I'm not sure if this has been mentioned but one of the most satisfying wins for me was Week 2 in 2008. Matt Cassel, in his first career start one week after you-know-what, beat Brett Favre and the Jets in the New Jersey Toilet.
Ha I mentioned both - including like 5 games from 2003. That was probably my favorite season all things considered
Bill threw his hat (or was it a clipboard) in the air when they won. Reminded me of this. View: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10515406350073152003 really was a ridiculous year. They also won in OT in Miami (another place where, at the time, they never won) on an 82 yard Brady to Troy Brown bomb after Olindo Mare missed a short FG kicking off of the dirt baseball infield.
That was immensely funNo one came up with this one, from 2012, the 9-3 Pats versus the invincible 11-1 Houston Texans. The Texans arrived wearing some bullshit letterman jackets. https://www.houstontexans.com/news/texans-wear-letterman-jackets-on-trip-to-new-england-9048823. Final Score, NE 42 Houston 14. Pats lost the AFCCG to the Ravens after blowing out the Texans a second time in the divisional round.
I think that was the one in which Brady finally faked the handoff on the stretch run to the right and Collinsworth just went “oh no” because the touchdown pass was so wide open.No one came up with this one, from 2012, the 9-3 Pats versus the invincible 11-1 Houston Texans. The Texans arrived wearing some bullshit letterman jackets. https://www.houstontexans.com/news/texans-wear-letterman-jackets-on-trip-to-new-england-9048823. Final Score, NE 42 Houston 14. Pats lost the AFCCG to the Ravens after blowing out the Texans a second time in the divisional round.
Man, did JJ Watt's prime get wasted. I appreciate how much he cared about Houston and what he did for the people of area, but it was like the defensive equivalent of watching Barry Sanders play for the Lions.I think that was the one in which Brady finally faked the handoff on the stretch run to the right and Collinsworth just went “oh no” because the touchdown pass was so wide open.
Edit: Guess it was Gruden. Around the 5:30 mark here:
View: https://youtu.be/etY9I_cn4kQ
Always jarring to watch any highlights that feature Hernandez.I think that was the one in which Brady finally faked the handoff on the stretch run to the right and Collinsworth just went “oh no” because the touchdown pass was so wide open.
Edit: Guess it was Gruden. Around the 5:30 mark here:
View: https://youtu.be/etY9I_cn4kQ
That reminds me of the pink dildo game in BuffaloHow about the Steelers game where gronk went bananas and then pointed and laughed at the DB?
It’s really incredible. Very much a regular season version of the Seahawks ending. Such a great tackle to keep the clock running on the 2nd down play.That ending in Pittsburgh is, to paraphrase the famous song, “Still Fucking Hilarrrrrrious After all These Years.”
Brady to Gronk after the amazing two-point conversion celebration (that would totally get flagged for taunting today): “Hey, it’s not over!”
That ending in Pittsburgh is, to paraphrase the famous song, “Still Fucking Hilarrrrrrious After all These Years.”
It was so weird that, starting at the 8:45 mark of that video, Nantz and Romo went from saying it was a definite touchdown to immediately changing their tune completely and saying it was incomplete, and it didn't really correspond to watching the replay at the same time. I'm still 99% sure that right then something weird happened like someone from the NFL office called over to the CBS crew to let them know what was going on. It was a very bizarre broadcasting moment.
Thats kind of why I’m a big fan of the Patriots win in Champaign against the Bears. I was at the game and the vast majority of Bears fans excited during the review on the “interception” that was overturned. They didn’t announce in the stadium it was under review. Poor bastards were partying in the parking lot, celebrating the end of their losing streak. Guys were giving me shit walking home in Patriots gear. “Umm, the Bears lost.” This was 2002 so before smart phones.I loved the 2013 comeback against the Saints. Defense held them to a field goal and Brady did Brady things and drove them down the field and threw a TD to Kenbrell Thompkins. Was in a bar with all Saints fans which is why it stands out for me.
Calling a QB sneak on 4th and 3 is a ballsy call.Thats kind of why I’m a big fan of the Patriots win in Champaign against the Bears. I was at the game and the vast majority of Bears fans excited during the review on the “interception” that was overturned. They didn’t announce in the stadium it was under review. Poor bastards were partying in the parking lot, celebrating the end of their losing streak. Guys were giving me shit walking home in Patriots gear. “Umm, the Bears lost.” This was 2002 so before smart phones.
View: https://youtu.be/u37bIQ6QfQk
I loved the 2013 comeback against the Saints. Defense held them to a field goal and Brady did Brady things and drove them down the field and threw a TD to Kenbrell Thompkins. Was in a bar with all Saints fans which is why it stands out for me.
