwise failed to advance the ball beyond the goal line, this would be a [[Safety (gridiron football score)|safety]], awarding Seattle two points, cutting the New England lead to 28–26, and forcing the Patriots to kick the ball back to the Seahawks who could win with a field goal. However, Bennett moved across the line of scrimmage, earning a 5-yard [[encroachment (gridiron football)|encroachment]] penalty against the Seattle defense and moving the ball to the 6-yard line. Brady then took a knee, Seattle called its final timeout, and linebacker [[Bruce Irvin (American football)|Bruce Irvin]] rushed some of the New England players, starting a brawl involving players from both teams that resulted in a [[personal foul (American football)|personal foul]] penalty for Seattle for another 15 yards. Irvin received the first ejection in Super Bowl history for throwing a closed hand punch at Gronkowski.<ref name="Scott">{{cite news |url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/02/super-bowl-brawl-seahawks-patriots |title=Massive brawl breaks out in closing seconds of Super Bowl |work=[[USA Today]] |date=February 1, 2015 |access-date=February 1, 2015 |last=Scott |first=Nate }}</ref><ref name="Hoffmeyer">{{cite web |url=http://www.wthr.com/story/27995470/game-day-excitement-builds-for-super-bowl-xlix-in-phoenix |title=Game Day: Patriots win Super Bowl XLIX 28–24 |publisher=[[WTHR]] |date=February 1, 2015 |access-date=February 1, 2015 |last=Hoffmeyer |first=Evan |archive-date=February 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202174033/http://www.wthr.com/story/27995470/game-day-excitement-builds-for-super-bowl-xlix-in-phoenix |url-status=dead }}</ref> Brady knelt one more time at the 21-yard line and the Patriots had won their first Super Bowl title in 10 years.<ref name="Hoffmeyer"/>

===Game statistics===
Brady completed 37 of 50 passes for 328 yards and four touchdowns, with two interceptions. His 37 completions set a new Super Bowl record, surpassing Peyton Manning's 34 set the previous year against Seattle in [[Super Bowl XLVIII]]. He also surpassed [[Joe Montana]]'s record for career touchdown passes in Super Bowls, setting a new record with 13.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2015020100/2014/POST22/patriots@seahawks#tab=recap&recap=fullstory |title=Tom Brady rallies Patriots past Seahawks in Super Bowl |date=February 1, 2015 |publisher=[[National Football League]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=February 2, 2015 }}</ref> His top receiver was Edelman, who caught 9 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for seven yards and returning three punts for 27 additional yards. Vereen caught 11 passes for 64 yards and rushed for 13. For Seattle, Wilson completed 12 of 21 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception, while also rushing for 39 yards. Lynch was the top rusher of the game with 102 yards and a touchdown, and also caught a pass for 31 yards. Matthews, an undrafted rookie who had not caught any passes in the regular season or postseason before the Super Bowl, caught four passes for 109 yards and a touchdown. Wagner had 12 tackles (10 solo) and an interception. Linebacker [[K. J. Wright]] had 11 tackles (10 solo).<ref name=guardian/> New England became only the fourth team to win a Super Bowl despite losing the turnover battle (after the [[1970 Baltimore Colts season|Baltimore Colts]] in [[Super Bowl V]] and the Pittsburgh Steelers in both Super Bowls [[Super Bowl XIV|XIV]] and [[Super Bowl XL|XL]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.101sports.com/2015/02/12/looking-back-super-bowl-xlix-stats-records/ |title=Looking Back at Super Bowl XLIX Stats and Records |publisher=101Sports.com |access-date=March 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402140742/http://www.101sports.com/2015/02/12/looking-back-super-bowl-xlix-stats-records/ |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In winning, Brady became the third quarterback in NFL history with four Super Bowl victories. Brady was also named MVP for a third time, tying the record set by [[Joe Montana]]. The Seahawks became the first defending champion since the [[Green Bay Packers]] in [[Super Bowl XXXII]] to lose in the Super Bowl the next year. This also marked the 10th consecutive Super Bowl without a repeat winner (with the last one being the Patriots in [[Super Bowl XXXIX]]).

