Patriot Place: Super Bowl XLIX Recap
Patriot Place: Super Bowl XLIX Recap

The New England Patriots won their fourth Super Bowl title last season with a 28-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX.

"This is a great team," says New England head coach BILL BELICHICK, who joined Pro Football Hall of Famer CHUCK NOLL as the only head coaches to win four Super Bowls. "These guys are really special -- a great group of competitors who never gave in and never lost their will. Mentally and physically, this is as tough of a group as I've been around and I've been around some."

The Patriots finished 12-4 in 2014, earning the No. 1 seed in the AFC and their sixth consecutive AFC East division title, tied for the second-longest streak in NFL history. New England, which also won five consecutive division titles from 2003-2007, became the first team in NFL history to win 11 division championships in a 12-year span.

New England is the second team (1970s Pittsburgh Steelers) in NFL history -- and first in 35 years -- to win four Super Bowls with the same owner (ROBERT KRAFT), head coach (Belichick) and quarterback (TOM BRADY), as the franchise has enjoyed an incredible run of success since Kraft purchased the team in 1994.

"To be able to maintain that kind of consistent excellence is a rare thing in any field, including on the football field," said President BARACK OBAMA during a ceremony at The White House to honor the Patriots' Super Bowl victory. "There's the 'Patriot Way' -- a group that values teamwork and hard work above all else. They have set a standard for excellence that we may not see again for a very long time."

MALCOLM BUTLER jumps in front of quick slant route for an unforgettable interception
Malcolm Butler's Game-winning INT

Super Bowl XLIX came down to the final moments of the fourth quarter, as the Seahawks drove down to the Patriots' one yard-line with 26 seconds remaining and a four-point deficit to overcome (28-24). On second down, Patriots cornerback MALCOLM BUTLER jumped in front of a quick slant route for an unforgettable interception -- the first of his NFL career -- securing another New England championship and a place in Super Bowl history.

"It's unbelievable to see him blossom, and to come out here and make such a big play in a big situation," says Patriots wide receiver JULIAN EDELMAN of Butler. "Unbelievable play."

Quarterback Tom Brady passed for 328 yards and four touchdowns, including the game winning three-yard score to Edelman in the fourth quarter, and was named Super Bowl MVP. Brady (XXXVI, XXXVIII and XLIX) joined Pro Football Hall of Famer JOE MONTANA (XVI, XIX and XXIV) as the only players in NFL history to win three Super Bowl MVP Awards.

[ Check Out 50 Years of Super Bowl MVP History ]

"Tom is the best," says wide receiver DANNY AMENDOLA of Brady, who is the winningest starting quarterback in NFL playoff history (21 wins) and owns the career Super Bowl passing records for completions (164), yards (1,605) and touchdowns (11).

Super Bowl XLIX: Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady
Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady

"He gets everybody to play at a higher level. He's our leader emotionally. Physically, he's at the highest level at his position. We all love playing for him."

The 2014 Patriots had seven players selected to the Pro Bowl: quarterback Brady (10th), wide receiver Edelman (first), tight end ROB GRONKOWSKI (third), cornerback DARRELLE REVIS (sixth), safety DEVIN MC COURTY (second), kicker STEPHEN GOSTKOWSKI (third) and special teamer MATTHEW SLATER (fourth).

"It was just an unbelievable team win," says Gronkowski, who caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Brady in the second quarter of the Super Bowl. "Everyone contributed, everyone on the team."

Super Bowl XLIX: Super Bowl Patriots Rings
Patriots' Super Bowl Ring

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