What We Learned From Super Bowl XLIX

ByANTHONY CASTELLANO ABCNews logo
Monday, February 2, 2015

Super Bowl XLIX had everything a football fan could ask for: Two great teams in the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, a classic finish and a colorful halftime show.



Here are the top five things we'll always remember when we look back at Sunday's game:



1. Tom Brady Joins Pantheon of Iconic Quarterbacks



Like him or not, Brady might have just cemented his legacy as the greatest postseason quarterback of all time -- winning his fourth Super Bowl and third Super Bowl MVP award.



Brady overcame two interceptions to lead the Patriots to their fourth championship since becoming the team's starting quarterback in 2001. Brady now becomes the third quarterback -- along with Pittsburgh's Terry Bradshaw and San Francisco's Joe Montana -- to win four titles.



Brady guided the Pats Sunday night with 328 yards passing yards and four touchdowns.



2. Pushing, Shoving Mars End of Game



With emotions running high after an exciting two minutes in the fourth quarter, the final 18 seconds of the game turned into a wrestling match between the teams.



Here's what happened: With the Patriots leading 28-24 (which would end up being the final score), the Seahawks were on the move and got to New England's 1-yard line. Patriots' rookie Malcolm Butler intercepted Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson to preserve the Patriots' four-point lead and essentially end the game.



The Patriots attempted to run out the clock with 18 seconds left by taking a knee, but Seattle tried to push through the line. Punches were thrown as players began to push and shove each other.



Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin was ejected as the Pats ran out the clock for the win.



3. Pete Carroll, What We're You Thinking?



With the Patriots leading in the final minutes of the game, Wilson and the Seahawks ripped through the Patriots defense. The Seahawks' Jermaine Kearse made a juggling, 33-yard catch while on his back with a little over a minute in the game that got Seattle to New England's 5-yard line -- one of the best catches ever in a Super Bowl.



Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch picked up four more yards, bringing the Seahawks to the 1-yard line with just seconds left. Instead of handing the ball off to Lynch again, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll decided to pass and Wilson was picked off -- bringing Seattle's chances of back-to-back championships to an end.



"For it to come down to a play like that, I hate that we have to live with that," Carroll said after the game.



4. Katy Perry Roars Into the Halftime Show



Katy Perry kicked off the halftime show by entering the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, by riding in on an enormous lion.



The performance featured guest appearances by Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott. Perry ended the show by going airborne on a shooting star while singing "Firework."



5. Buzzy Commercials



This year's commercials ranged from the tragic to the weird, mixed in with plenty of animals.



Here are some of the highs and lows:



Insurance giant Nationwide was lambasted for airing a commercial of a little boy who "couldn't grow up" because he he died in a household accident.



The NFL aired a domestic violence PSA following some high-profile incidents this season.



Click here to see the rest of the Super Bowl commercials.



The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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