In a poll conducted by NFL.com a couple of months after the game, Super Bowl XLIX was voted by its readers as the "greatest Super Bowl game" of all time.<ref name=NFL20150403>{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/super-bowl-xlix-voted-greatest-game-of-all-time-0ap3000000483475|title=Super Bowl XLIX voted greatest game of all time|work=NFL.com|date=April 3, 2015|access-date=September 10, 2015}}</ref> The article does report that the voting was structured to try to account for "recency bias" in relation to the game at the time when the poll was conducted, but voters still "pushed it through the competition".<ref name=NFL20150403/> Most lists of greatest Super Bowls continue to list it in the top few games.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Myers |first=Gary |date=February 5, 2016 |title=From wide right and David Tyree to all those blowouts, ranking every Super Bowl game ever played from I to XLIX |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/myers-ranking-top-50-super-bowls-article-1.2520868 |access-date=January 23, 2017 |work=[[New York Daily News|Daily News]] |quote=Ranked #2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2017-super-bowl-ranking-all-50-super-bowls-from-worst-to-first/ |title=2017 Super Bowl: Ranking all 50 Super Bowls, from worst to first|work=CBS Sports|access-date=February 2, 2017|date=February 1, 2017|quote=Ranked #1}}; {{Cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/photoessays/0ap2000000314258 |work=NFL.com|title=Ranking the Super Bowls|date=January 27, 2015|access-date=January 23, 2017|quote=Ranked #3}}</ref>

===Reactions to Seattle's final play===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
{{Quote box |quoted=true |bgcolor=#FFFFF0 |salign=center
|width=100%
|align=center
|quote=Lynch in the backfield, Russell looks, throws inside – oh, my God, it's picked off at the goal line! It's picked off by Guy Butler intended for Lockette at the goal line with 20 seconds left! Oh, my word!
|source=[[Steve Raible]] on the Seahawks radio broadcast on [[KIRO-FM]] and [[KIRO (AM)|KIRO AM]]<ref>{{cite AV media |title= Malcolm Butler Super Bowl Interception Radio Calls  |type=Radio broadcasts with TV video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4d4u6iHPMY |publisher=KIRO/WBZ-FM |access-date=December 19, 2024 |date=February 1, 2015 |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
}}
{{col-break}}
{{Quote box |quoted=true |bgcolor=#FFFFF0 |salign=center
|width=100%
|align=center
|quote=Russell Wilson extends the hands – he has it. Wilson, quick throw and it's – intercepted! Intercepted by Malcolm Butler! Butler has it at the 1! Malcolm Butler stepped in front of the throw! (Color commentator Scott Zolak: "No way!") And the Patriots have possession with 20 seconds to go in Super Bowl XLIX with a 4-point lead over the Seahawks!
|source=[[Bob Socci]] on the Patriots radio broadcast on [[WBZ-FM|WBZ-FM (98.5 The Sports Hub)]]<ref name="Seahawks Final Play – Patriots Radio">{{cite AV media |title=Radio call of Patriots' Malcolm Butler's pick in SB 49 |type=Radio broadcast with TV video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKO1b-eDr0A |publisher=WBZ-FM |access-date=December 19, 2024 |date=February 1, 2015 |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
}} 
{{col-end}}
{{Quote box |quoted=true |bgcolor=#FFFFF0 |salign=center
|width=100%
|align=center
|quote=It's gotta be one of the dumbest calls offensively in Super Bowl history. You are on the 1-yard line and you have #24 and you drop back pass? ''Are you kidding me?'' And also, they ran a pick play – an illegal pick! You ''deserve'' an interception!
|source=[[Scott Zolak]] on color commentary on the Patriots radio broadcast on [[WBZ-FM|WBZ-FM (98.5 The Sports Hub)]]<ref name="Seahawks Final Play – Patriots Radio"/>
}}

