Rate your favorite Pats’ playoff games by round. (The year signifies the season year, not the calendar year in which the game took place)
Wild Card: 1985. Pats 26, Jets 14. Mainly because I don’t remember any other WC game the Pats have won. But beating the Jets was always nice.
Divisional Round: 2014. Pats 35, Ravens 31. Incredible game. Pats get playoff revenge. Great comeback.
Conference Championship: 2018. Pats 37, Chiefs 31. Overtime classic. Knocking off Mahomes. Last great run. But a close second for me was the 1985 Squish the Fish game. That was easily one of my favorite football games of all time.
Super Bowl: 2014. I know the cherry was broken in 2001, which will always be special. But the 2014 win, given everything, keeping the Seahawks from establishing a dynasty, Brady and the Pats getting their fourth. My favorite ever.
Wild Card: 1985. Pats 26, Jets 14. Mainly because I don’t remember any other WC game the Pats have won. But beating the Jets was always nice.
Divisional Round: 2014. Pats 35, Ravens 31. Incredible game. Pats get playoff revenge. Great comeback.
Conference Championship: 2018. Pats 37, Chiefs 31. Overtime classic. Knocking off Mahomes. Last great run. But a close second for me was the 1985 Squish the Fish game. That was easily one of my favorite football games of all time.
Super Bowl: 2014. I know the cherry was broken in 2001, which will always be special. But the 2014 win, given everything, keeping the Seahawks from establishing a dynasty, Brady and the Pats getting their fourth. My favorite ever.
Wild Card: 1997 Patriots 17 Miami 3. They dominated the Dolphins the entire game and knew some of the play calls that Marino was even calling too.
Divisional: 2004 Patriots 20 Colts 3. A dominant defensive performance as everyone nationally was riding the Colts wave. Rodney Harrison sealed the win with a pick.
AFC: 2004 Patriots 41 Steelers 27. Brady had a 103 temperature and carved up the 15-1 Steelers at Heinz Field. The bomb to Deion Branch was the highlight and he waving bye bye on the end around was the FU moment.
Super Bowl: 2001. Enough said. The first one changed everything around here.
Divisional: 2004 Patriots 20 Colts 3. A dominant defensive performance as everyone nationally was riding the Colts wave. Rodney Harrison sealed the win with a pick.
AFC: 2004 Patriots 41 Steelers 27. Brady had a 103 temperature and carved up the 15-1 Steelers at Heinz Field. The bomb to Deion Branch was the highlight and he waving bye bye on the end around was the FU moment.
Super Bowl: 2001. Enough said. The first one changed everything around here.
And the Chargers interception/fumble game in 06, which if the Pats had won the super bowl, would be right at the top of everyone's list.
Go back and watch the 2003 AFCCG again. The way the D played against Manning was almost comical. As fun as it was to beat the Steelers twice, as amazing as the 2018 AFCCG was, and 2017… 2003 was So. Much. Fun. As a reminder, the Colts came in having not punted in either of their two playoff games. Then they did this:
Interception
Interception
Snap over punter’s head for safety
Fumble
Touchdown (woohoo!)
Punt
Interception
Interception
Touchdown (woohoo!)
Downs
Downs
It was a total comedy of errors and completely awesome.
For the divisional round, I would nominate the 1996 fog game vs the Steelers. Again, so much fun from the opening snap. Bledsoe to Glenn for 50 yards through the fog on the opening play. Long screen TD to Keith Byars. Curtis Martin for 75 yards. Kordell 0-10. 28-3 beat down. Just so much fun.
And I love the 17-3 mention of the 1997 WC game vs. Miami. They beat the ever loving crap out of Marino that game. He went something like 17-43 for 150 yards.
Interception
Interception
Snap over punter’s head for safety
Fumble
Touchdown (woohoo!)
Punt
Interception
Interception
Touchdown (woohoo!)
Downs
Downs
It was a total comedy of errors and completely awesome.
For the divisional round, I would nominate the 1996 fog game vs the Steelers. Again, so much fun from the opening snap. Bledsoe to Glenn for 50 yards through the fog on the opening play. Long screen TD to Keith Byars. Curtis Martin for 75 yards. Kordell 0-10. 28-3 beat down. Just so much fun.
And I love the 17-3 mention of the 1997 WC game vs. Miami. They beat the ever loving crap out of Marino that game. He went something like 17-43 for 150 yards.
