Patriots Footnotes

ShaneTrot

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Chris Harper. That fumble.
If that game happens to any other team, the bitching that happens about the Chung and Gronk penalties would be cacophonous.

How about Cory Clement? The league changes the definition of a catch for the SB. He has 100 yards receiving, he has done nothing in the NFL besides last year's SB. Why for the love of God are the Pats so lousy at defending the wheel route and passes to backs when they use it as a primary weapon? How many times do they need to get fucked by that play in a big game? Almost happened last week with Damien Williams killing them.
 

Mystic Merlin

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If that game happens to any other team, the bitching that happens about the Chung and Gronk penalties would be cacophonous.

How about Cory Clement? The league changes the definition of a catch for the SB. He has 100 yards receiving, he has done nothing in the NFL besides last year's SB. Why for the love of God are the Pats so lousy at defending the wheel route and passes to backs when they use it as a primary weapon? How many times do they need to get fucked by that play in a big game? Almost happened last week with Damien Williams killing them.
Umm their linebackers aren’t fast?
 

tims4wins

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A tangent: The Patriots have had a few situations where they knocked teams out of field goal range in big moments. It happened last week against the Chiefs. It obviously happened in the Atlanta Super Bowl as you note. It happened in the 2004 divisional game where McNair took an intentional grounding penalty in the final drive down 3 in field goal range. And it happened in the 2006/7 Chargers division game. I wonder if it happened any other times.

Another tangent would be fourth down conversion attempts. When in the playoffs have the Patriots chosen to go on fourth where it wasn't desperation -- that is, where it really was a choice instead of them being down and having no choice but to try or lose on kneel downs. There were two last week -- one successful and one not. Troy Brown had the catch against the Titans to set up the winning field goal on fourth down. Down 8 with about 5-6 minutes left the Patriots went for it on fourth down against the Chargers and converted in a very unusual way after the strip of the pick. Against Atlanta down 11 they chose to take the three points instead of trying the very long conversion on fourth and goal. Any others?

Edit: Actually they were down 19 when they kicked v. Atlanta.
Found a couple more 4th downs from the 2003 AFCCG. First drive of the game, 4th and 1 from their own 44 vs. Indy - Brady sneak for a first.

Then in the 2nd quarter, up 10-0, 4th and 8 from the Indy 29, Brady completed to Troy Brown for the first. That one was weather related as a 47 yard FG in the slop would have been really difficult.
 

Hoya81

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All the various players who weaved in and out of the DFG saga, but mostly:
John Jastremski
Jim McNally
Ted Wells
Jeffrey Kessler
Judge Berman
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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Found a couple more 4th downs from the 2003 AFCCG. First drive of the game, 4th and 1 from their own 44 vs. Indy - Brady sneak for a first.

Then in the 2nd quarter, up 10-0, 4th and 8 from the Indy 29, Brady completed to Troy Brown for the first. That one was weather related as a 47 yard FG in the slop would have been really difficult.
So, their conversion rate is pretty good. The Troy Brown one is similar to his conversion in the division game against the Titans in that they were similarly just out of range in bad weather.
 

kenneycb

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I just realized that play was another reason to continue to thank Minnesota. Now they explicitly gave us Ortiz, KG, Kessel's dangle in Game 6, one of my best friends at BC, and a few other things but also Torii Hunter and a play that I will never not laugh at and be happy whenever I see it.
 

BigSoxFan

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I just realized that play was another reason to continue to thank Minnesota. Now they explicitly gave us Ortiz, KG, Kessel's dangle in Game 6, one of my best friends at BC, and a few other things but also Torii Hunter and a play that I will never not laugh at and be happy whenever I see it.
Nope, can’t do it. BC vs. Nova Sweet 16 in 2006 was in Minneapolis. Last year’s debacle of a SB...Minneapolis. Twins are like 2-1002 against Yankees in their history.

I’d say we’re about even.
 

E5 Yaz

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So ... we're no longer doing the requested "non-Patriots players"?
 

dynomite

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Jeremy Lane and Tharold Simon.
I was just talking about this yesterday after rewatching some of the Mic’d Up from that Super Bowl. I was getting nervous all over again just watching those highlights. The Brady pick in the 3rd quarter leading to a 24-14 Seahawks lead... facing 3rd and 14 from our 28 with 11 minutes left (the Edelman catch)... and of course, the miracle stop of Lynch at the 1 followed by the Butler Pick, pandemonium on the field, in the stands, in living rooms around New England.

Winning JUST ONE Super Bowl like that would be a lifetime legacy. Hell, the ‘85 Bears still walk around strutting because of that one season and one magical ride.

And here we are competing for our SIXTH. Insane.
 

tims4wins

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SB XLIX was teetering on disaster. After Seattle made it 24-14, the Pats gained a first down but quickly punted. Seattle gained 25 yards on its first play, got past midfield, then threw incomplete on 3rd and 2 (I think Butler was defending on this one down the sideline). At the time, after the 25 yard play, I remember thinking Seattle was going to run away with the game - that we were headed toward 31-14, or worse.

