Anatomy of a Super Bowl game-changer: How Russell Wilson, Malcolm Butler came to the interception

When Russell Wilson and Malcolm Butler arrived at their moment in Super Bowl history Sunday night, each was determined to make something happen with the clock running down.

Wilson thought the Seattle Seahawks, with the ball at the New England Patriots 1 -yard line, were going to score and win their second consecutive championship even as he dropped back to attempt a pass to Ricardo Lockette.

It looked open enough to get it in there and make the play, Wilson told reporters Tuesday. I thought we were going to. When I threw it, I was like, Touchdown, second Super Bowl ring, here we go. And it didnt happen.

Thats because Butler had been sent in with specific instructions to create chaos. He was a late substitution when Patriots coaches realized the Seahawks had passing personnel on the field in an attempt to capitalize on the Patriots goal-line personnel. NFL video shows the Patriots making very fast changes.

You gotta get that linebacker [Akeem Ayers] out of the game. You see Ayers running off the field, you need another cornerback to go in and match up with those receivers, Willie McGinest, the former Patriots player, said. They wanted to match the personnel they saw on the field because usually in goal line you want to go big. When they saw [the formation] they matched up with Malcolm and put him in the game.

Butler jumped the route, shouldered his way in and grabbed the pass, touching off euphoria in New England. It was the perfect play at the perfect time, Tom Brady said Monday morning. Hes been doing that to me in practice all season so it was nice to see him pick someone else off.

Brady jumped up and down like a kid when he saw the intereption. In Seattle, there was disbelief and disgust with Coach Pete Carrolls play call but Wilson wasnt questioning the move.

I had no doubt in the play call, Wilson said. I still dont to this day.

After spending most of her career in traditional print sports journalism, Cindy began blogging and tweeting, first as NFL/Redskins editor, and, since August 2010, at The Early Lead. She also is the social media editor for Sports.

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Anatomy of a Super Bowl game-changer: How Russell Wilson, Malcolm Butler came to the interception