Except when he intentionally fumbled and almost lost the game. Haha.Malcolm Mitchell is a keeper, by the way. Looked like a stud tonight.
Well, he always likes to have something to pick on in film study...I love how BB will probably have two things eating away at him:
1.) The bullshit penalty on McClellin that foiled what was, technique wise, a great play that would've taken a point off the board for Atlanta.
2.) The onside kick that, in terms of play design, was actually really impressive and is one they probably recover 8 of 10 times or so.
I feel like about 90% of NFL crews wouldn't have had the balls to call that DPI in overtime, even though it was clear as day.How about the refs too? Nothing to say. They let the players decide the game.
I actually mentioned in the third, when we were getting killed, that they officials had been wonderfully unobtrusive. Thought they did a good job throughout letting them play. We got the defensive holds, but they were pretty obvious.Agree entirely. Do we just like the refs because most of the calls went our way, or are be objective here? I wonder what the Atlanta fans think about the refs.
A couple of the defensive holding calls were weak but it seemed pretty even. Nothing too crazy either way. One of the holdings was a facemask. Seemed fine otherwise.Agree entirely. Do we just like the refs because most of the calls went our way, or are be objective here? I wonder what the Atlanta fans think about the refs.
It was odd. I've watched a lot of Pats games, and under BB at least, clock management is clearly very important. Maybe other coaches don't pay attention to what Belichick does?just watching on replay and odd that Atlanta wasn't running the clock down in the 2nd half.
They'll be on the 3 games to Glory V video. Which is already up for pre-sale at the Pats pro shop website.Well, he always likes to have something to pick on in film study...
I really hope we get one more Belichick Breakdown. This game would be so epic
I'm reminded of an amazing "Curb Your Enthusiasm" episodeI came home for this game. Parents, beloved aunts..
Justin VerlanderGame ball to the crowd booing Goodell for sure ... that was awesome
Another scumbag NFL employee on the loose perhapsNot sure if this should have a separate thread (?)
Interesting development - BRADY Game Worn Jersey missing after game.......
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/patriots/2017/02/05/tom-brady-jersey-stolen-super-bowl-2017-new-england-patriots/97537992/
Danny Amendola needs some serious props
Indeed. Seems like another lifetime ago that many Pats fans hated on him for not being Wes Welker. Dude is now a two-time SB champion who came up huge in both games.Amendola has quietly made some really clutch plays for the Patriots.
In this order, this is correct.Brady
White
Hightower
Flowers
Mitchel
And that's why a handful of incompetent owners concocted "defletegate!"Tom Brady winning %
reg season .779 (183-52)
playoffs .735 (25-9)
SB .714 (5-2)
That's what we've been enjoying the last 16 years...let that marinate. 16 years of .700+ winning in a league built for parity. To say that's special is a clumsy understatement.
Also gameballs to Malcolm Mitchell & Trey Flowers
And Julian and Danny
And Slater for calling heads!
There were two that stuck out to me that favored the Pats a little bit. The first was the defensive holding against Poole(?) on Edelman that looked pretty weak. In fairness, however, the Falcons did a lot of defensive holding, especially early. The second was the offensive holding on the Falcons right after the sack in the 4th quarter, where Sanu caught the ball and whoever tackled him got a lot of facemask.Agree entirely. Do we just like the refs because most of the calls went our way, or are be objective here? I wonder what the Atlanta fans think about the refs.
I agree on the Poole holding.There were two that stuck out to me that favored the Pats a little bit. The first was the defensive holding against Poole(?) on Edelman that looked pretty weak. In fairness, however, the Falcons did a lot of defensive holding, especially early. The second was the offensive holding on the Falcons right after the sack in the 4th quarter, where Sanu caught the ball and whoever tackled him got a lot of facemask.
Have to think it was scheme, but yeah. Him and Sheard were creating a ton of problems for the Falcons O in the second half. In this fugue state, I think most of it came on stunts and twists up the middle taking advantage of Mack's injury. Although HT's FF was off the edge and past Freeman.Flowers was a monster - 2.5 sacks, 5 QB hits would be awesome, but factor in that Ryan only dropped back 28 times and it's stunning. In my opinion, his emergence is the biggest factor in the defense's improvement down the stretch.
Tons of big plays from a bunch of guys. Edelman, Amendola, Mitchell, Bennett, and Hogan all had between 4 and 8 catches and between 57 and 87 yards. Brady was spreading it around.
Anyone know wtf Freeman was doing on that play? He was on the right side of the line and set up like he was supposed to pass protect, but when the ball got snapped he looked off to his left while Hightower ran right by his right shoulder.Have to think it was scheme, but yeah. Him and Sheard were creating a ton of problems for the Falcons O in the second half. In this fugue state, I think most of it came on stunts and twists up the middle taking advantage of Mack's injury. Although HT's FF was off the edge and past Freeman.
I posted in the Atlanta thread that Shanahan said Freeman had responsibility, while Freeman thought he was going to get helpAnyone know wtf Freeman was doing on that play? He was on the right side of the line and set up like he was supposed to pass protect, but when the ball got snapped he looked off to his while Hightower ran right by his right shoulder.
Yeah it sounds as though he just didn't pick up the coverage callget help? I mean...that doesn't excuse putting no effort into the block (well, I suppose it would explain it if he thought he should avoid DH in order to get into a route...but since he didn't run a route, I don't think that could be it, either).
I'd be surprised if Amendola isn't back to compete for a spot on a much lower contract. I wouldn't consider him a lock to make the team, though, depending on how things shake out.You know, he won't do it....but if Amendola would consider taking a paycut....I'd take him back. He showed me a lot tonight.
Defense might have been the better of the two units considering opponent strength. The running backs were always going to be a disasterous matchup, the red zone defense wasn't good, and there were a few more breakdowns than we are used to seeing, but punt, punt, TD, TD, punt, TD, punt, fumble, punt, punt with zero margin of error the last four drives is pretty impressive.Patricia/secondary/Hightower
The defense was basically spotted 7 points because of the Blount fumble. But they kept a prolific offense to not that many points after that series. Hightower for the strip sack.
Edelman
I know that Brady and White are the real heroes, but that stupid circus catch broke the ATL D. It really did, I don't care what anyone says. It was nice to have a dumb, stupid catch go our way for once.
Ha, I wondered about that White catch at the time.Just rewatched overtime. The passes that Brady completes to Amendola, Hogan and Edelman were amazing. The coverage wasn't even bad. Those were great great throws.
In the little things department: The ten yard play to White from the 25 to the 15 was actually a lateral, which is why it wasn't his 15th catch. One of those little plays that looks like a pass but isn't that if dropped can be six going the other way. Also, I loved Tom staying locked in while they were reviewing whether White got in the end zone.
Agreed. I knew the second the Pats won the coin toss and took the ball that the Pats were scoring and they would make it look easy to drive the field. The Falcons were cooked.I believe the Patriots didn't face a third down on the OT drive. Atlanta just had nothing left on D.
I think if they had made that PAT, they wouldn't have gone for 2 both times in the 4th Quarter. But what do I know, I was sure they had lost at halftime (but I didn't get out of my lucky seat or change anything else.)Mustn't forget the missed PAT, which gave us the chance to enjoy the first Super OT ever.