I remember even thinking in real time that it was strange how quickly they shifted gears. Romo bought in ("Ohhhh Jim look at the balllll idk!!") but Nantz sounded like he had a hard time believing it wasn't a catch. I would have been annoyed if I was a Steelers fan but I am not thankfully.It was so weird that, starting at the 8:45 mark of that video, Nantz and Romo went from saying it was a definite touchdown to immediately changing their tune completely and saying it was incomplete, and it didn't really correspond to watching the replay at the same time. I'm still 99% sure that right then something weird happened like someone from the NFL office called over to the CBS crew to let them know what was going on. It was a very bizarre broadcasting moment.
Thanks Yaz, I'd forgotten how cool that game was especially watching Peyton on his knees while Willie and Vrabel sprinted up the field
I would nominate the 2001 Jets game in the Meadowlands. It was a huge victory. The Jets were stacked and I don’t think many people took the Pats seriously at that point.
My personal favorite was 2003 @ Colts when McGinest stuffed James at the goal line to win. That one has to be up there too.
Has McGinest ever spoken about whether his injury, like, two plays earlier was real?
This is a great post, thanks.I mean you could almost do this for every opponent which is insane:
Atlanta: Beating Vick in the dome, beating Matty Ice on Sunday night in Foxby in the SB rematch.
Arizona: Opening night with Garrapolo. Pats had a weird home loss to Az, after AZ tried to give us the game and Ghost missed at the gun.
Baltimore: Monday night madness in undefeated season
Buffalo: Brady's return after Injury. Ben Watson game.
Carolina: Wrapped up 2001 Regular season there, with big win.
Cincy: We are onto Cincinnati: Bledsoe lost opener there in 01, and Pats had a bad loss in a rain bowl in Cincy.
Cleveland: Miraculous game recovering onside kick in game Gronk got knocked out. Brady's comeback after suspension
Chicago: Brady jukes Urlacher. Unreal road comeback in a college stadium
Dallas: Tuna Bowl. Donte Stallworth long TD game in big game in Dallas.
Detroit: Thanksgiving comeback win
Denver: Safety Dance.
Green Bay: Big win in Lambeau: Favre quit in first quarter when it wasnt going his way.
Houston: Varsity jacket game.
Indy: Mcginest stop. Every time we beat Peyton
Jacksonville: They caught a Hail Mary at our one yard line at end of regulation, we went on to beat them in OT
KC: Brady beat Mahomes 43-40 on Sunday night at same time as Sox v Houston Game 2
Raiders: We beat them early in Foxboro in an ugly game, not much else comes to mind
Chargers: Nothing super memorable, but we seem to beat them every thre or four years. They skunked us early in foxby, which caused Brady to clap back in media at Schottenheimer to mind his own team after he gave postgame comments on Pats. Same day as Sox v Yanks game 162 Sox needed to get into playoffs.
Rams: Very undermanned Pats team went into St. Louis dome and Vianteri threw a TD pass in a big win.
Dolphins: Saturday afternoon win in week 15 in 2001, Overtime Mare. Overtime in foxby late in 02.
Vikings: Beat them on a sunday Halloween night. Also had the game where Thelien went after Belichick in game.
New Orleans: Kembrell, also in Superdome early, awesome Brady scramble and throw to Gronk for incredible TD.
Giants: last game of 07. Ghost from 50 after converting 4th and 10 on last drive on a late sunday in the meadowlands.
Jets; 45-3, butt fumble. I could do all day with this.
Philly: Big win in week two in Philly, in game where Rosie colvins season ended.
Pitt: Opening night something like 25 straight passes. Goal line overturn. Mouth cornerback game. Every win against them is sweet.
SF: Not much here: Brady won there in the rain.
Seattle: We rallied from 10 down in 4th in 08 against a horrible Hawks team, also against Deion branch who caught a TD against us.
Tampa: Ugly MNF win there a few years back.
Tennessee: 100-0 in the snow.
Washington: Old NFC grudge matches die hard. Beli put a huge number on Dan gibbs head in 07.
What reason would Troy Aikman have to hate the Patriots? I've listened to him broadcast a bunch of Pats games and have never thought that. In fact if anything I think he's been incredibly complimentary to both Belichick and Brady over the years.I first thought of the 2013 Saints game as well. Troy Aikman was almost in tears calling that last drive he hated the Pats so much. Salty tears
Also the first time Brady beat the Saints
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_New_England_Patriots_season#Week_6:_vs._New_Orleans_Saints
Gronk gave a killer sound bite after this game about Brady “being back” IIRC.My first ever Foxboro game was the “we’re on to Cincinnati” game. Night game so we all had been tailgating all day. The crowd was insane. And the Pats came out and just destroyed the Bengals, launching them down the road to their first SB title since the 2004 season.
Maybe not the “best” regular season win, but it was very important for the second championship dynasty and made all the better for me because I was there in person.
Also. I don’t think you will see this type of play calling/selection in a long time (if ever)Hard to judge without more time to put it in perspective, but that one was pretty great.