After the game, Seattle faced heavy criticism for their decision to call a pass play on second and goal from the 1-yard line with 26 seconds and one timeout left instead of a rushing play. Following the play, Collinsworth stated, "I'm sorry, but I can't believe the call. … I cannot believe the call. You've got Marshawn Lynch in the backfield. You've got a guy that has been borderline unstoppable in this part of the field. I can't believe the call." He further added, "If I lose the Super Bowl because Marshawn Lynch can't get it in from the 1 yard line, so be it. So be it! But there is no way... I don't believe the call."<ref>{{cite news |last=Groller |first=Keith |date=February 2, 2015 |title=NBC's Collinsworth shined as much as Tom Brady on Super Bowl Sunday |url=http://www.mcall.com/sports/columnists/mc-superbowl-finetuning-0202-20150202-column.html |newspaper=The Morning Call |location=Allentown, Pennsylvania |access-date=March 22, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite video |title=Butler picks off Wilson to seal Patriots Super Bowl XLIX victory |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7rPIg7ZNQ8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/U7rPIg7ZNQ8|archive-date=October 30, 2021|medium=[[YouTube]] |publisher=National Football League |date=February 1, 2015 |access-date=February 8, 2015 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' writer [[Peter King (sportswriter)|Peter King]] called the play one of the worst calls in Super Bowl history,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=King |first=Peter |author-link=Peter King (sportswriter) |date=February 2, 2015 |title=The Worst Play Call in Super Bowl History |url=http://mmqb.si.com/2015/02/02/super-bowl-49-russell-wilson-interception-slant-malcolm-butler/ |access-date=February 2, 2015 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> as did retired [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]r [[Deion Sanders]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Deion Sanders: 'Seattle Seahawks made worst call in Super Bowl history' |publisher=National Football League |date=February 1, 2015 |url=http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl/0ap3000000467563/Deion-Hawks-made-worst-call-in-Super-Bowl-history |access-date=February 2, 2015 }}</ref> Retired running back [[Emmitt Smith]], the NFL's all-time leading rusher, went even further, calling it the worst play call in the history of football.<ref>{{cite web |title=Twitter reacts to Seahawks' call to throw on goal line |publisher=National Football League |date=February 2, 2015 |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/twitter-reacts-to-seahawks-call-to-throw-on-goal-line-0ap3000000467554 |access-date=February 2, 2015 }}</ref> Others, including [[Michigan Wolverines football|University of Michigan]] head coach [[Jim Harbaugh]] and Hall of Fame quarterback [[Joe Namath]], defended the call, crediting Butler for the play he made and pointing out that the Seahawks only had one time-out left.<ref>{{cite news |last=Eaton |first=Nick |title=Jim Harbaugh: Seahawks' Super Bowl pass was good call |url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/2015/02/16/jim-harbaugh-seahawks-super-bowl-pass-was-good-call/#30231101=0 |access-date=February 18, 2015 |work=Seattle Post Intelligencer |date=February 16, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vrentas |first=Jenny |date=February 13, 2015 |title=Joe Namath: 'No One Has Ever Played the Game Better Than Tom Brady' |url=http://mmqb.si.com/2015/02/13/joe-namath-tom-brady-super-bowl-xlix-nfl/ |access-date=February 18, 2015 |website=TheMMQB.com}}</ref> Writing for Grantland, [[Bill Simmons]] said the Seahawks "took too much heat for the final play call" and noted Carroll opted to run the ball on fourth down at the end of the [[2006 Rose Bowl]], costing his team the game.<ref>{{cite web |last=Simmons |first=Bill |title=Retro Running Diary: Super Bowl XLIX |url=http://grantland.com/the-triangle/running-diary-super-bowl-xlix-new-england-patriots-seattle-seahawks/ |website=Grantland.com |access-date=February 18, 2015 |date=February 4, 2015 }}</ref>

Butler's interception, thanks to his quick "read-and-react to Ricardo Lockette's underneath route", has been considered one of the top clutch plays in Super Bowl history.<ref name="nfl.com"/> It would also be a launching point for Butler's career. Butler, an undrafted rookie who had started only one game during the season, had entered Super Bowl XLIX listed #5 on the Patriots depth chart.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Haugh |first=David |date=February 2, 2015 |title=Unlikely Super Bowl stars provide a lesson about player evaluation |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ct-haugh-super-bowl-malcolm-butler-spt-0203-20150202-column.html |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> But after this game, he would go on to start in all but one of the Patriots games over the next three seasons, as well as leading the team in interceptions in 2016, a season in which he helped them win another Super Bowl.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Malcolm Butler Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/ButlMa01.htm |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2016 New England Patriots Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nwe/2016.htm |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

