The Seattle Seahawks came within 1 yard of winning Super Bowl 49, but the coaches dialed up a pass play on second-and-1 from the New England Patriots' goal line. Russell Wilson threw an interception with 20 seconds remaining in the game, sealing the Seahawks' loss and the Patriots' fourth Super Bowl title under Bill Belichick.
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Pete Carroll said that he told his players the play call was entirely his idea. It could not have been an easy thing to admit. Seahawks players were reportedly as mad as fans that Seattle did not hand the ball to Marshawn Lynch with the game on the line.
Standing w @Seahawks as they walk thru tunnel and one says best back in football and we throw the ball on one yard line
— melissa stark (@melissastark) February 2, 2015
Seahawks players are ripping the hell out of that last call. Openly.
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) February 2, 2015
I’m in the Seahawks locker room. Wow. Talking about despair! Those who can speak are freely ripping that last play call. Big time.
— Terence Moore (@TMooreSports) February 2, 2015
#Seahawks DE Bruce Irvin: "We had it. I don't understand how you don't give it to the best back in the league on the 1-yard line."
— John Boyle (@johnpboyle) February 2, 2015
In fact, it appears that Lynch himself was one of the few players who wasn't openly upset.
Marshawn Lynch asked if he's surprised he didn't get the football. Says "No." I ask him, Why not? Says, "Because football is a team sport."
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) February 2, 2015
Lynch had a 4-yard run to put the Seahawks within 1 yard of winning the game. Now, we'll never know what would have happened if Seattle just went to him one more time.
Video: Pete Carroll takes the blame for the final play call.