Super Bowl XLIX Recap

Wow.  What a game.  This was truly one of the most exciting Super Bowls in recent memory.  I would like to say that I generally like to wait a bit before I send out my recap, so that I can digest the game.  However, I really just get lazy, especially without the time crunch of the next playoff game.  However, I like to stick to my "better late than never" mantra.  So, for the people that were anxiously waiting for my Super Bowl XLIX recap (people read this blog?), here it is.  

New England Patriots 28, Seattle Seahawks 24

Similar to the NFC Championship game, Seattle started off slow, as New England dominated the first half.  An ill-advised interception by Tom Brady, deep in Seattle territory, kept the Seahawks in the game.  Still, the Patriots were moving the ball with ease, while the Seahawks struggled.  Other than some big plays from previous no-name Chris Matthews, Seattle had a tough time moving the ball.  However, with the game seemingly one-sided, Seattle was somehow able to head into halftime, tied at 14, thanks to some gusty playcall at the end of the half.  Carroll chose to go for the touchdown with 6 seconds left, rather than kick the field goal.  His bold call was a foreshadowing of another bold call that Carroll would make later in the game.

The third quarter was all Seattle, and when the Seahawks took a 24-14 lead, everyone watching the game could sense how close the Seahawks were to repeating as champions.  However, Brady turned it on in the fourth quarter, in a game that would have a significant impact on the eternal "greatest quarterback of all time" debate.  But Seattle would not go down quietly, and thanks to a miracle catch by Jermaine Kearse, the Seahawks were a yard away from back-to-back Super Bowl Championships, with 26 seconds left.  Then, the play happened.  One of the biggest moments in NFL history.  Wilson dropped back to pass, threw to a seemingly open Ricardo Lockette, and for a brief moment, viewers could not see the ball.  But when New England players started jumping up and down, everyone knew that the unthinkable had happened.  Malcolm Butler had made what will forever be the biggest play of his life.  The game was over.  The Patriots had won another Super Bowl.  

So, what to make of this decision to pass the ball?  The immediate reaction by everyone was expected, "Why not give the ball to Beast Mode?  Why would you throw it?!"  So, was it the wrong call?  Sure, the better call there probably would have been to run it.  Was it one of the worst play calls ever?  Of course not.  Passing the ball was a reasonable option that close to the goal line.  The interception made the play seem idiotic, but interceptions are very low risk in that situation.  In the end, it was simply a great play by Butler.  I will admit that coming out with three wide receivers, one yard from the endzone, was strange, but that is very easy to say in retrospect.  Personally, I would have called a bootleg with Russell Wilson or the obvious run play in that situation, but hindsight is 20/20.  Either way, the game came down to one final, exciting moment.  That is all we can really ask for in a Super Bowl, as most fans watching the game do not have much of an emotional investment in either of the Super Bowl teams each year.  

Anyways, it looks like I botched another prediction.  Sure, I had the Patriots by four points (24-20), but the actual score was quite different (28-24).  And sure, I predicted a late, redzone turnover by Seattle on their final drive (fumble by Jermaine Kearse at the 11 yard line), but the mode of turnover and the exact yard line of the turnover were totally wrong (interception by Wilson at the 1 yard line). Maybe I should just give up on this whole prediction business...
The final NFL game of the year brings me to a grand total of 7/11 and 3-8 ATS in the 2015 playoffs, which is pretty mediocre.  Also, I wasn't paying that close attention to my prop bet predictions, but every time I remembered one of my prop bet predictions during the game, it seemed like I was getting it wrong.  So, I won't really investigate that because who cares anyways.  

Another season has come to an end, and the Raiders are nowhere to be found.  One day, they will be back in the playoffs!  Or maybe not.  The Raiders are pretty bad.  Being a fan can be tough sometimes... except for this kid:

 

This kid sucks.  I hope Boston never wins another championship for as long as he lives.  Anyways, time for hibernation.  The 2015 NFL season is a long ways away now.  Things like the draft and free agency are still to come, which are strategically sprinkled throughout the off-season, in order to obtain the optimal ratings boost for their respective networks.  Personally, I can't wait until next season because a certain Raider fan (and his brother) just purchased season tickets.  Go Raiders!