Then the Pats went 3 and out, and Seattle started on its own 36, but the Pats D also forced a quick 3 and out (punctuated by a Nink sack), and then the magic started.
 

Mystic Merlin

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SB XLIX was teetering on disaster. After Seattle made it 24-14, the Pats gained a first down but quickly punted. Seattle gained 25 yards on its first play, got past midfield, then threw incomplete on 3rd and 2 (I think Butler was defending on this one down the sideline). At the time, after the 25 yard play, I remember thinking Seattle was going to run away with the game - that we were headed toward 31-14, or worse.

Then the Pats went 3 and out, and Seattle started on its own 36, but the Pats D also forced a quick 3 and out (punctuated by a Nink sack), and then the magic started.
How about the third and 14 on the next drive, too.

Edelman was nearly decapitated, and definitely concussed, by Chancellor on an 18 yard bullet down the middle of the field as Collinsworth launched into his ‘I looked into Toms eyes’ Deflategate non sequitur.

Crazy game.
 

dcmissle

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I was just talking about this yesterday after rewatching some of the Mic’d Up from that Super Bowl. I was getting nervous all over again just watching those highlights. The Brady pick in the 3rd quarter leading to a 24-14 Seahawks lead... facing 3rd and 14 from our 28 with 11 minutes left (the Edelman catch)... and of course, the miracle stop of Lynch at the 1 followed by the Butler Pick, pandemonium on the field, in the stands, in living rooms around New England.

Winning JUST ONE Super Bowl like that would be a lifetime legacy. Hell, the ‘85 Bears still walk around strutting because of that one season and one magical ride.

And here we are competing for our SIXTH. Insane.
That is why I feel badly for people who allow naysayers to poison this experience. There is sooo much anger expressed here about that.

I totally get it when we are under siege in a serious way. During Deflategate and its aftermath, for example. I am at the front of the line with my legal hat on in battle gear.

But after that, Jesus let it go. What purpose does it serve? Life is too short. Even during a 20-year run that is so amazing it probably will never be replicated again. Especially during such a run.

“Normal” is getting to one SB every decade or so and maybe winning it. Maybe.
 

Old Fart Tree

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I think Cooks is now a footnote, between his stupid jump last year and his inability to pull in two shoulda been TDs this year.
 

jablo1312

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Rashaan Melvin.

Bart Scott.

Jesse James.

He had a forgettable season here but Scott Chandler will forever be on the list of guys who inexplicably lit up the Pats.
 

BuellMiller

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Watched the Mo Lewis game on youtube. Had completely forgot that Bledsoe came in again the next series after the hit, before Brady came in for the last drive of the game. Also, on the 2nd down play before the hit, Bert Emanuel dropped a very catchable ball that would have been a first down (was ruled a catch on the field, but Herm Edwards correctly challenged). Without that, Bledsoe doesn't have to scramble to try to get a 1st down on 3rd and 10. (Not to mention completely forgot that Emanuel was on the team, since he didn't play another game with the team)
Also this was a classic Bledsoe game from that era. Some absolute great throws mixed with some horrible interceptions, and never looked really comfortable with any of the short passing in the offense that Brady would pick up and run with.
 

Harry Hooper

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Watched the Mo Lewis game on youtube. Had completely forgot that Bledsoe came in again the next series after the hit, before Brady came in for the last drive of the game. Also, on the 2nd down play before the hit, Bert Emanuel dropped a very catchable ball that would have been a first down (was ruled a catch on the field, but Herm Edwards correctly challenged). Without that, Bledsoe doesn't have to scramble to try to get a 1st down on 3rd and 10. (Not to mention completely forgot that Emanuel was on the team, since he didn't play another game with the team)
Also this was a classic Bledsoe game from that era. Some absolute great throws mixed with some horrible interceptions, and never looked really comfortable with any of the short passing in the offense that Brady would pick up and run with.

I can't get out of my head how Bledsoe took an almost identical sideline hit when he came into the AFCCG in relief of Brady
 

BigSoxFan

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I can't get out of my head how Bledsoe took an almost identical sideline hit when he came into the AFCCG in relief of Brady
Yup. Loved the symmetry though not quite as awesome as getting blasted by Bledsoe’s Bills 31-0 to start 2003 season and then returning the favor 31-0 back in Foxboro to end the season.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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I recently watched highlights of that AFCCG. I had forgotten much of it except for the Bledsoe TD pass.

I'm not sure I've ever seen a game quite like it. Certainly not one where the stakes were that high. The Patriots punted or turned it over on downs in 7 of their 8 possessions to start the game but were up 21-3. Ken Walter was absolutely terrible. Kordell Stewart was worse. The defenses were crazy good on both sides. The Troy Brown scoop blocked kick recovery and lateral was one of the best plays I've ever seen in football. Brown did everything in that game. He was amazing.

