Speechless In Seattle

Russell Wilson and the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks punched their ticket to Super Bowl XLIX Feb. 1 in Glendale, Ariz. in improbable fashion by rallying from a 16-0 halftime deficit to knock the Green Bay Packers out, securing a 28-22 overtime win in the biggest comeback in championship game history.

What began here five months ago with the Seatle Seahawks raising their Super Bowl XLVIII championship banner at CenturyLink Field with a 36-16 thumping of the Packers continued with an improbable Wilson-led comeback that kept alive Seattle’s dynasty quest to become the first repeat champions in a decade.

Quarterback legacies are cemented on stages such as this. And one-time Super Bowl winner Wilson lived up to his insistence that he’s made for the big moments such as Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against the Packers.

The previous biggest halftime deficit overcome in a conference championship game was 15 points in 2006 by the Peyton Manning-led Indianapolis Colts, who trailed 21-6 only to stun the New England Patriots 38-34.

Wilson overcame a career-worst four interceptions and five total Seahawks turnovers to pull out one of the most remarkable wins in Seahawks history.

One throw showed his cool, as Wilson hit Jermaine Kearse for the winning, 35-yard touchdown on a perfectly thrown seam route that beat cornerback Tramon Williams three minutes and 19 seconds into overtime. Wilson scored on a 1-yard touchdown that cut Green Bay’s lead to 19-13 with 2:09 left as the Seahawks stormed back from a 16-0 halftime deficit.

Special teamer Chris Matthews then recovered Steven Hauschka’s onside kick.

“There was no doubt in this team,” Wilson said after the game. “When we were 3-3, there was no doubt. When we were 6-4, there was no doubt. When the score was whatever the score was and we needed two touchdowns, there was no doubt. When I threw that ball to Doug Baldwin, and I threw it to (Jermaine) Kearse there was no doubt. It’s because of this 12th man, God is too good man.

“I’m just glad to be here on this team, and we’re going back to the Super Bowl.”

After Marshawn Lynch raced into the end zone from 24 yards out for the go-ahead score with 1:25 left. Wilson then hit tight end Luke Willson for the two-point conversion and CenturyLink Field erupted in a thunderous roar as Seattle went up 22-19.

But Mason Crosby hit a 48-yard field goal with 14 seconds left to tie matters at 22-all.

Wilson hit 14 of 29 for 209 yards as the Seahawks became the first team since the 1982 New York Jets to win a playoff game despite five turnovers.

Coach Pete Carroll’s top seed Seahawks now have a chance to become the eighth franchise to win back-to-back Super Bowl titles in two weeks.

The Seahawks defense kept Aaron Rodgers in relative check, holding him to one touchdown and two interceptions. Their dominant, punishing defense allowed a league-best 15.9 points per game during the season and they outscored opponents by a 194-78 margin during their closing eight-game win streak to reach their second Super Bowl.

In two weeks, the Seahawks look to become the first team since the 2004 New England Patriots to repeat as Super Bowl champions.