Questionable Play Call Costs Seahawks Super Bowl Victory

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Malcolm Butler and the Patriots just provided us with a teaching tape on how to defend the slant on the goal line in New England's 28-24 Super Bowl XLIX win Sunday.

With the Seahawks showing a press alignment, the Patriots jammed the receiver on the ball, and Butler drove downhill to make the play. That's Man Coverage 101 versus the slant, as the Patriots cornerback controlled his footwork and read the release to cut off the route.

You want to close out a game? Then go make a play. That's what we saw from Butler when he intercepted a pass from quarterback Russell Wilson in the final seconds.

The route was a clear-out seam from the slot, with wide receiver Ricardo Lockette coming underneath on the slant. A pick play, really. A concept the Seahawks have shown on tape multiple times this season under offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. And Butler shut that thing down.

Based on the formation, and the stack alignment, Butler said he was playing for the combo route on the goal line. 

"I just knew they were doing a pick route," the Patriots corner said. "I knew it was on the line, and we needed it, so I just beat him to the route and just made the play."

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But while the Patriots were celebrating a Super Bowl championship, we are left to question why the Seahawks made the decision to throw the football on second down from the 1-yard line with timeouts in the bank, instead of handing it off to Marshawn Lynch with the game—and another ring—on the line.

I expected another read-option look with Lynch on the inside zone—the same scheme that we watched all night. Zone blocking up front for the NFL's most physical back to find daylight before pushing the ball across the goal line.

Instead, Wilson threw the slant with Brandon Browner stoning Jermaine Kearse on the jam. Butler (playing from an off-man position) broke immediately on the release versus Lockette.

"We sent in our personnel, they sent in goal line," Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said after the game. "It's not the right personnel for us to run the football. So on second down, we throw the ball really to kind of waste a play.

"And unfortunately, with the play that we tried to execute, the guy makes a great play and jumps in front of the route."

Surprised? Even shocked that Wilson threw the ball there? I know I was, watching Sunday night in Arizona.

The field position, the ability of Lynch to move the pile, the blocking scheme that had allowed Seattle to run the ball successfully versus the Patriots' defensive front, etc.: It all set up for Lynch to come downhill for the score with the Seahawks repeating as champs.

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"Obviously, you have different options," Wilson said. "You hand the ball off to Marshawn—that's a great option. You can also throw it, which is a great option.

"We thought we had them, and I thought it was going to be a touchdown when I threw it."

I can understand Wilson's thinking in that situation with a route combination that is designed to free up Lockette on the slant. Step and throw. A three-step concept that comes out quick and clean as the receiver breaks inside versus a defensive back playing off the ball.

That should be six points. Ballgame.

However, given the negative result, it is a call we should question, debate and analyze with Lynch standing in the backfield, removed from the action.

It's a call that Seattle linebacker Bruce Irvin also questioned in the postgame locker room.

"We had it. I don't understand how you don't give it to the best back in the league on not even the 1-yard line," Irvin said. "We were on the half-yard line and we throw a slant. I don't know what the offense had going on, what they saw.

"I just don't understand."

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We can talk about Tom Brady taking over this game in the fourth quarter, or point to multiple other situations where the Seahawks left opportunities on the field as the main reason they failed to close out the Patriots on Sunday night.

However, on the game's biggest stage, at its most crucial moment, the Seahawks made the decision to take the ball out of Lynch's hands.

And it cost them a title.

Seven-year NFL veteran Matt Bowen is an NFL National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report.

Follow @MattBowen41