So many great games in the last 20 years and you can even go back 25 years to include some of the games in 96 and 97.
Wildcard Round: 1. 17-3 over Dolphins in 1997 (complete defensive dominance); 2. 26-14 over Jets in 1985 (the beginning of a wild, unexpected ride and also their first NFL playoff win); 3. 28-3 over Jax in 2005 (10 in a row; wait they're not doing this again, are they?); 4. 37-16 over Jets in 2006 (only thing I remember is a long rumble of a fumble return by Vince).
Divisional Round: 1. 35-31 over Ravens in 2014 (Edelman to Amendola still makes me leap out of my chair); 2. 16-13 over Raiders in 2001 (end and beginning of the franchise's two NFL chapters); 3. 20-3 over Colts in 2004 (change the rules. it doesn't matter); 4. 24-21 over Chargers in 2006 (lights out); 5. 17-14 over Titans in 2003 (Adam II); 6. 28-3 over the Steelers in 1996 (Curtis Martin rumbling in the fog); 7. 27-20 over the Raiders in 1985 (the Patriots are going to the AFC Championship?); 8. 41-28 over Chargers in 2018 (virtually flawless offensive performance); 9. 31-20 over Jaguars in 2007 (Nearly perfect team's nearly perfect QB is nearly perfect); 10. 45-10 over Denver in 2011 (Crushing Tebow and Broncos); 11. 43-22 over Colts in 2012 (LGBT in the rain); 12. 34-16 against Texans in 2016 (the Deion Lewis game); 13. 35-14 over Titans in 2017 (the only thing I remember about this game is that I was in Hawaii); 14. 27-20 over Chiefs in 2015 (cracks started showing); 15. 41-28 over Texans in 2013 (another forgettable tomato can).
Conference Championship: 1. 37-31 over KC in 2018 (dynasty stands proud; incredible OT drive from Brady with Romo anticipating the plays; Dee Ford); 2. 24-17 over Steelers in 2001 (Drew to the rescue; the incredible Troy Brown); 3. 24-14 over Colts in 2003 (the dawn of Brady-Manning; Ty Law dominance); 4. 31-14 over Dolphins in 1985 (Craig James squishing the fish in our house of horrors; Berry the Bears); 5. 41-27 over Steelers in 2004 (Deion Branch waves bye bye; Rodney rips Ben; thanks again for kicking to cut it to 11 in the 4th, Cowher); 6. 23-20 over Ravens in 2011 (Brady sneak; Vince stops Baltimore on key 4th down; Sterling Moore; Cundiff shank and Suggs face); 7. 24-20 over Jags in 2017 (Amendola's catch; Gilmore with the clinching pass break-up); 8. 36-17 over Steelers in 2016 (the Chris Hogan game); 9. 20-6 over Jags in 1996 (Otis, my man); 10. 45-7 over Colts in 2014 (PV = nRT); 11. 21-12 over Chargers in 2007 (is Tom limping?)
Super Bowl: 1. 20-17 over Rams in 2001 ("Tonight, a dynasty is born." The five seconds before I realized there was a flag when Tebucky was racing down the sidelines may have been the happiest sports moment of my life); 2. 28-24 over Seahawks in 2014 (Three Corners! Malcolm, Go!); 3. 34-28 over Falcons in 2016 ("I caught it! I swear to god!"); 4. 32-29 over Panthers in 2003 (Thanks again, Kasey); 5. 13-3 over the Rams in 2018 (the dynasty's last gasp); 6. 24-21 over Eagles (they're still huddling??!!??)
Divisional Round: 1. 35-31 over Ravens in 2014 (Edelman to Amendola still makes me leap out of my chair); 2. 16-13 over Raiders in 2001 (end and beginning of the franchise's two NFL chapters); 3. 20-3 over Colts in 2004 (change the rules. it doesn't matter); 4. 24-21 over Chargers in 2006 (lights out); 5. 17-14 over Titans in 2003 (Adam II); 6. 28-3 over the Steelers in 1996 (Curtis Martin rumbling in the fog); 7. 27-20 over the Raiders in 1985 (the Patriots are going to the AFC Championship?); 8. 41-28 over Chargers in 2018 (virtually flawless offensive performance); 9. 31-20 over Jaguars in 2007 (Nearly perfect team's nearly perfect QB is nearly perfect); 10. 45-10 over Denver in 2011 (Crushing Tebow and Broncos); 11. 43-22 over Colts in 2012 (LGBT in the rain); 12. 34-16 against Texans in 2016 (the Deion Lewis game); 13. 35-14 over Titans in 2017 (the only thing I remember about this game is that I was in Hawaii); 14. 27-20 over Chiefs in 2015 (cracks started showing); 15. 41-28 over Texans in 2013 (another forgettable tomato can).
