Seattle Seahawks’ Jermaine Kearse catches the game winning touchdown pass against Green Bay Packers’ Tramon Williams during overtime of the NFL football NFC Championship game, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 28-22 to advance to Super Bowl XLIX. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Russell Wilson tossed a 35-yard, game-winning touchdown in overtime to lift the Seattle Seahawks to a 28-22 win over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game on Jan. 18 at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Wash. The win advanced the Seahawks to their second straight Super Bowl appearance, making them the first team to reach back-to-back Super Bowls since the New England Patriots did it in 2003 and 2004.
Wilson and the Seahawks had to overcome a terrible start to the game. Wilson completed just one of his first eight pass attempts while throwing three interceptions in the first half and four interceptions total in the game. Seattle trailed, 16-0, at halftime, and was down, 19-7, late in the fourth quarter. But the Seahawks never gave up and eventually pulled off the largest comeback in NFC Championship game history.
Seattle Seahawks’ Marshawn Lynch runs against Green Bay Packers’ Nick Perry (53) during the second half of the NFL football NFC Championship game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
It all started with a 1-yard touchdown run by Wilson that cut the Packers’ lead to 19-14 with just more than two minutes remaining in the game. Seattle then successfully pulled off an onside kick to get the ball right back, setting up running back Marshawn Lynch’s 24-yard touchdown run. A successful two-point conversion gave the Seahawks a 22-19 lead with about a minute left, but Green Bay kicker Mason Crosby made a 48-yard field goal to send the game intoovertime. Seattle won the coin toss in overtime, and the rest is history as Wilson went on to lob a beautiful 35-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jermaine Kearse for a shocking victory.
Lynch led the Seahawks on offense with 25 carries for 157 yards. Wilson ran for 25 yards and completed 14-of-29 for 209 passing yards, one touchdown and four interceptions. Receiver Doug Baldwin led Seattle in catches with six for 106 yards. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 19-of-34 for 178 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, one of which was snagged by Seahawks star cornerback Richard Sherman. Running back Eddie Lacy ran for 73 yards on 21 carries for Green Bay. Crosby made five field goals, including two from 48 yards out.
Seattle now prepares for Super Bowl XLIX (49), scheduled for Feb. 1 in Phoenix, Ariz.