The Anti-2003 Patriots

As I watch the 2008 Pats fail to make the key play(s) late in the game needed to win in their last two razor-thin losses, I’m reminded of another team that actually made such plays: The 2003 Patriots. That 14-2 team was a lot closer to 10-6 than people realize. They had four tight road wins decided by either a play or a remarkable sequence that you just can’t count on week in and out to lead your team to victory…

At Miami. People remember well that Troy Brown caught an 82yd bomb to win in OT. People forget that Olindo Mare pushed a 35yd FG wide right from the left hashmark late in regulation. That’s a major-league shank. It’s incredibly hard to miss like that. The Pats dodged a bullet there. Then in OT the Pats blocked another FG attempt…not exactly an everyday occurrence. On the penultimate play of the game, Jay Fiedler escaped a sure sack and flung the ball deep down the right sideline…right to a Patriot for the pick; Usually when a QB escapes a sack, it seems he’s destined to burn the Pats with a broken-play throw (*cough* SB42 *cough*), but not this time.

At Denver. People remember the intentional safety and Brady-to-Givens for the winner. People forget how horribly Denver misplayed the free kick after the safety, forcing Denver to start deep in their own territory instead of around midfield. People also forget the 3-and-out the Pats forced, including an incredulous throw and incompletion on 3rd down when the Pats’ biggest enemy was the clock. Thank God for Danny Kannell.

At Houston. Houston took a touchdown lead late in that game, forcing the Pats to drive the field to force OT. Houston had been putting heat on Brady much of the 2nd half and did so on this drive, forcing incompletions on 1st and 2nd downs. On 3rd down, Brady was dead meat as the blitz bore down on him, but he somehow scrambled away, stepped up and threw a bomb to Daniel Graham who outleaped the safety for an unlikely 33yd completion. Later on that drive a rolling out Brady hit Graham who made a bobbling catch in the endzone on 4th down to force the OT. OT started off promising as the Pats picked off Houston deep in their territory, but things went sour fast as Vinatieri’s FG was blocked. Things continued south as the Pats got pinned on their goalline; Brady got absolutely walloped by Jamie Sharper on a blitz and how he didn’t fumble the ball is beyond me. The ensuing Kevin Walter shanked punt (of course!) put the Texans in business at the Pats’ 35yd line, already in game-winning FG range. But then Willie McGinest sacked up and nailed Dominick Davis for a 5yd loss and the Pats miraculously forced Houston to punt. The Pats went on to kick the winner as the OT was about to expire.

At Indy. The Stop. I’d normally just say “enough said”, but people need to remember it wasn’t just the McGinest stop on 4th down, but the stops on all of the downs. Just some great goalline defense. That defensive stand gave the Pats HFA for the playoffs.

In addition to those nailbiters, the Pats had some amazing and unreal 4th quarter performances at home against Tennessee…twice, including that 46yd FG Vinatieri hit in the ice cold that only doesn’t get its proper due because of his 2001 postseason performance. That team knew how to capitalize on opportunities, some of them very unlikely and out of their control. It’s only fitting that a team that won several games by the skin of its teeth won the title vs. Carolina in a similar manner.

But 2008 is a different year with different results. Instead of Olindo Mare shanking a game-winning FG, we have Jay Feeley knocking off the Pats in OT. Instead of Daniel Graham making an insane 33yd catch and a bobbling TD on 4th down, we have Jabar Gaffney dropping a go-ahead TD in Indy and Dave Thomas committing a personal foul as the Pats are driving to tie or win the game. Instead of making a huge goalline stand, they’re giving up killer 3rd-and-15 conversions in OT. These 2008 Pats are the Anti-2003 Pats.

However, it’s not too late. That can all change in the next 6 games (and beyond).

Regards,
Chris