Conference Championship: 1. 37-31 over KC in 2018 (dynasty stands proud; incredible OT drive from Brady with Romo anticipating the plays; Dee Ford); 2. 24-17 over Steelers in 2001 (Drew to the rescue; the incredible Troy Brown); 3. 24-14 over Colts in 2003 (the dawn of Brady-Manning; Ty Law dominance); 4. 31-14 over Dolphins in 1985 (Craig James squishing the fish in our house of horrors; Berry the Bears); 5. 41-27 over Steelers in 2004 (Deion Branch waves bye bye; Rodney rips Ben; thanks again for kicking to cut it to 11 in the 4th, Cowher); 6. 23-20 over Ravens in 2011 (Brady sneak; Vince stops Baltimore on key 4th down; Sterling Moore; Cundiff shank and Suggs face); 7. 24-20 over Jags in 2017 (Amendola's catch; Gilmore with the clinching pass break-up); 8. 36-17 over Steelers in 2016 (the Chris Hogan game); 9. 20-6 over Jags in 1996 (Otis, my man); 10. 45-7 over Colts in 2014 (PV = nRT); 11. 21-12 over Chargers in 2007 (is Tom limping?)
Super Bowl: 1. 20-17 over Rams in 2001 ("Tonight, a dynasty is born." The five seconds before I realized there was a flag when Tebucky was racing down the sidelines may have been the happiest sports moment of my life); 2. 28-24 over Seahawks in 2014 (Three Corners! Malcolm, Go!); 3. 34-28 over Falcons in 2016 ("I caught it! I swear to god!"); 4. 32-29 over Panthers in 2003 (Thanks again, Kasey); 5. 13-3 over the Rams in 2018 (the dynasty's last gasp); 6. 24-21 over Eagles (they're still huddling??!!??)
I may have some quibbles here and there, but I absolutely love this post.
Your line about the Tebucky return is spot on. I think I hit my head on the ceiling jumping up and down on the couch.
It genuinely was an out of body experience. More so (for me) than any of the other electrifying moments we have been blessed with.
Agree on the Tebucky play. If not for that hold, the Patriots blow out the Rams.
Of course, that egregious hold by Willie on Faulk was why Warner had to run in the first place so it deserved to be called back but still.
It was absolutely a penalty, but it kind of kills me to this day because all Willie had to do was knock him, not grab him.
Of course if the hold never happens and the Pats go up 24-3, TB never gets to do his thing and who knows what happens from there. So I definitely wouldn’t wish it away.
The other play from that game that kills me is Brady’s overthrow of Patten on a bomb early in the 3rd quarter. Madden is talking after the previous play about how one of these plays the Pats need to take a deep shot… then boom they throw a bomb to Patten off a play fake and Brady overshoots it by a yard. Would have been a walk-in TD.
Actually one more play kills me too - the O-T-I-S interception return. If Seymour doesn’t get in his way, that’s a TD too.
The Pats could have won that game like 35-3.
It's funny when things from games they won still bug you. For me, I can't get all the way behind Falcons Super Bowl win because, aesthetically, I wish Bennett had come down with the pass that drew the PI and I am still freaked out by Brady's next pass, which was fairly close to being intercepted. Plus, the miracle Edelman catch was a bad pass into traffic that also could have been picked.
Always. I am bugged that they didn’t convert the first down against the Rams in 2018 and had to settle for the FG. I’m bugged by Brady’s 4th quarter end zone pick against the Panthers in 38.
Another one that shouldn’t be overlooked is Super Bowl 39 in the second quarter, Brady fumbled at the 4 yard line of Philadelphia.
What bugs me about that is Brady fell on the ball, but then somehow the Eagles recovered it
I forgot about Edelman taking out Lane after that horrible interception on the first drive in the Seattle super bowl.
Jesus Christ.I am going to have my wife print this post and give it to me for my 50th birthday, and then it will be joining us in the bedroom for birthday sex.
