Patriots & Seahawks Advance To Super Bowl XLIX
The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks each won their respective conference’s championship game on Sunday to advance to Super Bowl 49 in Arizona on Feb. 1 Here’s a recap of the day’s action:
AFC Championship Game: New England 45, Indianapolis 7
Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes and LeGarrette Blount ran for three more scores, as the New England Patriots routed the Indianapolis Colts, 45-7, in the AFC Championship Game in Foxborough, Mass. on Sunday. With the win, New England advanced to play the defending champion Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX on Feb. 1 in Glendale, Ariz.
The Patriots dominated the title game en route to the franchise’s eighth AFC championship -- and record sixth with the combo of Brady and head coach Bill Belichick. They had a 14-0 lead after one quarter, led 17-7 at halftime and were up 38-7 heading into the final 15 minutes.
Brady completed 23 of 35 passes for 226 yards and the three scores. Blount carried 30 times for 148 yards and his three TDs.
Indy quarterback Andrew Luck completed just 12 of 33 passes for 126 yards with two interceptions on Sunday. His team looked nothing like the upstart that defeated the favored Broncos last week in Denver.
NFC Championship Game: Seattle 28, Green Bay 22 (OT)
Russell Wilson threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Kearse in overtime, and the Seahawks stunned the Green Bay Packers, 28-22, in the NFC Championship Game in Seattle on Sunday.
The Seahawks will play the winner of the New England-Indianapolis game in Super Bowl XLIX on Feb. 1 in Glendale, Ariz.
After Seattle rallied from a 16-point deficit to take a late lead, Green Bay tied the game at 22 on Mason Crosby’s 48-yard field goal with 14 seconds left in regulation. The Packers never had possession of the ball in overtime, and the Seahawks scored in six plays to wrap up the win and their second straight Super Bowl berth.
Green Bay seemingly had the game under control after forcing five Seattle turnovers in regulation. The Packers led 16-0 deep into the third quarter and still held a 19-7 advantage with 3 minutes to play.
The Seahawks closed to within 19-14 on Russell Wilson’s 1-yard TD run with 2:09 left. They recovered the ensuing onside kick, and Marshawn Lynch scampered 24 yards for a score four plays later to give Seattle its first lead. A two-point conversion from Wilson to tight end Luke Willson made it 22-19 with 1:25 to play, but allowed Green Bay time to mount a drive for Crosby’s tying field goal.
Other than throwing the game-winning touchdown pass, Wilson was awful on Sunday. He completed just 14 of 29 passes for 209 yards, with a career-high four interceptions. He was sacked five times. Lynch was a force for the Seahawks, carrying 25 times for 157 yards and a score.
Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers was mediocre, going 19-for-34 for 178 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.