In the game, Lynch had gained at least one yard on 22 of 24 carries.<ref name=kilgore_02012015/> While the Patriots in 2014 were ranked fifth-worst (28th overall) in the league in holding opposing backs for no gain or a loss, they had stopped him for no gain on both a third-and-2 and a third-and-1, the latter in the red zone.<ref name=barnwell_02022015/><ref name=kilgore_02012015>{{cite news|last=Kilgore |first=Adam |title=Goal line play-calling dooms Seahawks, hands Super Bowl to Patriots |date=February 1, 2015 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2015/02/01/goal-line-play-calling-dooms-seahawks-hands-super-bowl-to-patriots/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203060832/http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2015/02/01/goal-line-play-calling-dooms-seahawks-hands-super-bowl-to-patriots/ |archive-date=February 3, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Play by Play|publisher=National Football League|url=http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2015020100/2014/POST22/patriots@seahawks#menu=gameinfo%7CcontentId%3A0ap3000000467812&tab=analyze&analyze=playbyplay|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203030007/http://www.nfl.com/widget/gc/2011/tabs/cat-post-playbyplay?gameId=2015020100|archive-date=February 3, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> On the season, Lynch had scored just once on his five attempts from his opponent's 1-yard line. From 2010 to 2014, he scored 45% of the time, ranking 30th out of 39 running backs; for his career to that point, he was successful on 42% of his attempts (15 of 36).{{#tag:ref|Rank is among players with at least 10 attempts and includes performance in the playoffs.<ref name=bonestell_02022015>{{cite news|last=Bonesteel |first=Matt |title=Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch isn't exactly money from the 1-yard line |date=February 2, 2015 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2015/02/02/seahawks-marshawn-lynch-isnt-exactly-money-from-the-1-yard-line/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203023912/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2015/02/02/seahawks-marshawn-lynch-isnt-exactly-money-from-the-1-yard-line/ |archive-date=February 3, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}}{{#tag:ref|He did not gain a yard on 12 of those attempts, and lost yardage in 9.<ref name=bonestell_02022015/>|group=lower-alpha}}

Seattle offensive coordinator [[Darrell Bevell]] acknowledged making the call,<ref name=corbett_02022015/> but also remarked that Lockette could have been more aggressive on the play.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cwik |first=Chris |title=Seahawks' Bevell questions Ricardo Lockette's effort on final play |url=http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasyfootball/update/25016687/seahawks-bevell-questions-ricardo-lockettes-effort-on-final-play |work=CBS Sports |date=February 1, 2015 |access-date=February 2, 2015 }}</ref> Wilson said the play was a "good call", and lamented throwing the interception and "not making that play."<ref name=corbett_02022015>{{cite news|last=Corbett |first=Jim |title=Pete Carroll takes blame for Seahawks' failure to run Marshawn Lynch |date=February 2, 2015 |newspaper=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/seahawks/2015/02/01/pete-carroll-pass-russell-wilson-malcolm-brown-marshawn-lynch/22727797/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203082020/http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/seahawks/2015/02/01/pete-carroll-pass-russell-wilson-malcolm-brown-marshawn-lynch/22727797/ |archive-date=February 3, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Carroll, though, said the last play was "all my fault", and called Bevell "crucially important to our future."<ref name=corbett_02022015/> Carroll added that Seattle would have run the ball on a subsequent play,<ref name=corbett_02022015/><ref>{{cite web|last=Orr|first=Conor|title=What went wrong on the Seahawks' final play?|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/what-went-wrong-on-the-seahawks-final-play-0ap3000000467667|publisher=National Football League|website=[[NFL.com]]|date=February 2, 2015|access-date=January 29, 2016}}</ref> as well that "we don't ever call a play thinking we might throw an interception."<ref>{{cite news|last=Blount |first=Terry |title=Carroll: Throwing was part of the plan |date=February 2, 2015 |work=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/playoffs/2014/story/_/id/12268853/seattle-seahawks-coach-pete-carroll-denies-reports-changed-goal-line-interception-play-pass |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203021338/http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2014/story/_/id/12268853/seattle-seahawks-coach-pete-carroll-denies-reports-changed-goal-line-interception-play-pass |archive-date=February 3, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Butler's interception was the only one against all 109 pass attempts during the 2014 NFL season from the 1-yard line.<ref>{{cite web|last=Leitch|first=Will|title=The Seattle Seahawks' Circular Firing Squad|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/features/2015-02-02/the-seattle-seahawks-circular-firing-squad|publisher=[[Bloomberg News]]|date=February 2, 2015|access-date=January 29, 2016}}</ref>

