Pats' LaFell hoped coaches would allow TD in final minute of Super Bowl
New England Patriots wide receiver Brandon LaFell said he hoped that the coaches would let the Seattle Seahawks score on purpose during the final minute of Super Bowl XLIX so that New England’s offense could get the ball back with plenty of time to score.
After Russell Wilson completed a 33-yard pass to Jermaine Kearse, Seattle called timeout with 1:06 left and the ball on the five-yard-line. Marshawn Lynch then picked up a gain of four yards to move the Seahawks to the one-yard line.
"Once [Jermaine Kearse] caught the ball, I was just like I hope the coaches let 'em score," LaFell said on NFL Network's NFL AM. "Let 'em score so we can get the ball back, leaves 50, 40 seconds; they haven't been able to stop us the whole fourth quarter."
SI's Best Photos from Super Bowl XLIX
New England placed their goal line defense on the field, so Seattle went to a three-wide receiver formation. Wilson was intercepted on the next play after the Lynch run by rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler, who was a late substitution.
• BANKS: Wide receivers bring most intrigue to free agency
LaFell said that in situations when passing in the red zone, quarterbacks have to throw the ball low.
“So when they decided to throw the ball, and when you throw the ball on the end line, you gotta throw it low," LaFell said. "When you throw it high, it's gonna get tipped. ... Nine times out of 10, it's gonna get tipped, and when it's tipped on the goal line, that's a team meeting: Somebody's gonna get it."
LaFell completed his first year with the Patriots after spending the previous four seasons with the Carolina Panthers. He had four catches for 29 yards and scored the Super Bowl’s first touchdown on an 11-yard reception from Tom Brady. - Scooby Axson