So, I watched the (Super Bowl) game, again last night...

[Rhodey]

Oddly, it was still exciting! Gee, I almost forgot that great play Malcom Butler made in the first half. Honestly, I would have guessed Gostkowski would have made the big play at the end, but we only saw him after TDs.

Overall, it reminded me of how the Pats went from being up 14-7 in the first half to going down by 10. That TD that Seattle made to tie it up at the end of the first half drove me nuts. Yeah, it was very uncomfortable in the third quarter. I guess this is why the Patriots are the Champs? More exactly, they made all of the plays they had to to win. And they worked from being down by 10 (and almost more) with almost three quarters of the game finished. Although Malcom Butler's big interception ultimately decided the winner, it was all the plays that Tom Brady led the team through that put them in a position to win; why TB is the MVP.

Those who rationalise that it was just a bad call that decided the Super Bowl winner are not paying attention (to details). Of course, we could rifle through the entire game and talk about how this play and/or that play shoulda/coulda/woulda. Who is to decide which one(s)?

Here is a perspective forya: If BB (and coaching staff) did not coach the Patriots defense to properly defend against the situation that Malcom Butler captialised on then Seattle's play calling et al is not questioned. However, BB (and staff) did. And they corrected the situation in practice, emphasising what needed to be be done (i.e. to secure the ball). Please be reminded that a batted down ball would have set Seattle up for another run attempt.

The craziest point in the game for me was the catch that led to the Butler interception...was like watching a cartoon...the ball going up in the air a few times off off body parts, as the player did a 360...not even realising what direction he is facing, after the ball fell into his hands. Yet, so many will focus on the Butler interception. That interception was no accident! Preparation had the defense win that one.

The bottom line is that the New England Patriots played 60 minutes and paid attention to details. Although they did not make every play, their consistency increased/improved as they positioned themselves to set the scoreboard in their favour. No flukes. No excuses. We won. Bravo, cheers and all that stuff!

 

[scott99]

I rewatched it as well, and noticed that it really looked like the Football Gods were with Seattle. The Baldwin TD (ref get's in the way, AND he catches it while falling), the Kearse catch, ref calls going against the Pats, ref calls NOT going the Pats way, blatant block in the back (ref was looking RIGHT at it !) on a Russell scramble that also resulted in a Browner interference call. Blatant push offs by the big receiver Matthews on two long completions (yet Edelman get's called for pass interference). Just everything seemed to be going THEIR way, UNTIL the interception. That's what made it so great, they got lucky in a lot of ways. Yet the Pats got the last laugh. Great game, I've watched it three times already, almost have it memorized lol.

 

[Bruins29]

The bottom line is that the New England Patriots played 60 minutes

59:54 but still good enough.

 

[Oswlek]

blatant block in the back (ref was looking RIGHT at it !) on a Russell scramble that also resulted in a Browner interference call. Blatant push offs by the big receiver Matthews on two long completions (yet Edelman get's called for pass interference)

That block was the one call that drove me nuts. An obvious penalty on the OL gets overlooked in favor of the most ticky tack of penalties on Browner. I'd even go as far as saying there was no penalty on Brandon. And to top it off, the refs added the 5 yards when it should have been declined! Just a nightmare stretch on their part.

Other than that, I had no real issue. The OPI on Edelman was different than the push offs, which were consistently uncalled.

Anyone wanting to credit luck for why NE won needs to explain Seattle's offense. You could see NE hitting 28 every time against Seattle, whereas the Seahawks hit their top number. The TD lost at the end had already been paid at the end of the first half.

 

[Rhodey]

Bottom line: Pats played 60 (minutes). And this was my hope going into this game...that they would go all 60.

In one of those "bad call" discussions, I learned that the play (i.e. that led to Butler's interception) was statistically correct. And Seattle assumed that if it was an incomplete, they'd put it on Lynch for the next tries. The video host claimed that Lynch was only 1 for 5 on the 1 and that the Pats defense was not in his favour for the alignment. Perhaps, this explains why Carrol mentioned that it was just a wasted play (if it failed)? However, failure can go the other way. What if the ball is INTERCEPTED? And working from there, what if Lynch was given the ball, instead and...FUMBLED? Would people be jumping on the play that was called; insisting that Wilson should have thrown?

Regardless, Pats win. Hopefully, this "play a full 60" attitude will stuck with this team as it makes a few more runs. If they sit back as Champs and play 59, there's a good chance they'll lose.

 

[Bruins29]

Bottom line: Pats played 60 (minutes). And this was my hope going into this game...that they would go all 60.

