Super Bowl XLIX NOTEBOOK | More from Glendale, Ariz.

Brady named MVP: As a kid, years before he became a pretty good quarterback in his own right, Tom Brady idolized Joe Montana.

Now, at age 37, Brady owns just as many Super Bowl championships — and just as many Super Bowl MVP awards — as the Pro Football Hall of Famer.

And no QB in history has more.

Brady completed 37 of 50 passes for 328 yards with four touchdown passes, each to a different receiver, including an 8-for-8 bit of perfection on the drive that led to the go-ahead score with about 2 minutes left Sunday night.

That performance, and a victory-clinching interception by rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler, lifted the New England Patriots to a 28-24 comeback victory over the defending champion Seattle Seahawks in a Super Bowl with a slow start and a “Whoa!” finish.

This was not Brady at his best throughout. He threw two interceptions, including one deep in Seattle territory in the first quarter, and another in the third that led to points for the Seahawks.

That’s part of why the Patriots trailed 24-14 in the fourth quarter, before Brady got the comeback going.

“It wasn’t the way we drew it up. Certainly, throwing a couple of picks didn’t help,” Brady said. “It was a lot of mental toughness. Our team has had it all year. We never doubted each other, so that’s what it took. That was a great football team we beat. I’m just so happy for our team.”

Sitting in his family’s season-ticket seats at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park while growing up, Brady would wear a No. 16 jersey, just like Montana, and cheer for his favorite player’s team.

Brady did a fairly good impression of Joe Cool against Seattle.

He connected with Danny Amendola for a 4-yard touchdown with about 8 minutes left. That gave Brady 12 TD passes in Super Bowls, breaking Montana’s mark. Then, with 2:02 to go, Brady hit Julian Edelman from 3 yards for TD toss No. 13 in Super Bowls — and, more importantly, the lead.

Brady turned to New England’s sideline, pointed, then raised his right fist.

Even money: Lines were out the door at some Las Vegas sports books in the hours before the Super Bowl, with bettors eager to take their shot at a game that oddsmakers called a tossup.

At the South Point book, oddsmaker Jimmy Vaccaro said the pick ‘em line was the first he could remember since the 1982 Super Bowl, with money balanced evenly on each team.

“The best job we’re doing today is staying out of the way and taking their cash,” Vaccaro said. “We have nothing to be concerned about. We win no matter who wins.”

With two hours left before the game, the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook had all windows open and the Seahawks favored by a point, though oddsmaker Jay Kornegay said he was about to change the game to pick ‘em.

“It’s rush hour right now,” Kornegay said. “We had lines literally outside most of the day, which was pretty much what we expected.”

Seattle opened a favorite two weeks ago, but the line switched to New England when early money came in on the Patriots. The late money was on the Seahawks, evening the game out as pick ‘em at most legal books.

“This is the easiest game I’ve ever been involved with,” said Vaccaro, who began making odds in the 1970s. “Barring something silly like a 4-0 game it’s going to be very good for the books.”

Vaccaro said the betting could surpass the $119.7 million wagered on last year’s Super Bowl in Nevada sports books, which was a record

Squatting penalty: Seattle wide receiver Doug Baldwin drew a penalty flag for unsportsmanlike conduct after catching a touchdown pass to put the Seahawks up two scores in the Super Bowl. Why? Something of a mystery to television viewers.

But it appeared to have been an obscene gesture; Baldwin apparently simulated pulling down his pants over the football as if to go to the bathroom.

He was flagged for a 15-yard celebration penalty.

Associated Press