THE STUPID BOWL

The Seattle Seahawks will never live down the end of Super Bowl XLIX, when overthinking or brain lock or just plain stupidity cost them a second consecutive NFL championship.

But first, a word or two on the New England Patriots. Their record comeback in the fourth quarter from a 10-point deficit and the incredible interception with 20 seconds left by rookie Malcolm Butler firmly ensconce this franchise as one of the greats, with four Super Bowl victories in six tries. Tom Brady is now a three-time MVP and the club’s consistent greatness is one of the NFL’s modern marvels. The 28-24 victory, as owner Robert Kraft said, was miraculously as sweet as the club’s first championship after the 2001 season.

The Seahawks, who reached the Patriots’ 1-yard line with 26 seconds left, chose (unbelievably) not to hand the football to Marshawn Lynch (the strong, silent type) to try to score the winning touchdown. Instead, they called a pass into the middle of the field that Butler intercepted amid a crowd of bodies. Poor Russell Wilson. The Seahawks quarterback had to try to throw a marble through a keyhole when the Seahawks possessed the NFL’s best power back. Moral: When you have a cannon, shoot it.

The Seahawks attempted to explain their rationale, but there is no rationale for dumb. And offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell saying the intended receiver could have fought harder for the ball left Ricardo Lockette with tire tracks from that unforeseen bus zipping through late-night Glendale, Arizona. Boo on Bevell. His boss, Pete Carroll, covered for his terrible call and then Bevell didn’t protect his player.

Random thoughts on the game

How much aluminum foil went into making Katy Perry’s tiger? … Imagine the strain on plumbing in Seattle, where 89 percent of the TVs were tuned to the Super Bowl. Halftime, and everyone felt flush. … And while we’re on that topic, the Seahawks need to clean up their attitudes and their celebrations. Doug Baldwin’s fake pants-dropping (and droppings dropping) after a touchdown was typical of the bad taste this group of players seems to revel in.

Thanks for that brawl at the end as well. … Overnight ratings on the game were the highest ever. … Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis, known for shutting down receivers, rarely got tested in the game and did not even show up in the final statistics. No tackles, no assists, no passes defensed. Yes, he was actually there. … Missing football already?

The NFL scouting combine begins Feb. 17. Patience, patience, patience.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .