Four Score! Patriots win fourth Super Bowl crown, edge Seahawks

Years from now, when Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are retired, the “yeah, but” talk won’t matter much. Yes, “Spy-gate” and “Deflate-gate” will be part of the dynamic duo’s legacy, but hardware trumps all conversation.

Belichick and Brady now have more hardware than any other living coach – quarterback combination, and the New England Patriots have the bragging rights of being – by far – the most successful professional football franchise in the world this century as they captured their fourth Lombardi Trophy by edging the Seahawks, 28-24.

It looked as though the Patriots were again going to be haunted in the Super Bowl by a miracle catch as Jermaine Kearse caught a 33-yard bouncing ball on his back to set up a first down for the Seahawks at the Patriots’ 5-yard line.

A Marshawn Lynch four-yard run brought the ball to the Patriots’ 1 with the clock dwindling and New England looked for sure as though it was about to lose its third consecutive Super Bowl

But the Seahawks called a stunning pass play instead of using Lynch again, and undrafted cornerback Malcolm Butler came up with the play of his life, picking off Russell Wilson and giving the Patriots an improbable Super Bowl win.

The Patriots were down 24-14 heading into the final quarter and Brady had been struggling. But when Brady hit Julian Edelman for a 21-yard completion on a third-and-14 with just over 10 minutes remaining, the Pats got to work.

Brady found Danny Amendola in the back of the end zone to cut the Seattle lead to 24-21. The Patriots then forced a three-and-out before Brady orchestrated another fabulous drive as he continuously completed passes to Shane Vereen, Rob Gronkowski and Edelman. Edelman would score the Pats’ go-ahead touchdown, catching the ball in the corner of the end zone.

Brady finished the game having gone 37-for-50 for 328 yards, four touchdowns and two picks.