February 1, 2015. Glendale, Arizona. You probably remember the ending. Everyone does. But the raw Super Bowl 49 stats tell a much deeper story than just a single, heartbreaking interception at the goal line. It was a heavyweight fight between a dynasty being reborn and a "Legion of Boom" trying to cement its own legacy. Honestly, looking back at the box score today, it's wild how close this game actually was before the chaos of the final 20 seconds.
The New England Patriots walked away with a 28-24 victory.
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Tom Brady was the MVP. Again. He threw 50 passes, completing 37 of them for 328 yards and four touchdowns. That 74% completion rate against the best defense of that era? That's basically unheard of. But he also tossed two picks, showing that even the greatest to ever do it struggled against Seattle's secondary.
The Numbers Behind the Malcolm Butler Moment
Most people focus on the play call. Why didn't they just give the ball to Marshawn Lynch?
Well, look at the situational Super Bowl 49 stats. Lynch had 24 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown. He was averaging 4.3 yards per carry. On the surface, a 1-yard plunge seems like a lock. However, the Patriots had their "goal line" personnel on the field. They were ready for the run.
The Seahawks were facing a 2nd and goal from the 1-yard line with 26 seconds left and only one timeout. If they run and get stuffed, they have to burn that timeout. Then they're forced to pass on 3rd down anyway to stop the clock. By passing on 2nd down, they kept their options open for 3rd and 4th down. It was a math problem that went horribly wrong.
- Russell Wilson's Final Line: 12/21, 247 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT.
- The Interception: It was the only interception thrown from the 1-yard line in the entire 2014-15 NFL season across the league.
- Malcolm Butler's Impact: He only played 18 defensive snaps. In that limited time, he had three passes defensed and that one legendary pick.
Butler wasn't even supposed to be the hero. He was an undrafted rookie from West Alabama. Earlier in the game, he'd been beaten on a few plays, but Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia trusted him in the "three-corner" sub-package.
Brady vs. The Legion of Boom
This game was a masterclass in the "dink and dunk" offense. The Seahawks had Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, and Kam Chancellor. You don't beat those guys with deep bombs. You beat them with volume.
Brady broke the then-record for most completions in a Super Bowl with 37. He targeted Julian Edelman 12 times. Edelman caught 9 of those for 109 yards and the go-ahead touchdown. Shane Vereen was the secret weapon out of the backfield, hauling in 11 catches for 64 yards. Think about that. A running back caught 11 passes in the Super Bowl. That's a record for the position that stood for years.
The Patriots' offensive strategy was basically "death by a thousand cuts."
They had 25 first downs compared to Seattle's 20. They controlled the clock for nearly 34 minutes. They ran 72 plays while Seattle only ran 53. If you just look at the total yards—377 for New England and 396 for Seattle—it looks like the Seahawks moved the ball better. And they did, in chunks. Chris Matthews, a guy who literally had zero NFL catches before that day, exploded for 109 yards on just 4 receptions.
But chunk plays don't always win championships. Consistency does.
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Key Individual Performances
- Rob Gronkowski: 6 catches, 68 yards, 1 TD. He was the vertical threat that kept the safeties honest.
- Danny Amendola: 5 catches, 48 yards, 1 TD. He made the crucial "clutch" grabs in the fourth quarter.
- Bobby Wagner: 12 tackles and an interception. He was the glue holding Seattle's defense together.
- Ryan Allen: Set a Super Bowl record with a 64-yard punt. Special teams matter, folks.
The Viewership and the Money
Super Bowl 49 stats aren't just about what happened on the grass. This game was a cultural monster. At the time, it set the record for the most-watched television program in U.S. history.
An average of 114.4 million people tuned in. During the halftime show with Katy Perry (and the infamous Left Shark), that number spiked to 118.5 million. It peaked at over 120 million during the Patriots' fourth-quarter comeback.
Advertisers were paying roughly $4.5 million for a 30-second spot.
Glendale's University of Phoenix Stadium was packed with 70,288 fans. The "even" betting line made it one of the rarest Super Bowls where there was no clear favorite. It was a literal coin-flip game.
Why These Stats Still Matter in 2026
We still talk about this game because it changed the trajectory of the NFL. If Seattle wins, they are a back-to-back dynasty. Russell Wilson's career looks different. Pete Carroll's legacy is even loftier. Instead, it reignited the Patriots' dynasty, leading to two more rings in the following years.
It taught coaches that sometimes, the "smart" analytical play (passing to save a timeout) can be the "wrong" play if the execution isn't perfect. It showed that a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit isn't a death sentence, even against a legendary defense.
Actionable Takeaways for Football Fans
If you're looking to win your next bar argument or just want to understand the modern game better, keep these points in mind:
- Efficiency vs. Volume: Brady's 50 attempts were a necessity because the Patriots couldn't run. They averaged a measly 2.7 yards per carry.
- Third Down Success: New England converted 8 of 14 third downs (57%). Seattle only managed 3 of 10 (30%). That’s why the Patriots had the ball for 7 more minutes.
- The "Unknown" Factor: Chris Matthews and Malcolm Butler weren't on anyone's scouting report as stars. Preparation for the depth chart is what wins rings.
To really see the brilliance of this game, go back and watch the Patriots' final two scoring drives. Brady was 13-of-15 for 124 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter alone. That's not just luck; that's surgical precision under the highest possible pressure.
Next Steps for Deep Analysis:
- Compare the Super Bowl 49 stats to Super Bowl 51 (Patriots vs. Falcons) to see how Brady's late-game efficiency evolved.
- Analyze the "Pick Play" mechanics used by the Seahawks on the final play—specifically how Brandon Browner's jam on Jermaine Kearse allowed Butler to make the break.
- Review the 2014 season defensive rankings to see just how rare it was for a team to score 28 points on that Seattle unit.