Four Greatest Playoff Games In The Last 10 Years

#3 – Super Bowl XLIX

Seattle Seahawks 24 – New England Patriots 28

The Seattle Seahawks were the defending Super Bowl Champions. The New England Patriots were the New England Patriots. Both teams finished the season with a 12 – 4 record and first in their conferences. Seattle ranked number one in rushing and defense, and number 10 in offense during the regular season. New England ranked number four in offense, nine in passing and eight in defense.

According to the numbers, the game should have favored the Seahawks. However, no one really goes against Tom Brady in the playoffs.

Both teams presented a good defensive presence to start the game. The first quarter ended with both teams scoreless. The Patriots offense was able to wear down the Seahawks defense first and scored off a touchdown pass from Brady to Brandon LaFell. Seahawks responded with an on the ground touchdown run by Marshawn Lynch to tie the game.

The next two plays had both quarterbacks playing at a very rapid pace. The Patriots took the lead once Brady threw a touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski. The drive leading to the touchdown took 1:45 time off the clock, leaving Russell Wilson and the Seahawks offense with 31 seconds remaining in the second quarter after the made field goal by Stephen Gostkowski. Wilson responded with a drive up the field leading to a touchdown pass to Chris Matthews. The extra point by Steven Hauschka tied the game at 14 going into halftime.

The Seahawks took the field and scored 10 points. The Patriots did not respond and were shutout in the third quarter as Seattle's defense played like a number one ranked defense should. If only they could've carried that defensive stance into the fourth quarter. In turn, the Patriots defense gave the Seahawks a taste of their own medicine and held them scoreless in the fourth quarter. The Patriots offense scored 14 points, taking their lead to 28 – 24. With 2:02 remaining in the game, Seattle were given the chance to score. They needed a touchdown to win the game.

The Seahawks were able to drive down to the Patriots' one-yard line. With 26 seconds left in the game, it was second down with the ball on the one-yard line for the Seahawks, who also had a timeout left. The Seahawks though called a passing play to Ricardo Lockett. The pass was intercepted by undrafted rookie Malcolm Butler. After a few penalties and a kneel by Brady, the game was over and the Patriots were able to overcome a 10-point lead in the third quarter to win Super Bowl XLIX.

The last play of the game is what made this one of the best games of the last decade. The play calling by the Seahawks caused great debate and buzz around the league as one of the most talked about play calls ever. The Seahawks had one of the most powerful running backs, and nearly unstoppable on the goal line, in Lynch and decided to perform a pass play on second down with a timeout left.

Why not complete a run play, call a timeout if unable to get the touchdown and then call another run play or quarterback sneak in order to win the game? This is a question all sports fans, players and former players were asking at the end of the game. Yes, a loss is a loss, however, one would more than likely be more comfortable with losing it all on run plays at the one-yard line versus a passing play that was intercepted at the one-yard line.