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New England Patriots’ Top 5 Individual Performances In Super Bowl XLIX

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By @MichaelTerrill

New England Patriots’ Top 5 Individual Performances In Super Bowl XLIX

New England Patriots
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The New England Patriots’ improbable Super Bowl XLIX victory over the Seattle Seahawks all happened thanks to some timely plays and great performances from key players. Even though it was a team effort that won the game, there’s no denying certain players played a bigger role than others did. These are the Patriots’ top five individual performances in Super Bowl XLIX.

5. Rob Ninkovich

Rob Ninkovich
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5. Rob Ninkovich

Rob Ninkovich
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After six seasons with the Patriots, linebacker Rob Ninkovich finally got his ring. His six total tackles were the second most by a Patriots player in the game. Meanwhile, he also recorded one sack and one QB hit. His sack came against Russell Wilson on a third down in the fourth quarter, which stalled the drive and forced the Seahawks to punt. New England scored a touchdown on their next possession to bring the score within striking distance.

4. Shane Vereen

Shane Vereen
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4. Shane Vereen

Shane Vereen
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Shane Vereen ran the ball four times for 13 carries. However, it was his work in the receiving game that gave the Patriots an edge in the Super Bowl. He hauled in a game-high 11 receptions for 64 yards. With the Seahawks staying focused on big-named receivers, Vereen was able to catch Tom Brady’s short passes and turn them into big gains. It was clear his production was frustrating Seattle’s defense.

3. Tom Brady

Tom Brady
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3. Tom Brady

Tom Brady
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Even though Tom Brady was named the MVP of Super Bowl XLIX, he comes in at No. 3 on this list. The future Hall of Famer passed for 328 yards and four touchdowns on 37 attempts for a 101.1 passer rating. He also tossed two horrible interceptions. Still, he was clearly a huge reason why New England won the matchup. Despite Brady being mostly stellar in the contest, there were still two other players who had even bigger impacts in the game.

2. Julian Edelman

Julian Edelman
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2. Julian Edelman

Julian Edelman
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It’s safe to say Julian Edelman was deserving of Super Bowl XLIX MVP honors. No offensive to Brady, but the way Edelman was able to change speed and make flawless routes to give himself room against the most talented secondary in the NFL was impressive. His 109 receiving yards was the fourth most by a Patriot in Super Bowl history. His nine receptions, the second most in the game, allowed him to average a game-high 12.1 yards per catch.

1. Malcolm Butler

Malcolm Butler
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1. Malcolm Butler

Malcolm Butler
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Undrafted rookie Malcolm Butler has supposedly been picking off Brady in practice all season. He used that skill to help the Patriots win Super Bowl XLIX. Butler recorded three tackles, three defended passes and an interception that will go down as one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history. His ability to use his film study and apply it to the biggest moment of his life instantly makes him a young talent to watch for many years to come.

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