===Box score===
{{Americanfootballbox
|state=uncollapsed
|bg=#eee
|titlestyle=text-align:center;background-color:#000;color:#fff
|title=Super Bowl XLIX: New England Patriots 28, Seattle Seahawks 24
|date=February 1, 2015
|time=4:30 p.m. [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
|road='''Patriots (AFC)'''
|R1=0 |R2=14 |R3=0 |R4=14
|home=Seahawks (NFC)
|H1=0 |H2=14 |H3=10 |H4=0
|stadium=[[University of Phoenix Stadium]] in [[Glendale, Arizona]]
|attendance=70,288
|weather=Sunny, {{convert|66|F|C}} ([[retractable roof]] open)
|referee=[[Bill Vinovich]]
|TV=[[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]]
|TVAnnouncers=[[Al Michaels]] ([[Sports commentator|play-by-play]]), [[Cris Collinsworth]] ([[color commentator]]), and [[Michele Tafoya]] ([[sideline reporter]])
|reference=[http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2015020100/2014/POST22/patriots@seahawks#menu=gameinfo&tab=recap Recap], [http://www.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/56502/SEA_Gamebook.pdf Gamebook]
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart |VisitorName=NE |HomeName=SEA |state=expanded}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=2 |Time=9:47 |Team=NE |DrivePlays=9 |DriveLength=65 |DriveTime=4:10 |Type=RecTD |yards=11 |Receiver=[[Brandon LaFell]]|QB=[[Tom Brady]] |kickresult=good |Kicker=[[Stephen Gostkowski]] |Visitor=7 |Home=0}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=2 |Time=2:16 |Team=SEA |DrivePlays=8 |DriveLength=70 |DriveTime=4:51 |Type=RushTD |yards=3 |Runner=[[Marshawn Lynch]] |kickresult=good |Kicker=[[Steven Hauschka]]|Visitor=7 |Home=7}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=2 |Time=0:31 |Team=NE |DrivePlays=8 |DriveLength=80 |DriveTime=1:45 |Type=RecTD |yards=22 |Receiver=[[Rob Gronkowski]] |QB=Brady |kickresult=good |Kicker=Gostkowski |Visitor=14 |Home=7}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=2 |Time=0:02 |Team=SEA |DrivePlays=5 |DriveLength=80 |DriveTime=0:29 |Type=RecTD |yards=11 |Receiver=[[Chris Matthews (American football)|Chris Matthews]] |QB=[[Russell Wilson]] |kickresult=good |Kicker=Hauschka |Visitor=14 |Home=14}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=3 |Time=11:09 |Team=SEA |DrivePlays=7 |DriveLength=72 |DriveTime=3:51 |Type=FG |yards=27 |Kicker=Hauschka |Visitor=14 |Home=17}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=3 |Time=4:54 |Team=SEA |DrivePlays=6 |DriveLength=50 |DriveTime=3:13 |Type=RecTD |yards=3 |Receiver=[[Doug Baldwin]] |QB=Wilson |kickresult=good |Kicker=Hauschka|Visitor=14 |Home=24}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=4 |Time=7:55 |Team=NE |DrivePlays=9 |DriveLength=68 |DriveTime=4:15 |Type=RecTD |yards=4 |Receiver=[[Danny Amendola]] |QB=Brady |kickresult=good |Kicker=Gostkowski |Visitor=21 |Home=24}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=4 |Time=2:02 |Team=NE |DrivePlays=10 |DriveLength=64 |DriveTime=4:50 |Type=RecTD |yards=3 |Receiver=[[Julian Edelman]] |QB=Brady |kickresult=good |Kicker=Gostkowski |Visitor=28 |Home=24}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd |Visitor=28 |Home=24}}

==Final statistics==
Sources: [http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2015020100/2014/POST22/patriots@seahawks#menu=gameinfo%7CcontentId%3A0ap3000000467694&tab=analyze NFL.com], Pro Football Reference.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201502010sea.htm|title=SB XLIX Page|work=pro-football-reference.com|date=February 2, 2015|access-date=February 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/BeliBi0.htm|title=Bill Belichick coaching stats|work=pro-football-reference.com|access-date=February 2, 2015}}</ref> [http://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore.html?gid=2015020101 The Football Database Super Bowl XLIX]

