Underrated Superbowl Moments

[johnmd20]

I thought the Seahawks started celebrating when they had the ten point lead and let up just a bit. Maybe Pete's rah rah let the guys have fun isn't as effective in that situation. Tough to imagine a guy on the other sideline taking the time to taunt and play to the camera at that point in the game.

When the Pats scored Seattle seemed almost shocked 'oh shit, it's a three point game'.

The Pats didn't roll over, and the Hawks had lost just enough intensity.

 
Like the Packers did two weeks before. The game is 60 minutes. The players sometimes forget and calamity happens.

 

[ifmanis5]

Those two quick 3-and-outs the defense forced in the 4th qtr were perfect. Brady's drawing Seattle offsides (which literally went unnoticed in all the postgame stuff I saw) was genius level.

 

[JimD]

To add to the Edelman love - he was the one who knocked Jeremy Lane out of bounds with a vicious hit after the INT.  Lost his helmet in the play to boot.  His toughness is off the charts.

 

[rodderick]

Those two quick 3-and-outs the defense forced in the 4th qtr were perfect. Brady's drawing Seattle offsides (which literally went unnoticed in all the postgame stuff I saw) was genius level.

 
I nearly jumped offsides from my couch. The little tap he does at Stork sold it perfectly. Masterful.

 

[chonce1]

Baldwin's "celebration" is underrated in its sheer stupidity. At that point, the best D in the NFL had a 10 point lead. That could have ended up being the play of the game -- the crowning highlight shown on highlights and commemorative DVDs and so on. And it would have been Baldwin pretending to defecate a football in the endzone....

Wow.

 

[Wave em in Wendall]

Those two quick 3-and-outs the defense forced in the 4th qtr were perfect. Brady's drawing Seattle offsides (which literally went unnoticed in all the postgame stuff I saw) was genius level.

Drawing Bennett offsides was a huge, huge play. I'd love to hear the rationale for the Victory formation lineup. Was that meant to get Seattle excited about the prospect of a safety? Would the Pats spend a timeout if Seattle didn't jump? Would they just have taken a delay of game penalty (why not do that until Seattle jumps?). 
 
The refs getting the brawl at brawl penalty call right at the end of the game. Irwin was the first player ever ejected from the Super Bowl.

 

[DJnVa]

I think had BB called TO after Lynch's first run, the Seattle sideline switches from pass to run. And that would give Lynch 3 shots from a yard away. And I would have been petrified.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Drawing Bennett offsides was a huge, huge play. I'd love to hear the rationale for the Victory formation lineup. Was that meant to get Seattle excited about the prospect of a safety? Would the Pats spend a timeout if Seattle didn't jump? Would they just have taken a delay of game penalty (why not do that until Seattle jumps?). 
 
The refs getting the brawl at brawl penalty call right at the end of the game. Irwin was the first player ever ejected from the Super Bowl.

I thought I read BB's lips right before the play saying "just get a good push" or something like that. I think the QB sneak was the play call.

Not sure who it was who took off his helmet to celebrate the pick, but that half the distance penalty was pretty awful there, although I suppose very understandable. The encroachment bailed him out because safety/field goal and we could have been talking about that for a long time. Revis maybe?

 

[DJnVa]

I thought I read BB's lips right before the play saying "just get a good push" or something like that. I think the QB sneak was the play call.

 

Yeah. Assuming there are no issues with snap, it's tough to lose yards there, because officials will give forward progress. It was nerve-wracking, but I think it wouldn't have been too big of a deal.
 
Of course, baiting Seattle there has to be tried first. They are going to be very eager to jump.

 

[H78]

We need a nickname for the Gronk/Edelman combo.

 

[Spelunker]

We need a nickname for the Gronk/Edelman combo.

MasterBlaster

 

[8slim]

They really did keep their flags in their pockets. Just two holding penalties (one on Browner, one on Stork), no DPI, just the one OPI on Amendola, no illegal contact. Seattle had more penalties against them (7), but three were offsides / false starts and two were personal fouls.

 
It's best that they let them play, but the two uncalled helmet-to-helmets, on Brady's first pick and on Edelman's 3rd and 14 catch, infuriated me.

 

[H78]

Can we also not forget something pretty huge? Something that was arguably the biggest reason we lost the last two?

I thought the offensive line was FANTASTIC. They played a freakishly fast and athletic front 7 and held their ground in the passing game. I also thought Brady moved extremely well in the pocket, and those two points alone were huge in helping them put up 28 points.

 

[H78]

MasterBlaster

Shit. Do we already have a winner?

 

[Toe Nash]

What about Brady drawing Seattle offsides after the pick?  I know I was still scared shitless of having to do a QB sneak at the 1 yard line.  Too many bad things could have so easily happened.

Yup, I was yelling in the bar that it wasn't over. They had to run a sneak and be sure to move forward, otherwise SEA gets the ball back with minimal time, but just needing a FG to win.
 
Bennett's dumb mistake ended the game. Bad, bad situational football.

