No way the Seahawks ‘miracle catch’ was a worse disaster than Tyree.
I actually think that’s the worst play in Patriots history. I don’t mean to discount the terrible injuries, but those were ‘indeterminate’ injuries. The Tyree play was, as a single football play directly related to a single football moment, that’s the worst.
The Tyree play was probably the single worst play for the Pats in history (I'd say that Desmond Howard's KO return in the SB vs. GB was pretty high on the list, as the Pats had gotten to within six points and had momentum and then....boom). But the Tyree play did not come in a vacuum.
The Giants got the ball and immediately picked up a first down on an 11-yard pass to Amani Toomer. Then three plays later, the Pats had forced them into a 4th and 1 and Brandon Jacobs *barely* converted, by inches. That was one chance to end the game.
Manning then scrambled for five and that set up 2nd and 5 from the NY 44. Manning threw right and there wasn't a receiver (Tyree was the intended target) within 5 yards of the pass. The only guy there was....Asante Samuel. Not the easiest of catches, and anyone who says he dropped a sure interception is crazy, because it glanced off his fingertips. But still. He had a glorious chance right there to end it all. He makes that pick and Eli's passing line is TERRIBLE and is quickly forgotten in history. But he didn't and that brought up 3rd and 5.
Then came the Tyree play. Three *egregious* holdings on the O-line, no flags. Clear in the grasp, no whistle. Eli - soft as tissue paper - somehow escapes and just literally heaves a wobbly duck down the field. 98% chance that's either picked off or knocked away and somehow Tyree - he of the 4 receptions for 35 yards on the season, yet somehow the target of three of Eli's passes on this drive - comes up with the miracle catch.
But ok, NY now has the ball, 1st and 10 at the NE 24, needing a touchdown. Just 59 seconds to go. Plenty of time but also plenty of opportunity for the defense to make a stop. Eli throws an incompletion and then gets sacked by Adalius Thomas, leaving 3rd and 11 at the NE 25. Eli then hits Steve Smith for 12 for a first down, setting up the GW touch down.
Long story short, there were plenty of opportunities for the Patriots to seal that game, on that very drive, and they just didn't do it. Combination of bad play, missed opportunities, bad luck, and terrible refereeing, all coming together in a giant crap stew.
And after all that, Brady came *thisclose* to making the single greatest play in NFL history as the NY defender just barely tipped the 70 yard pass away from Moss.
Man just recounting all this makes me sick.