Jesus I forgot that one. Probably because there were like six lead changes after that but holy shit.
for a mediocre WR, that guy sure made a hell of a lot of big catches. I still cringe every time I see that deep comeback route against Atlanta. It always seems like it’s gonna get picked off.
SB49 on NFLN.
The Deflategate saga, as exemplified by the horribly distracting fourth quarter discussion of the same, grows dumber by the year and each additional actual controversy.
The Deflategate saga, as exemplified by the horribly distracting fourth quarter discussion of the same, grows dumber by the year and each additional actual controversy.
“Al, ah asked Tom Brady to look me in the eye…”
Its like cringe comedy, especially in the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl on a critical 3rd down play that became onthe most critical plays in the game (Brady climbing the pocket and throwing a bullet to Edelman)
God, this game was just amazing. And Brady’s throws in this 4th quarter are … poetry. They transcend time and space.
Edit: God, you can read Belichick’s lips right before the Butler play. The clip from the Do Your Job where on the headset they ask “Bill, they’re asking if you want the timeout?” And he says “What? … Yeah I got it.” Just wild.
Last edited:
Love the references to the 1985 run. Only those with rose colored glasses, blinders, and a few beers in them thought that we had a chance in that Super Bowl. But the runup games were just fantastic.
Straight ball luck and opportune defense in the Jets and Raiders game, and I'll never fully understand how/why we walked through peak Marino. Such a blast.
Straight ball luck and opportune defense in the Jets and Raiders game, and I'll never fully understand how/why we walked through peak Marino. Such a blast.
Couldn't the same have been said about SB36?
I do wonder what would have happened if Morgan had caught the TD pass on the first drive, or if they hadn't dropped the pick (6?) on the Bears second drive. The Bears were all-time defensively, but while 2nd in points scored, weren't exactly an offensive juggernaut. They were like the 2001 Steelers than the 2001 Rams, in other words. If the Pats go up 10-0 or 14-0, I wonder if they would have had a chance.
Didn’t they have huge special teams fumble recoveries in each of the playoff games (including the Super Bowl)? Can’t remember if they had one against Miami, but they had special teams touchdowns against the Jets and Raiders and a recovery that set up Franklin’s FG in SB XX.
New England forced 6 turnovers in that Miami game, 6 against the Raiders and 4 against the Jets.
Looked at the game log from SB XX and I was wrong - the early fumble recovery came on a play from scrimmage. Incidentally, some of the Pats 4th down punt decisions while down are pretty comical - like 4th and 7 from 37, let’s net 17 yards type stuff. Not that it mattered that day.
That game was a disaster. But the crazy thing is, while the Bears were obviously much better, the Pats only lost to them 20-7 earlier in the season. The Pats’ defense was really good that year (6th in points allowed) and SHOULD have been able to keep the game somewhat close. Easily the most disappointing aspect of that game for me was how badly the defense got rolled. I know the offense didn’t help at ALL, but still.
Was this the game where Law covered Harrison and they both caught 3 balls from Manning? That was awesome.
6 turnovers somehow slipped my mind. They had a couple of int that I remember, but that felt like every other game.
Love remembering that "they haven't punted yet" Colts game. Another classic Peyton mind job by BB. Seemed like forever that we simply owned Peyton and Ben in the playoffs.
Love this thread.
Can you imagine what the Jets' "Celebrating What Is" thread looks like? They will always have the playoff victory over the Pats and the two consecutive trips to the AFCCG. Of course they'll always have Namath and SB 3 (which most Jets fans don't even remember or weren't even alive for), but other than that.....
We moved from Boston to Virginia in 1985. The two biggest things I remember from that season are that 1) I was the only one in my third-grade class that picked the Pats to win (and was loud about it), and; 2) it was the year I learned that you’re supposed to get all your local team’s games on TV rather than the teams appearing at random. Since the Pats were so frequently blacked out, I just thought you got whatever you got with no rhyme or reason to it. Funny to think of now when there are college graduates who know nothing but the Pats being the league’s marquee franchise.
Yeah that's great context. I remember crossing my fingers some Sundays that they sold enough tickets to be on TV. Hard to imagine now.
By contrast, my brother moved to Jersey 10 years ago and until recently was getting like 6-7 Pats games ever year despite living in a market with 2 teams. A Thursday, a couple of Sunday nights, and a Monday or 2, plus the Jets games and an occasional Giants game. He was getting as many Pats TV games as we did in the 1980s in Boston.