===Statistical comparison===
<div style="float:left;width:50%">
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Statistic
!New England Patriots
!Seattle Seahawks
|-
|First downs||25||20
|-
|First downs rushing||1||8
|-
|First downs passing||21||10
|-
|First downs penalty||3||2
|-
|Third down efficiency||8/14||3/10
|-
|Fourth down efficiency||0/0||0/0
|-
|Net yards rushing||57||162
|-
|Rushing attempts||21||29
|-
|Yards per rush||2.7||5.6
|-
|Passing – Completions-attempts||37/50||12/21
|-
|Times sacked-total yards||1–8||3–13
|-
|Interceptions thrown||2||1
|-
|Net yards passing||320||234
|-
|Total net yards||377||396
|-
|Punt returns-total yards||3–27||2–6
|-
|Kickoff returns-total yards||3–49||0–0
|-
|Interceptions-total return yards||1–3||2–14
|-
|Punts-average yardage||4–49.0||6–44.8
|-
|Fumbles-lost||0–0||0–0
|-
|Penalties-yards||5–36||7–70
|-
|Time of possession||33:46||26:14
|-
|Turnovers||2||1
|}
</div>
<div style="float:right;width:50%">
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan=3|Records set
|-
|Most games started||6||rowspan=6 style="border-bottom: 2px solid white"|[[Tom Brady]]<br />(New England)
|-
|Most games started at quarterback||6
|-
|Most pass completions, game||37
|-
|Most passing touchdowns, career||13
|-
|Most pass attempts, career||247*
|-
|Most pass completions, career||164*
|- style="border-bottom: 2px solid gray"
|Most passing yards, career||1,605*||style="border-top: 2px solid white" align=center|*extended his record
|-
|Longest punt||64 yards||[[Ryan Allen (American football)|Ryan Allen]] (New England)
|-style="border-bottom: 2px solid gray"
|Most tackles, career||22<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/super-bowl/leaders.htm |title=Super Bowl Leaders page |work=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=March 10, 2015 }}</ref>||[[Bobby Wagner]] (Seattle)
|-
|Largest fourth-quarter comeback ||10 points<ref>{{cite web |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/02/patriots-had-biggest-second-half-comeback-in-super-bowl-history/ |title=Patriots had biggest second-half comeback in Super Bowl history |publisher=NBC Sports |date=February 2, 2015 |access-date=March 2, 2015 }}</ref>||rowspan=2|New England
|-style="border-bottom: 2px solid gray"
|Most first downs earned, passing||21
|-
|Fewest kickoff returns, one team||0||rowspan=2|Seattle
|-style="border-bottom: 2px solid gray"
|Fewest kickoff return yards, one team||0
|-
|Fewest kickoff returns, both teams||3||New England (3), Seattle (0)
|-
|Fewest kickoff return yards, both teams||49||New England (49), Seattle (0)
|-
!colspan=3|Records tied
|-
|Most Super Bowl MVP Awards||3||rowspan=3|[[Tom Brady]]
|-
|Most games played||6
|-style="border-bottom: 2px solid gray"
|Most wins as starting QB||4
|-
|Most games as player, assistant, or coach||9||rowspan=3|[[Bill Belichick]]
|-
|Most games, head coach||6
|-style="border-bottom: 2px solid gray"
|Most wins, head coach||4
|-
|Most Super Bowl appearances||8||rowspan=4|New England
|-
|Largest comeback ||10 points
|-
|Fewest first downs rushing||1
|-style="border-bottom: 2px solid gray"
|Fewest rushing touchdowns||0
|-
|Fewest fumbles, both teams||0||&nbsp;
|-
|Fewest fumbles lost, both teams||0||&nbsp;
|-
|Fewest field goals attempted, both teams||1||New England (0), Seattle (1)
|}
</div>