 

[H78]

Also...overall, I LOVED the officiating. I thought they really let them play. They laid off of the ticky-tack calls and only threw laundry when the penalty was blatant. Nice work by that crew by today's officiating standards, and not just because the Patriots won.

 

[j44thor]

Can we also not forget something pretty huge? Something that was arguably the biggest reason we lost the last two?

I thought the offensive line was FANTASTIC. They played a freakishly fast and athletic front 7 and held their ground in the passing game. I also thought Brady moved extremely well in the pocket, and those two points alone were huge in helping them put up 28 points.

 
Yes the Edelman catch was ridiculous but only happened because the OL was nails.  3rd and 14 and Brady has a gigantic pocket to step up in.  

 

[Scriblerus]

I've heard Malcolm Butler on several interviews, and the man is humble and talking like all of the Patriots players.  He keeps saying "just do your job"  "it's in the preparation" "you just have to execute".  The guy is an undrafted rookie who made the play of the game, winning the Super Bowl, but he's calm, respectful, and hitting all of the talking points in the Patriots philosophy.  I think it's stuff like this that gets overlooked when talking about Belichick and his legacy.  

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Yes the Edelman catch was ridiculous but only happened because the OL was nails.  3rd and 14 and Brady has a gigantic pocket to step up in.

Yeah, overcoming an 8 yard sack and a 10 yard OPI on two must-score drives is just not something that happens against the Seahawks in the fourth quarter, and it was the line that held up.

 

[DJnVa]

I've heard Malcolm Butler on several interviews, and the man is humble and talking like all of the Patriots players.  He keeps saying "just do your job"  "it's in the preparation" "you just have to execute".  The guy is an undrafted rookie who made the play of the game, winning the Super Bowl, but he's calm, respectful, and hitting all of the talking points in the Patriots philosophy.  I think it's stuff like this that gets overlooked when talking about Belichick and his legacy.  

 
And he also knows that he has to work his ass off to keep his job for next year.
 
Good for him. I hope he cashes in with some local commercials.
 

 

[JimD]

Also...overall, I LOVED the officiating. I thought they really let them play. They laid off of the ticky-tack calls and only threw laundry when the penalty was blatant. Nice work by that crew by today's officiating standards, and not just because the Patriots won.

 
This.  For all of the fears among Pats fans that the officials would somehow take it out on NE for Belichick & Co. throwing the AFCCG crew under the bus, Vinovich and his crew acted like true professionals last night.  I wasn't surprised because he seemed like a straight shooter in the press conference last week.

 

[Stitch01]

Those two quick 3-and-outs the defense forced in the 4th qtr were perfect. Brady's drawing Seattle offsides (which literally went unnoticed in all the postgame stuff I saw) was genius level.

Ninkovich sack to force the three and out was a massive play, they probably cant give up more than one first down there.
 
Draw offsides at the one foot line straight out of BB's NFL Films episode talking about situational football.

 

[Kull]

Putting Browner on Chamberlain was little noticed at the time, but it finally put an end to those infuriating jump balls.

 

[Kull]

 
I nearly jumped offsides from my couch. The little tap he does at Stork sold it perfectly. Masterful.

 
Irvin or Deion asked Brady about that after the game, and he commented that they had been using silent calls all game. This time they went with "three head bobs" and the Seahawks jumped after two.

 

[lexrageorge]

Also...overall, I LOVED the officiating. I thought they really let them play. They laid off of the ticky-tack calls and only threw laundry when the penalty was blatant. Nice work by that crew by today's officiating standards, and not just because the Patriots won.

+1.
 
If there was a game to let the players play, this was it.  The 2 most egregious errors where the running into the kicker that should have been a roughing (Allen's knee is vulnerable there) and missing Butler's trip (we would be screaming at that one had it been Chancellor doing the same to Gronk). But you can at least argue those are calls the teams need to suck up and play through.  

 

[wilked]

+1.
 
If there was a game to let the players play, this was it.  The 2 most egregious errors where the running into the kicker that should have been a roughing (Allen's knee is vulnerable there) and missing Butler's trip (we would be screaming at that one had it been Chancellor doing the same to Gronk). But you can at least argue those are calls the teams need to suck up and play through.  

the sideline late hit on Seattle was a bad call also, this site would have flipped its shit had it been the other way

 

[Stitch01]

That call is fine and made much more often than not in the NFL in 2015.  

 

[rodderick]

the sideline late hit on Seattle was a bad call also, this site would have flipped its shit had it been the other way

 
Yeah, I also thought that was ticky tacky. There was also the terrible spot for Seattle. But that's about it.

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

the sideline late hit on Seattle was a bad call also, this site would have flipped its shit had it been the other way

 He may not have touched down oob but the hit occurred a good 2 or 3 feet off the field of play. Spirit of the rule.

 

[MillarTime]

Not sure if mentioned already, but even before the INT, Butler played a whale of a game.

 

[Marciano490]

Shit. Do we already have a winner?

That or Gronk's Mortal Kombat X character with the life coach on his back. What was its name?

