Super Bowl 2015: Final Stats, Highlights for Top Stars for Patriots vs. Seahawks | News, Scores, Hig

Super Bowl XLIX featured big plays from lesser-known names such as Chris Matthews and Malcolm Butler. In the end, though, it was a familiar name—Tom Brady—who stole the show in the New England Patriots' 28-24 triumph over the Seattle Seahawks.

The path to the finish with Pete Carroll's wild, strange coaching decisions and timely execution by Brady, his top receivers and one unheralded defensive back put the Patriots back on top of the globe; Bleacher Report noted the win:

The Patriots knock off the Seahawks 28-24 and are once again NFL Champions! #SB49 http://t.co/xDnKynGdAV

The top performers, a mix of old and new, established a balance that birthed one of the most memorable title games in memory.

A list of the most significant names, complemented by a sampling of their highlights, rests below.

2015 Super Bowl Top Performers 

Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots 

For a brief moment, Tom Brady appeared to be in trouble.

Sure, an opening pick to Jeremy Lane hurt, but the future Hall of Famer regrouped and took care of business for the rest of the first half.

In fact, the interception was one of just seven misfires for Brady in the first half to go along with 177 yards and two touchdowns. Brady first hit Brandon LaFell for a seemingly casual touchdown:

You just scored the first TD of #SB49, Brandon Lafell. You get to dance. #WindIt #WindIt #SB49 http://t.co/2FS1JukP18

The second went to tight end Rob Gronkowski after Brady lulled the Seahawks to sleep with short passes before going over the top, as the NFL's official Twitter account highlighted:

Gronk destroy defense. Gronk make sick catch. Gronk score. GRONK SPIKE! #SB49 http://t.co/wiVAvJCQJq

Brady was content all night to throw short passes and let his receivers do the work after the catch. Against Richard Sherman and the Seahawks, that is certainly a viable strategy.

Then again, don't tell that to New England fans who sat through a scoreless third quarter highlighted by a Brady interception. 

As a player befitting of the MVP does, though, he turned it on when it mattered most—the final frame.

After a strange misfire intended for Julian Edelman, Brady found Danny Amendola in single coverage and took advantage to begin the comeback; the NFL's official Twitter account shared highlights:

Brady. Amendola. Back of the endzone. 3-point game. You didn't think it was over. Did you? #TB12 #SB49 http://t.co/79RYfwYc7r

Brady then wasted little time righting his wrong by throwing a score to Edelman on a jaw-dropping drive best explained by ESPN Stats & Info:

Tom Brady went 8 for 8 on the drive that ended with a Julian Edelman go-ahead TD reception

This put Brady at a 37-of-50 mark for 328 yards and four scores to two interceptions, good for the MVP award, as Pro Football on ESPN places into historical perspective:

Super Bowl MVP -- Tom Brady! Joins Joe Montana as only 3x Super Bowl MVP winners http://t.co/1TtRdoAXOy

The conversations to come surrounding Brady's legacy will be quite interesting. Far from perfect, he showed up in his usual form with everything on the line against an elite defense. 

Not much else to say about one of the greatest to ever do it.

Beast Mode saw few opportunities in the first half. 

Best Mode still made a major impact.

Marshawn Lynch received 12 carries, not even half of Brady's attempts, yet ran for 45 yards and a predictable score once the Seattle offense was in range.

For New England, there was no stopping it, as the NFL's official Twitter account pointed out:

BeastMode. Broken tackles. Endzone. SKITTLES AND HANDSHAKES FOR EVERYONE! #SB49 http://t.co/UW2Fbax4nB

Lynch eventually faded from the spotlight through a somewhat strange bit of coaching strategy.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller best explains what fans will hear for years to come when it comes to Carroll's decision to ignore his lead back within scoring range in the waning moments:

Why, oh why, are the Seahawks throwing it there? One yard line. Best power back in the game? Wow.

For his part, Lynch offered an explanation for his limited usage late, per NFL.com's Aditi Kinkhabwala:

Marshawn Lynch asked if he's surprised he didn't get the football. Says "No." I ask him, Why not? Says, "Because football is a team sport."

Despite the debacle, Lynch still finished as one of the game's top performers with 24 rushes for 247 yards and a score.

The numbers are a testament to Lynch's ability.

So are the "what could have been" thoughts.

Chris Matthews, WR, Seattle Seahawks

Look, Chris Matthews is noteworthy, thanks to the surprise element of his performance.

Flash back to the second quarter. With Wilson bumbling his way through the proceedings and no other receiver creating enough space to make a difference, it was Matthews—a 2011 undrafted free agent—who kept the defending champions in the game.

Matthews changed the complexion entirely with a 44-yard reception—the first catch of his pro career.

That led to the aforementioned Lynch touchdown, but his second feat was even more impressive.

With six seconds left on the clock before halftime, it was Matthews both Carroll and Wilson elected to rely on, which worked:

Ladies and gentlemen, We present Chris Matthews.. He's really good at crazy TD catches. #SB49 http://t.co/OX6F3pzYII

Guess what? He did it again right out of the halftime tunnel to help set up a field goal; the NFL's official Twitter account highlighted Matthews' ability to make amazing catches:

You can't stop Chris Matthews. You can only shout "who is he... and how does he keep making these CATCHES??" http://t.co/QyFBxgqyvS

Matthews didn't win the game for his team. Had the Seahawks won, though, odds are the MVP award would have gone his way. No wideout was more important Sunday, and it's debatable that no player overall had a bigger impact.

Were it not for Matthews, Sunday's thriller may have been an afterthought.

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