Seahawks head coach shoulders blame for Super Bowl slip-up
GLENDALE, United States (AFP) — Head coach Pete Carroll shouldered the blame Sunday after the Seattle Seahawks let Super Bowl history slip through their grasp.
The Seahawks, seeking a second straight Super Bowl crown, fell 28-24 to the New England Patriots — with a late interception sealing their fate as Carroll opted not to turn to superstar running back and team talisman Marshawn Lynch in the crucial moment.
Trailing 28-24 with 26 seconds remaining, the Seahawks faced second-and-goal from the one-yard line.
But Carroll didn’t call a play for the NFL’s most dominant running back, counting on him to surge through for a touchdown and the victory.
Instead, quarterback Russell Wilson threw a slant pass intended for Ricardo Lockette — and the unheralded Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler intercepted it.
“I told those guys, that’s my fault totally,” said Carroll, adding he and Wilson could barely speak in the moment.
“We just looked at each other trying to realise the gravity of what we just witnessed,” Carroll said. “We didn’t say very much.”
Lynch gained 102 yards on 24 carries before Carroll denied him a 25th.
“I know you have a million questions about this, and I’ll answer them,” Carroll said, explaining that he thought the Patriots defence was expecting a play for Lynch, and that he could lull them with a pass “really to kind of waste that play”.
The Seahawks missed out on a scintillating final drive, which very nearly gave them the kind of stunning come-from-behind victory they achieved in the NFC championship game against Green Bay.
“When they called the call, I just trusted it like I always do,” Wilson said. “We were thinking about throwing the ball, scoring a touchdown right there.”
Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman called it an “unfortunate” play.
“Their guy made a heck of a play,” Sherman said. “We gave ourselves a chance to win, that’s all you can ask for.”
“At the end of the day, if we didn’t give ourselves a chance to win and play up to our potential, then you could be more disappointed,” he added.