I am sure others have mentioned similar stories through these threads, but my father was pretty adamant about going to his mom's house (Northampton/Florence MA) on Sunday afternoons. It wasn't until much later in life that it wasn't due to her golompkis , but to get into WWLP (I believe they were the carrier back then) range, rather than being blacked out.
The ball skidded along the ground a bit before he settled it. May have gotten a break there? The one hand grab before that was great.
That is amazing. I am surprised that he was at 50% vs Denver, I thought it might be the only one he was below on, also that Bills record is amazing and conversely compared to the Bills and Jets, the Dolphins record is a big drop.
Lin Dawson injuring his knee on the Pats opening play after the fumble recovery was a bad omen. Between that incompletion, Stanley Morgan's dropped pass the next play, and Blackmon seeing a sure pick-6 bounce off his chest, the Pats missed a chance to go up 14-0. Doubt they would have won, but not sure the Bears score 44 unanswered points either.
Early on, the defense did its job for the most part. Fumble, FG and punt on the first 3 Bears drives. Then a FG on a 13 yard field. But then the defense was forced to defend a 13 yard field again and it was 13-3. Bears got excellent field position on the next TD drive. On the subsequent drive, the defense forces a fumble, but the offense can still do nothing and punts from the Bears 37. Final drive of the first half is another FG. A lot of things would have to change, but had the Pats taken better care of the ball, and converted that sure pick-6 on the first drive, the halftime score is probably 20-14 Bears or even 14-13 Pats. Defense was clearly cooked to open the second half and gave up 2 TDs in the Bears first 2 drives sandwiched around Grogan's pick-6. By the time the Bears punt again the backups are in.
Interestingly, the Pats defense did its job against the late Walter Payton, holding him to 61 yards on 22 carries and no catches (he was the Bears 3rd leading receiver that season). 27 yards on 11 carries in the first half when it was theoretically a game. Longest run of the day was 7 yards. Payton had over 2000 yards from scrimmage that season and over 1500 yards rushing on 4.8 yards per carry. Most of the damage on the ground that day was done by Matt Suhey. OTOH, the Pats defense had no answer for Willie Gault, who broke for 2 big gains which set up scores and had 129 yards overall.
Also, that 20-7 game earlier in the season was not as close as it appeared. Eason threw 3 picks and the running backs had all of 27 yards rushing. The Pats had 206 total scrimmage yards, 90 of which came on a broken play near the end of the game when New England scored a mostly meaningless TD. IIRC, that play was the only time the Pats actually crossed into Chicago territory. Interestingly, Payton was again mostly a non-factor with 39 yards on 11 carries.
At the time, I thought the Dawson injury was an omen as well. As I remember the magical ride, taking down the Fins in the last pro game in the Orange Bowl, taking down the Raiders in Oakland (even with Sullivan Jr. showing up with a post-game black eye, the penalty for taunting Lyle Alzado and Howie Long after the game)...it seemed like the Pats had finally moved past the Patsies days. An early forced fumble - more good mojo! Then, first play from scrimmage, Dawson all alone, pass floating in his direction, and - his knee implodes, he crumbles (out not just for the game but the following year), ball bounces harmlessly on the ground - settle for a FG - 44 unanswered - it felt like all of the good vibes that had been keeping the Pats aloft bounced away with the ball, and that Dawson's agony set the tone for what came next.
Not that the Pats were beating those Bears anyway, but still...
Not that the Pats were beating those Bears anyway, but still...
Miami played one more season at the Orange Bowl before moving to the new stadium.
I’m a homer. Rose colored glasses fan. No arguments. But even Curran was more positive than I was five years ago.
View: https://twitter.com/tomecurran/status/828413172830896128?s=21
View: https://twitter.com/tomecurran/status/828413172830896128?s=21
NFL tweeted out a video of the comeback yesterday
View: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1489963269670461444
This really should have gone into the Seymour Inactive thread. Congrats to no. 93!
From another thread, but...BB will be 70 in less than a month. He's the greatest coach of all time, and has presided over the greatest dynasty of all time, *Nobody* would blame him if he decided to tap into next year's $100M to boost this season's squad. And yet, here he is, shoring up the foundation and fixing the drainage around the driveway before he hires painters and buys some patio furniture. The man can't help but do the right thing for the team as a going concern.