 

[loshjott]

I thought a blatant OPI against Seattle was missed on one of those long completions.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Maybe it's not the right thread, and I haven't hit every discussion yet, but I was screaming for them to call a TO after Lynch ran to the 1. BB was going to let them score if they ran it, right? Right?

I was literally screaming at my TV for him to CALL A FUCKING TIMEOUT. Also, when Lynch was tackled at the 1 I was screaming for them to LET HIM FUCKING SCORE. I just knew that Brady would be able to get them at least into FG range to tie the game if given enough time.
 
I was glad to be proven wrong.

 

[kenneycb]

 
It's best that they let them play, but the two uncalled helmet-to-helmets, on Brady's first pick and on Edelman's 3rd and 14 catch, infuriated me.

The Edelman hit pissed me off too until I realized his knee touched and they got the 15 yards anyways.  Didn't have any problem with the refs overall as others have noted upthread.

 

[brandonchristensen]

Refs were solid. That great Jules catch was a vicious hit that could have been flagged. Didn't end up mattering.
 
The roughing the kicker wasn't called right. 
 
Still can't believe it.

 

[brandonchristensen]

Is there a clear version of what happened with the brawl? Was it just Irvin upset and getting into faces? It was hard to tell what the catalyst was on TV. Never saw a good replay of the start of it.

 

[tims4wins]

Can someone help me figure out what Harmon was doing on the Kearse catch?
 
https://vine.co/v/OtEnzp0DvIQ

 

[Saints Rest]

We need a nickname for the Gronk/Edelman combo.

 
 

MasterBlaster

 
 

Shit. Do we already have a winner?

This worked for another unlikely, but extremely likable Champioship duo:

 

[Stitch01]

Can someone help me figure out what Harmon was doing on the Kearse catch?
 
https://vine.co/v/OtEnzp0DvIQ

Trying not to get a 15 yard penalty for late hitting a receiver.

 

[brandonchristensen]

Can you imagine if he hopped over and snagged it for the win? That would have been insane.
 
Collins worth literally having an orgasm.

 

[Jettisoned]

There was only one call/non-call that I hated: the holding penalty on Stork that erased an 18 yard pass to Edelman. It was ticky tacky and not consistent with the way lineman were reffed in any playoff game this year, let alone this one where they were letting a lot of stuff go.

 

[H78]

There was only one call/non-call that I hated: the holding penalty on Stork that erased an 18 yard pass to Edelman. It was ticky tacky and not consistent with the way lineman were reffed in any playoff game this year, let alone this one where they were letting a lot of stuff go.

Oh I don't know. I thought it was blatant and definitely gave Brady more time. I thought it was the right call.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Can someone help me figure out what Harmon was doing on the Kearse catch?
 
https://vine.co/v/OtEnzp0DvIQ

Trying not to get flagged for a late hit. Not sure what you're getting at. He thought the ball was incomplete.
 
EDIT: what Stitch said

 

[Stitch01]

Im not saying that was the right thing to do, but pretty sure his thought process was "well that's incomplete, dont pick up a cheap flag"

 

[tims4wins]

True good point

 

[Ed Hillel]

Im not saying that was the right thing to do, but pretty sure his thought process was "well that's incomplete, dont pick up a cheap flag"

It looks worse than it is I think. Harmon is going full train towards Kearse, he has to make a split second decision and, when he made it, the play basically looked over.

 

[lexrageorge]

Harmon had a lot of momentum built up, and once he saw Kearse on the ground and the ball bouncing around, he probably assumed the pass was already incomplete and did what he could to avoid the penalty.  I'm not convinced his momentum would have allowed him to somehow reach down and knock the ball away.  
 
I'm willing to give Harmon some benefit of the doubt anyway; he made the big play at the end of the Ravens game. 

 

[Stitch01]

Yeah, I dont really fault him at all.  Obviously trying to break up the pass is the right thing given the play is still live, but refs default to throwing a flag at any hard contact there.

 

[Jettisoned]

Yup, I was yelling in the bar that it wasn't over. They had to run a sneak and be sure to move forward, otherwise SEA gets the ball back with minimal time, but just needing a FG to win.
 
Bennett's dumb mistake ended the game. Bad, bad situational football.

 
There's definitely a clip somewhere of Bill Belichick talking to a LB or DL years ago in training camp about not being overzealous when the opponent is backed up on their 1 yard line, because they'll gladly risk a false start or delay of game penalty for 3 inches and no loss of down for the chance to advance 5 yards. 
 

Oh I don't know. I thought it was blatant and definitely gave Brady more time. I thought it was the right call.

 
I agree completely on it giving Brady more time, I was just annoyed to see that called after watching Ravens and Colts linemen commit as bad or worse holding on about 80% of their past plays in the 2 previous games. 

 

[kenneycb]

 
There's definitely a clip somewhere of Bill Belichick talking to a LB or DL years ago in training camp about not being overzealous when the opponent is backed up on their 1 yard line, because they'll gladly risk a false start or delay of game penalty for 3 inches and no loss of down for the chance to advance 5 yards. 

I want to say that was the Belichick Sound FX thing from NFL Network but not 100% sure.