Patriots hold off Seahawks

GLENDALE, AZ (AP) – In the end, it was an unheralded rookie strong safety from West Alabama who saved the Super Bowl for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, who beat the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 to win a nip-and-tuck Super Bowl 49.

Malcolm Butler made an interception at the goal line as the Seattle Seahawks were one yard away from the go-ahead touchdown. Butler spoiled the Seahawks’ comeback by stepping in front of Ricardo Lockette for the game-saving interception at the goal line.

The Patriots rallied from a 10-point fourth quarter deficit. Brady threw four touchdown passes, including the game-winning 3-yard strike to Julian Edelman with 2:02 left. That was Brady’s 12th career Super Bowl TD pass, breaking Joe Montana’s record.

New England coach Bill Belichick and QB Brady are now four-for-six in Super Bowls in this century. Belichick’s 22 postseason victories are the most by any coach in NFL history to culminate a fortnight of accusations about underinflated footballs during the Pats’ AFC title rout two weeks ago.

Belichick joined Pittsburgh’s Chuck Noll as the only coach with four Super Bowls.

(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) – Tom Brady won his record-tying third Super Bowl MVP award and fourth Lombardi Trophy. Brady completed 37 of 50 passes for 328 yards, with four touchdowns – each to a different receiver – and two interceptions.

The Patriots trailed 24-14 in the fourth quarter before Brady connected with Danny Amendola for a 4-yard TD pass with about 7:55 left. He then hit Julian Edelman with 2:02 left on a 3-yard TD for the winning score.

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GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP)- On a team with superstars like Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and shutdown cornerback Darrelle Revis (duh-REHL’ REE-vihs), the New England Patriots were saved by an unheralded, undrafted free agent out of West Alabama — the only West Alabama player in the NFL.

Malcolm Butler, an unassuming 5-foot-11 free safety, stepped in front of a Russell Wilson pass with 20 seconds left for the game-saving interception.

Butler said he “had a vision I would make a big play and it happened.” Star Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch got it to the Patriots 1-yard line, but the Seahawks called a pass play on second down. Then Butler cut off receiver Ricardo Lockette and made the interception.

GLENDALE, AZ (AP) – The best defense in the NFL was handed a 10-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter and could not deliver a second straight Super Bowl title for the Seattle Seahawks.

Say what you will about the decision to have Russell Wilson throw from the 1-yard line, resulting in Malcolm Butler’s clinching interception for New England. But before that moment, the Seahawks defense allowed two long touchdown drives and watched the Patriots rally for a 28-24 victory.

Seattle had the best pass defense, best total defense and best scoring defense in the NFL. The Seahawks had allowed less than 10 points per game during their eight-game win streak to close the season.

But the Seahawks fell to 2-6 over the past two seasons when allowing 24 or more points. Five of their six losses this season, including Sunday night, came when giving up 24 or more.

(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)