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‘I can’t believe the call’

One of Cris Collinsworth’s signature moments came in February, seconds after Russell Wilson threw a goal-line interception in Super Bowl XLIX. Al Michaels exclaimed in his trademark voice, “Unreal,” after the play. During the chaotic action, Collinsworth took a breath but pulled no punches.

The play left Collinsworth stunned.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
“I can’t believe the call,” he said on air.

He said he’s been constantly asked about the chain of events by viewers this offseason.

“Those moments come, you just never know where they are,” he said. “Those are really hard, I mean they are. Especially when you know 115 million people are watching. I saw the play, and there were perfectly logical reasons why they threw the ball, but I had seen so much of Seattle by that point, and they were great at two things — either handing the ball to Marshawn Lynch, or having Russell Wilson get out on the edge — and I think they would’ve scored with either strategy.

“I was 75 percent sure they were going to run it, but I was 100 percent sure if they didn’t, they were going to get Russell Wilson to the edge. I didn’t think the strength of their team was in the drop-back mode on the goal line against a goal-line defense. So I just sat there for a second with my mouth open. Al did his thing, and I can barely remember what I said, to tell you the truth, but all that kept coming to my mind was, ‘I can’t believe that call.’”

— Abraham D. Madkour

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