{{Clear}}

===Individual leaders===
<div style="float:left;width:50%">
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="6" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New England Patriots|border=2}}"|Patriots passing
|-
!
!C/ATT<sup>1</sup>
!Yds
!TD
!INT
!Rating
|-
|[[Tom Brady]]||37/50||328||4||2||101.1
|-
!colspan="6" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New England Patriots|border=2}}"|Patriots rushing
|-
!
!Car<sup>2</sup>
!Yds
!TD
!LG<sup>3</sup>
!Yds/Car
|-
|[[LeGarrette Blount]]||14||40||0||9||2.86
|-
|[[Shane Vereen]]||4||13||0||7||3.25
|-
|[[Julian Edelman]]||1||7||0||7||7.00
|-
|[[Tom Brady]]||2||–3||0||–1||–1.50
|-
!colspan="6" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New England Patriots|border=2}}"|Patriots receiving
|-
!
!Rec<sup>4</sup>
!Yds
!TD
!LG<sup>3</sup>
!Target<sup>5</sup>
|-
|[[Shane Vereen]]||11||64||0||16||12
|-
|[[Julian Edelman]]||9||109||1||23||12
|-
|[[Rob Gronkowski]]||6||68||1||22||10
|-
|[[Danny Amendola]]||5||48||1||17||7
|-
|[[Brandon LaFell]]||4||29||1||11||7
|-
|[[James Develin]]||1||6||0||6||1
|-
|[[Michael Hoomanawanui]]||1||4||0||4||1
|}
</div>
<div style="float:right;width:50%">
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="6" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Seattle Seahawks|border=2}}"|Seahawks passing
|-
!
!C/ATT<sup>1</sup>
!Yds
!TD
!INT
!Rating
|-
|[[Russell Wilson]]||12/21||247||2||1||110.6
|-
!colspan="6" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Seattle Seahawks|border=2}}"|Seahawks rushing
|-
!
!Car<sup>2</sup>
!Yds
!TD
!LG<sup>3</sup>
!Yds/Car
|-
|[[Marshawn Lynch]]||24||102||1||15||4.25
|-
|[[Russell Wilson]]||3||39||0||17||13.00
|-
|[[Robert Turbin]]||2||21||0||19||10.50
|-
!colspan="6" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Seattle Seahawks|border=2}}"|Seahawks receiving
|-
!
!Rec<sup>4</sup>
!Yds
!TD
!LG<sup>3</sup>
!Target<sup>5</sup>
|-
|[[Chris Matthews (gridiron football)|Chris Matthews]]||4||109||1||45||5
|-
|[[Ricardo Lockette]]||3||59||0||25||5
|-
|[[Jermaine Kearse]]||3||45||0||33||6
|-
|[[Marshawn Lynch]]||1||31||0||31||2
|-
|[[Doug Baldwin]]||1||3||1||3||1
|-
|[[Bryan Walters]]||0||0||0||0||1
|}
</div>
{{Clear}}
<sup>1</sup>Completions/attempts
<sup>2</sup>Carries
<sup>3</sup>Long gain
<sup>4</sup>Receptions
<sup>5</sup>Times targeted

