GLENDALE, Ariz. — On the same field where a receiver named David Tyree had improbably caught a desperation throw to propel the New York Giants to Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots seven years earlier, the Seattle Seahawks had a potentially historic acrobatic catch of their own to remember and treasure.

The difference in the falling reception by Jermaine Kearse, however, is that the Seahawks did not complete the drive into the end zone.

The highlight was almost immediately trumped by a highly questionable play call and an interception at the goal line, each more unbelievable than the catch that had preceded them.

“A very, very hard lesson,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said, noting that his team had been on the verge of another championship. “I hate to learn the hard way, but there’s no other way to look at it right now.”

Seattle had blown a 10-point fourth-quarter lead but found itself at New England’s 38-yard line with 1 minute 14 seconds left. Trailing by 28-24, quarterback Russell Wilson lobbed a pass down the right side to receiver Kearse, who was blanketed by the backup cornerback Malcolm Butler.

Both men leapt over the 10-yard line, falling backward like high-jumpers over a bar, as the ball was volleyed into the air while they skidded backward on the grass. The ball dropped into the arms of Kearse, who cradled it for a catch as dramatic as any in Super Bowl history.

The Seahawks had a first down at the 5-yard line and used the second of their three timeouts with 1:06 left. Wilson handed off to the bruising back Marshawn Lynch, who gained 4 yards, nearly dragging defenders into the end zone.

Carroll, his usual state of calm lost in emotion that seemed balanced between anger and disappointment, said after the game that he had not wanted to “waste” a running play and thought a quick pass would be the game-winner. The offensive coordinator, Darrell Bevell, made the play call, but Carroll gave it the go-ahead without debate.

“It’s not the right matchup for us to run the football, so on second down, we throw the ball, really to kind of waste that play,” Carroll said. “If we score, we do. If we don’t, then we’ll run it on third and fourth down.” He said he had looked at Wilson, his third-year quarterback, before the play to make sure that Wilson understood the gravity of the moment. He did.

With the clock ticking, on second-and-goal at the 1-yard line, Wilson took the snap from the shotgun position. He threw immediately to the goal line, toward receiver Ricardo Lockette.

But Butler and the ball arrived at the same time, and Butler snagged the prize: a game-clinching interception.

“I put the blame on me,” said Wilson, who did not question the call when he received it. “I’m the one who threw it.”

The interception immediately set off a debate over Seattle’s play-calling and, shortly after, a fight that escalated momentarily out of control in the end zone.

The Seahawks had one timeout remaining and Lynch — the league’s leading bulldozer, with more rushing yards and touchdowns than anyone over the past four seasons — ready to plunge in for the winning score.

Instead of Kearse becoming the hero, it was the little-known Butler, who had been the foil to Kearse moments before he saved the game for New England with an interception.

“I’ve worked so hard in practice, and I just wanted to play so bad and help my team out,” Butler said afterward. “I got out there and did exactly what I needed to do to help my team win.”