SANTA CLARA — Marshawn Lynch was a yard away from immortality.
OK, you can argue one of the most unique personalities in NFL history got there anyway, but the former Oakland Tech and Cal star will forever be associated with the time he didn’t get the ball with the Seattle Seahawks a yard away from winning Super Bowl XLIX against the New England Patriots on Feb. 1, 2015 in Glendale, Ariz.
Instead, with the Seahawks trailing 28-24 and 26 seconds to play, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell with the authorization of coach Pete Carroll called for a quick slant pass from quarterback Russell Wilson to wide receiver Ricardo Lockette. New England safety Malcolm Butler got there first with an interception at the 1.
The Patriots (15-4) won their fourth of six Lombardi Trophies under coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. Seattle (14-5) went in as slight favorites and were the defending Super Bowl champions, having beaten the Denver Broncos 43-8 in the year prior.
The two teams meet again Sunday at Levi’s Stadium (NBC, 3:30 p.m.) with Seattle (16-3), the top seed in the NFC, facing New England (17-3), which is No. 2 in the AFC. The Seahawks are 4- to 4 1/2-point favorites.
Lynch had gained 4 yards to the 1 before the fateful play, with the expectation he would get it again. He had 104 yards rushing on 24 carries and a touchdown in the game and had 25 carries for 157 yards in a 28-22 overtime win against Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game. During the regular season, Lynch rushed for 1,306 yards (his second highest total) and 13 touchdowns.
The strategic argument on Seattle’s side was that if the pass didn’t work, it would stop the clock and they would preserve their final time out. That way, they could have three attempts to score instead of just two with one time out remaining.
“I cannot believe the call,” NBC color analyst Cris Collinsworth said after the play. “You’ve got Marshawn Lynch in the backfield. You’ve got a guy that’s been borderline unstoppable.”
A look at how Super Bowl LX shapes up, with Seattle designated as the visiting team for the third Bay Area Super Bowl:
The teams
Seattle Seahawks (16-3)
Regular season: Clinched NFC West title and the first seed with a 13-3 win over the 49ers in Week 18. Won its last six games of the regular season to earn first division title since 2020 and the No. 1 seed. Finished third in scoring offense (28.4 points per game) and first in scoring defense (17.2).
Record in Super Bowls: 1-2
Coach: In his second year, Mike Macdonald has helped build a team that has the look of a perennial contender as well as a favorite to win the second Super Bowl championship in club history.
NFC Championship: Beat the Los Angeles Rams 31-27
Devon Witherspoon broke up a fourth-and-4 pass from the 6-yard line in the end zone from Matt Stafford intended for Terrance Ferguson with 4:54 to play and the Seahawks made it hold up to beat the Rams for the second time in three tries. Quarterback Sam Darnold (25-for-36, 346 yards, 3 TDs, no turnovers) and Jaxson Smith-Njigba (10 receptions, 153 yards, 1 TD) led the offense.
NFC Divisional: Beat 49ers 41-6
Rashid Shaheed returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and the rout was on. Seattle held a potent 49ers offense to 236 yards and just 3.9 yards per play and two field goals by Eddy Pineiro. Kenneth Walker III led a 174-yard rushing attack with 116 yards and the Seahawks kept Christian McCaffrey (11 rushes, 35 yards, 5 receptions 39 yards) under control throughout..
New England Patriots (17-3)
Regular season: Won first AFC East title since 2020 just one season after finishing 4-13 and finishing last. Recovered from 1-2 start and season-opening loss to Raiders. Finished second in scoring offense (28.8 points per game) and fourth in scoring defense (18.8).
Coach: Mike Vrabel pulled together a fallen dynasty with a coaching job worthy of being the NFL coach of the Year. The Tennessee Titans are probably wondering how they ever fired him.
Record in Super Bowls: 6-5
AFC Championship: Beat Denver 10-7
A 23-yard field goal by Andre Borregales stood up in an increasing snow storm as the No. 2 Patriots denied the top-seeded Broncos in their quest to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since they beat Carolina 24-10 a decade ago at Levi’s Stadium. Broncos coach Sean Payton made a possible strategic blunder with 7-0 lead when he opted to go for a first down on fourth-and-1 at the New England 14-yard line (it fell incomplete) with 9:22 to go in the first first half.
AFC Divisional: Beat Houston 28-16
New England’s defense took the ball away five times — four on interceptions by Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud — to advance to the championship game. The big one came on a 26-yard interception return by Carlton Davis with Houston leading 10-7 with 10:37 left in the first half. The Patriots scored again on a 7-yard touchdown pass Drake Maye to Stefon Diggs before halftime and never looked back.
AFC Wild Card: Beat L.A. Chargers, 16-3
The Patriots turned it over twice but held the Chargers to 207 yards and sacked quarterback Justin Herbert five times. The only rushing damage to speak of against New England was Herbert’s 57 yards on scrambles. The Patriots toyed with the Chargers before a 28-yard touchdown pass from Drake Maye to Hunter Henry with 9:45 to play capped an 80-yard drive and removed any doubt.
The game
Biggest offensive storyline: For Seattle, can Walker lead a rushing attack against a Patriots defense that slumped Weeks 15 through 17 (167.7 yards per game). If so, Darnold can can operate from a comfort level as he did against the Rams. Darnold’s 20 turnovers, including six lost fumbles, led the NFL in the regular season. On the opposite sideline, second-year quarterback Drake Maye can validate after-the-fact his candidacy for Most Valuable Player.
Biggest defensive storyline: Seattle’s defense is getting all the run with stalwarts like safety Nick Emmanwori and a stout front led by Leonard Williams, who can’t be handled inside with a single blocker. The Patriots’ defensive production is also excellent, and names such as nose tackle Khyiris Tonga, linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson and safety Craig Woodson (a rookie from Cal) wouldn’t be under the radar any longer with a seventh Lombardi trophy for the franchise.