I think there was a sense going into that game that even though the Steelers had been really good that year and deserved the 1 seed, that the game was sort of a consolation prize for who got to have a fun week of Super Bowl hype before getting beaten by the greatest show on turf. The irony is that the Eagles almost beat the Rams in the late game that day. Also, the week between the CG and the Super Bowl ended up getting dominated by the New England quarterback controversy, while Belichick was plotting one of the most amazing games in history.

I guess if you ask any Patriots fan about 2001 the things that will come to mind immediately are the Super Bowl and the Snow Game. But, holy shit, that AFCCG stands on its own as one of the craziest and most amazing games in the Patriots' Belichick Brady history, if not in NFL history.
 

tims4wins

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I recently watched highlights of that AFCCG. I had forgotten much of it except for the Bledsoe TD pass.

I'm not sure I've ever seen a game quite like it. Certainly not one where the stakes were that high. The Patriots punted or turned it over on downs in 7 of their 8 possessions to start the game but were up 21-3. Ken Walter was absolutely terrible. Kordell Stewart was worse. The defenses were crazy good on both sides. The Troy Brown scoop blocked kick recovery and lateral was one of the best plays I've ever seen in football. Brown did everything in that game. He was amazing.

I think there was a sense going into that game that even though the Steelers had been really good that year and deserved the 1 seed, that the game was sort of a consolation prize for who got to have a fun week of Super Bowl hype before getting beaten by the greatest show on turf. The irony is that the Eagles almost beat the Rams in the late game that day. Also, the week between the CG and the Super Bowl ended up getting dominated by the New England quarterback controversy, while Belichick was plotting one of the most amazing games in history.

I guess if you ask any Patriots fan about 2001 the things that will come to mind immediately are the Super Bowl and the Snow Game. But, holy shit, that AFCCG stands on its own as one of the craziest and most amazing games in the Patriots' Belichick Brady history, if not in NFL history.
My lasting memory from that game is basically the Pats hanging on for dear life in the second half, afraid that Bledsoe would completely screw it up (which he almost did on several occasions).
 

BigSoxFan

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My lasting memory from that game is basically the Pats hanging on for dear life in the second half, afraid that Bledsoe would completely screw it up (which he almost did on several occasions).
Yup. And it was during year 15 of the title drought so I was convinced they would blow it. Fortunately, the defense stepped up big at the end.

To quote Kordell Stewart: “Sometimes the best team doesn’t win...”
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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My lasting memory from that game is basically the Pats hanging on for dear life in the second half, afraid that Bledsoe would completely screw it up (which he almost did on several occasions).
You gotta watch it again. You'll be surprised.

The Steelers' pass rush was unbelievable all game and many of the Patriots' drives stalled due to sacks and just needing too many yards. Bledsoe was really good in the fourth quarter. Patriots were up 21-3 but the Steelers dominated the third quarter and scored two touchdowns very quickly sandwiched around a sack of Bledsoe where he really didn't have a chance. But then Bledsoe put together a really good time consuming drive that ended in a field goal and got the lead back up to 7 and really stabilized the game. The next drive he marched them out of their own end and converted three big third downs to keep the clock moving. They couldn't quite get it into field goal range but that drive changed field position and chewed up a ton of time, leaving Stewart to panic and make turnovers ending the game.
 

jmcc5400

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Bledsoe was good in that game, but he did have one pass where he badly misread the coverage and almost threw a pick 6 that would have been a carbon copy of the one he threw in the regular season game at Pittsburgh in 97 that cost us HFA in the divisional round
 

NortheasternPJ

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Yup. Loved the symmetry though not quite as awesome as getting blasted by Bledsoe’s Bills 31-0 to start 2003 season and then returning the favor 31-0 back in Foxboro to end the season.
Wasn’t that last game like 50 degrees too?
 

azsoxpatsfan

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How about the third and 14 on the next drive, too.

Edelman was nearly decapitated, and definitely concussed, by Chancellor on an 18 yard bullet down the middle of the field as Collinsworth launched into his ‘I looked into Toms eyes’ Deflategate non sequitur.

Crazy game.
Not a footnote but crazy story about that hit on Edelman. My little sister has a teammate on her high school basketball team whose dad is a neuroscientist. We live in Arizona, and he's the guy in charge of assessing Cardinals players after big hits to determine if they have a concussion. Since that Super Bowl was in AZ, he was the one who assessed Edelman. My dad was at my little sister's game and asked him about the Edelman hit, because we'd always assumed he must've been concussed and the league just let him play because it's the Super Bowl. He says that Edelman definitely wasn't concussed, but that he was more wired than anyone he'd ever seen in his life. Says he seemed like he'd smoked crack or something because he was basically vibrating and constantly yelling at them to let him go back into the game. That story made me love him even more, if that's possible.