By Darin 🏈 12 Minutes of Magic in the Pacific Northwest
On January 18, 2015, the Seattle Seahawks were dead in the water. For 55 minutes, the Green Bay Packers had systematically dismantled the defending champions at CenturyLink Field. Russell Wilson had thrown four interceptions, the offense was scoreless through the first half, and fans were famously seen streaming toward the exits with five minutes remaining. What followed was not just a win—it was a statistical impossibility that became one of the greatest “miracle” finishes in the history of the NFL.
Article from Jan 19, 2015 The Olympian (Olympia, Washington)
From 16-0 to an Overtime Thriller
The Packers dominated the first half, taking a 16-0 lead into the locker room. Seattle’s spark finally came in the third quarter via a daring fake field goal, where punter Jon Ryan threw a touchdown pass to tackle Garry Gilliam. Despite this, Green Bay still held a commanding 19-7 lead with just over two minutes left in regulation.
The “Miracle” sequence began when Russell Wilson scored on a 1-yard run to cut the lead to 19-14. Then came the play that will live in infamy for Packers fans: the onside kick. Seattle’s Chris Matthews recovered the ball after it bounced off the helmet of Green Bay’s Brandon Bostick. Moments later, Marshawn Lynch exploded for a 24-yard touchdown run, and a desperation “moon ball” two-point conversion to Luke Willson gave Seattle a 22-19 lead.
Kearse’s Redemption
Though Mason Crosby tied the game with a field goal to force overtime, the momentum had shifted completely. Seattle won the coin toss and marched 87 yards. Jermaine Kearse, who had been the intended target on all four of Wilson’s earlier interceptions, caught a 35-yard walk-off touchdown to seal the 28-22 victory.
Conclusion: A Test of Grit
The 2014 NFC Championship was a testament to the Seahawks’ “never say die” attitude. While the Packers were left to wonder what might have been, Seattle celebrated their second consecutive Super Bowl berth. It remains a game of extreme emotional swings—from the depths of a 0.0 passer rating for Wilson in the first half to the heights of a championship celebration.
Game Accolades
- Largest Comeback: 16-point halftime deficit overcome (largest in NFC Championship history).
- Ground Game: Marshawn Lynch rushed for a postseason career-high 157 yards.
- Walk-Off Winner: Jermaine Kearse’s only catch of the game was the game-winning 35-yard TD.
- Turnover Resiliency: First team to win a conference championship despite throwing 4+ interceptions.