==Starting lineups==

{{hilite|Hall of Fame‡|#FFCC00}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!style="width:160px" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New England Patriots|border=2}}"| New England !!colspan="2"| Position !! style="width:160px" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Seattle Seahawks|border=2}}" | Seattle
|-
!colspan="4"| '''Offense'''
|-
| [[Brandon LaFell]] ||colspan="2"| WR || [[Doug Baldwin]]
|-
| [[Nate Solder]] ||colspan="2"| LT || [[Russell Okung]]
|-
| [[Dan Connolly (American football)|Dan Connolly]] ||colspan="2"| LG || [[James Carpenter (offensive lineman)|James Carpenter]]
|-
| [[Bryan Stork]] ||colspan="2"| C || [[Max Unger]]
|-
| [[Ryan Wendell]] ||colspan="2"| RG || [[J. R. Sweezy]]
|-
| [[Sebastian Vollmer]] ||colspan="2"| RT || [[Justin Britt]]
|-
| [[Rob Gronkowski]] ||colspan="2"| TE || [[Luke Willson]]
|-
| [[Julian Edelman]] ||colspan="2"| WR || [[Jermaine Kearse]]
|-
| [[Tom Brady]] ||colspan="2"| QB || [[Russell Wilson]]
|-
| [[Michael Hoomanawanui]] || TE || WR || [[Ricardo Lockette]]
|-
| [[Shane Vereen]] ||colspan="2"| RB || [[Marshawn Lynch]]
|-
! colspan="4" | '''Defense'''
|-
| [[Rob Ninkovich]] || LE || LDE || [[Michael Bennett (defensive lineman, born 1985)|Michael Bennett]]
|-
| [[Vince Wilfork]] || DT || LDT || [[Tony McDaniel]]
|-
| [[Sealver Siliga]] || DT || RDT || [[Kevin Williams (defensive tackle)|Kevin Williams]]
|-
| [[Chandler Jones]] || RE || RDE || [[Cliff Avril]]
|-
| [[Jamie Collins (American football)|Jamie Collins]] || LB || OLB || [[Bruce Irvin (American football)|Bruce Irvin]]
|-
| [[Dont'a Hightower]] || LB || MLB || [[Bobby Wagner]]
|-
| [[Kyle Arrington]] || DB || OLB || [[K. J. Wright]]
|-
| bgcolor="#FFCC00" | [[Darrelle Revis]]‡ ||colspan="2"| LCB || [[Richard Sherman (American football)|Richard Sherman]]
|-
| [[Brandon Browner]] ||colspan="2"| RCB || [[Byron Maxwell]]
|-
| [[Patrick Chung]] ||colspan="2"| SS || [[Kam Chancellor]]
|-
| [[Devin McCourty]] ||colspan="2"| FS || [[Earl Thomas (defensive back)|Earl Thomas]]
|-
| colspan="4"|Source:<ref>{{cite web|title=Super Bowl XLIX–National Football League Game Summary|url=http://nflcdns.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/56502/SEA_Gamebook.pdf|publisher=National Football League|date=February 1, 2015|access-date=January 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007132246/http://nflcdns.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/56502/SEA_Gamebook.pdf|archive-date=October 7, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
|}

==Officials==
Super Bowl XLIX had seven [[Official (American football)|officials]].<ref name="Super Bowl XLIX officials" /> The numbers in parentheses below indicates their uniform numbers.
* Referee: [[Bill Vinovich]] (52), first Super Bowl<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 20, 2015 |title=Super Bowl XLIX officials named; Vinovich to be head referee |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/super-bowl-xlix-officials-named-vinovich-to-be-head-referee-0ap3000000461220 |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Umpire: Bill Schuster (129), first Super Bowl
* Head linesman: [[Dana McKenzie]] (8), first Super Bowl
* Line judge: Mark Perlman (9), third Super Bowl (XL, XLIII)
* Field judge: Bob Waggoner (25), second Super Bowl (XL as BJ)
* Side judge: Tom Hill (97), second Super Bowl (XL)
* Back judge: Terrence Miles (111), first Super Bowl
* Replay official: Mike Wimmer, first Super Bowl
* Replay assistant: Terry Poulos<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Danny |date=2015-01-20 |title=Bill Vinovich announced as Super Bowl head referee |url=https://www.fieldgulls.com/2015/1/20/7863137/super-bowl-referee-bill-vinovich-seahawks-patriots |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=Field Gulls |language=en}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{portal|American football}}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{YouTube|id=0RFXLwZV_fA|title=Super Bowl XLIX: NFL Full Game}}
* [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201502010sea.htm Super Bowl XLIX Box Score] at [[Pro Football Reference]]

{{Super Bowl}}
{{Super Bowl XLIX}}
{{New England Patriots}}
{{Seattle Seahawks}}
{{2014 NFL season by team|state=collapsed}}
{{NFLC-SuperBowl}}
{{NFL on NBC}}
{{Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Live Sports Special}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Super Bowl 049}}
[[Category:Super Bowl|Super Bowl 049]]
[[Category:2014 NFL season]]
[[Category:2015 in American football]]
[[Category:2015 in sports in Arizona]]
[[Category:American football competitions in Arizona]]
[[Category:Brawls in team sports]]
[[Category:New England Patriots postseason]]
[[Category:Seattle Seahawks postseason]]
[[Category:Sports competitions in Glendale, Arizona]]
[[Category:February 2015 sports events in the United States]]
[[Category:Tom Brady]]
[[Category:2015 in American television]]
[[Category:Bill Belichick]]