In one of those "bad call" discussions, I learned that the play (i.e. that led to Butler's interception) was statistically correct. And Seattle assumed that if it was an incomplete, they'd put it on Lynch for the next tries. The video host claimed that Lynch was only 1 for 5 on the 1 and that the Pats defense was not in his favour for the alignment. Perhaps, this explains why Carrol mentioned that it was just a wasted play (if it failed)? However, failure can go the other way. What if the ball is INTERCEPTED? And working from there, what if Lynch was given the ball, instead and...FUMBLED? Would people be jumping on the play that was called; insisting that Wilson should have thrown?

Regardless, Pats win. Hopefully, this "play a full 60" attitude will stuck with this team as it makes a few more runs. If they sit back as Champs and play 59, there's a good chance they'll lose.

No, the bottom line is that they completely went to sleep like I have never seen them do before for 6 seconds. That is it...period. It is inexcusable and could have easily cost them the game.

 

[sambam94]

lynch was tackled at the 1 yard line with 1 mimnute to play. This is when carroll screwed up. IMO, he didn't want to leave any time om the clock for Brady. He certainly had time to run 3 running plays if he wanted...but they didn't hurry to the line. Maybe he assumed Belichick would be calling a time out. Bottom line is that the next play was not snappd until there were only 26 seconds left in the game. Carroll is trying to say now he had to throw the ball once?..Uh no Pete, not if you decided quickly and got your team to the line and ran another play with 40-45 seconds left..not 26.

 

[Bruins29]

He played chess with Kasparov and lost.

 

[Dagg]

One thing that struck me as an incredible play by edelman wasnt even on one of his catches. Its on the pick by Lane. Amendola hits him at the 5 doesnt wrap then Edleman hits him around the 10 and misses but keeps his balances spins and tracks him down again near the 20 and breaks his arm.

INCREDIBLE effort right there huge play.

 

[Oswlek]

The difference between the 2013 Broncos and the 2014 Patriots in two plays:





I tried to warn Seattle fans ahead of time that, despite the numbers, Denver wasn't remotely the team that this Patriots squad is.

BTW, am I the only one whose heart breaks for Carroll when he yells, "Oh no!" after the pick?

 

[tasmlab]

On the Seattle score with 30 seconds left in the first half: The Pats did that garbage at the same time in the Green Bay game. It was like they figured the half was over and stopped defending. They clean that up and they would've beaten Green Bay and nobody would be talking about the Butler interception play.

 

[Bruins29]

On the Seattle score with 30 seconds left in the first half: The Pats did that garbage at the same time in the Green Bay game. It was like they figured the half was over and stopped defending. They clean that up and they would've beaten Green Bay and nobody would be talking about the Butler interception play.

Something is not right in your post. It does not make sense.

 

[Rhodey]

One thing that struck me as an incredible play by edelman wasnt even on one of his catches. Its on the pick by Lane. Amendola hits him at the 5 doesnt wrap then Edleman hits him around the 10 and misses but keeps his balances spins and tracks him down again near the 20 and breaks his arm.

INCREDIBLE effort right there huge play.

Losing Lane was big. Brady came right at the replacement(s).

 

[tasmlab]

Something is not right in your post. It does not make sense.

Both games the Pats D allowed a touchdown in the fading seconds of the first half. If they had stepped up and stopped those touchdowns, they would've won the GB game by 3 and the final score of the Superbowl would've been 35-24.

I'm posting pointless hypotheticals, and/but it looked like both scores came from a lack of discipline on the defense.

 

[Bruins29]

Both games the Pats D allowed a touchdown in the fading seconds of the first half. If they had stepped up and stopped those touchdowns, they would've won the GB game by 3 and the final score of the Superbowl would've been 35-24.

I'm posting pointless hypotheticals, and/but it looked like both scores came from a lack of discipline on the defense.

Ok, I was just trying to find the connection between GB losing and the Butler play never happening

 

[sambam94]

same old story..you give Brady time and he will pick you apart. Pats struggled in the 3rd quarter because they were finally getting some presssure on Brady. Brady did mostly what he wanted because he had time to throw. Did the media miss this simple fact?..SEA did not have a great pass rush this year.....a must have to beat the Pats

 

[aussie_patriot]

I watched it last night for the third time in full. I cried. Again.

 

[Bruins29]

The JE/TB "I love yas" at the end of the game got me a little tonight for the first time. Which is strange because I have seen it 20 times.

 

[Bruins29]

You know what it is. We see this kid come here 15 years ago who barely got into the league. And long story short we are now seeing him take his place among names like Jerry Rice, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky. And seeing the real emotion of the moment it happens though them and the guys who helped get him there.

Its heavy stuff. This is a big deal.

 

[buile]

BTW, am I the only one whose heart breaks for Carroll when he yells, "Oh no!" after the pick?

Honest? Sherman's outcry is so primal... But, when I see the Butler committing murder in cold blood, I tell the world with great vindication to go EFF OFF.