GLENDALE, Ariz. – Chris Matthews’ first time touching the football in the NFL was a pretty big deal. So was his second.
Matthews, who recovered an onside kick for the Seattle Seahawks that helped send them to the Super Bowl, had never caught a pass in the NFL before Sunday. The onside kick recovery late in the NFC championship game against the Packers was the first time he had touched the ball in the NFL. But when the Seahawks desperately needed someone to get open, they called his number and the 6-foot-5 rookie delivered.
Matthews made a beautiful 44-yard catch late in the second quarter, despite great coverage by Patriots cornerback Kyle Arrington, setting up a 3-yard touchdown run by Marshawn Lynch to tie Super Bowl XLIX 7-7.
It’s safe to say Matthews will remember his first catch very fondly.
The story for most of the first half was Seattle’s inability to move the ball. Before the drive that ended with Lynch’s touchdown, the Seahawks had one first down and 22 yards of offense. Russell Wilson didn’t have a completion until about 5:30 remained in the second quarter. It was similar to his struggles against the Packers in the first half, when he didn’t complete a pass until 3:30 remained in the first half.
The Seahawks couldn't move the ball until they called on the undrafted rookie Matthews, who spent time on Seattle’s practice squad this season, and he made one of the most memorable first career catches you’ll ever see.
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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab
from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/1BNSibW
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