(SportsNetwork.com) - Tom Brady had the same bewildered look on his face as he did seven years ago in Glendale, Arizona.
It almost happened again.
Except this time it didn't.
Trailing 28-24 with just over a minute remaining in Super Bowl XLIX, Jermaine Kearse's miraculous 33-yard catch set the Seattle Seahawks up with a 1st-and- goal at the Patriots' 5-yard line.
Russell Wilson lofted a jump-ball pass along the right sideline and New England rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler leapt and tipped the ball into the air with his left hand. The fluttering pass came down and bounced right into Kearse's lap as he slid on his back. He bobbled it twice while spinning on his back and finally corralled it on the third attempt.
"I couldn't believe it," Brady said of the catch during the Lombardi Trophy presentation.
It was the David Tyree helmet catch all over again, but Butler didn't hang his head.
He would turn deflation into complete euphoria just two plays later.
After Marshawn Lynch barreled for four yards to the 1, Seattle elected to throw the ball on second down. Butler immediately broke on Wilson's slant toss intended for Ricardo Lockette and intercepted it to seal New England's victory.
Redemption.
And a joyous Brady couldn't contain himself, raising his arms triumphantly and jumping up and down continuously on the Patriots' sideline.
"Unbelievable play by Malcolm," Brady said. "We needed a great play at the end and we got it."
An unbelievable play it was, especially for an undrafted 24-year-old rookie out of West Alabama. Butler had just three passes defensed and 15 tackles in 11 games during his rookie campaign.
"I just had a vision I was going to make a play and it came true," Butler said. "I'm just blessed, I can't explain it right now."
Seven years ago in Super Bowl XLII, Tyree's life changed forever in the Valley of the Sun when he hauled in Eli Manning's 32-yard desperation downfield heave on a 3rd-and-5 with 59 seconds remaining. He pinned the ball against the top of his helmet as he was being tackled by Patriots safety Rodney Harrison.
The play set up Manning's go-ahead 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress four snaps later, sealing the New York Giants' improbable 17-14 upset of the then-undefeated Patriots.
New England wouldn't have been in a position to win its fourth Super Bowl in franchise history -- and first since 2004 -- had Brady not led his team down the field for the go-ahead score a possession prior to the Butler pick.
Brady, who finished 37-of-50 for 328 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions, was 8-of-8 for 65 yards on the decisive march. He connected with Julian Edelman from three yards out to put the Patriots in front with 2:02 remaining.
It was the 37-year-old's 13th career Super Bowl touchdown pass, setting a new benchmark that was previously held by his boyhood idol Joe Montana, who tossed 11 in Super Bowls.
Brady also tied Montana and Terry Bradshaw with his fourth Super Bowl win.
He was asked after the game if he's the greatest ever to play the quarterback position.
"I never put myself in those discussions, that's not how I think," Brady said.
Fair enough, but it's becoming hard to make a case against him.
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