The SINGLE greatest play in Patriots history?

[Absurdly Metro]

MavFan just got me thinking about this and I can't decide! He just posted the YouTube version of the Brady to Moss record breaker in another thread and used the moniker "greatest single play in Patriots history" to describe it.

I agree it is one of the greatest plays in Patriots history. One could even argue it IS the single greatest.

But I would like to nominate Adam's game winning kick in SB XXXVI as the greatest single play in Patriot's history. I was lucky enough to be in attendance in the Superdome on Feb 3, 2002 and I can't help but think that play edges out all others as the single greatest. Many fans there that night were actually crying.

But then I get thinking... what about the tuck play, or the 45 yard fg in that same snow bowl game? Without either of those plays I never get to witness that scene in the Superdome. And what about the Mo Lewis hit on Bledsoe? If that play doesn't happen do we ever even have a snow bowl game to reflect back on? Wow!

So if you had to nominate one play as the single greatest in Ptriot's history, which would it be and why?

 

[Charlotte Pats Fan]

MavFan just got me thinking about this and I can't decide! He just posted the YouTube version of the Brady to Moss record breaker in another thread and used the moniker "greatest single play in Patriots history" to describe it.

I agree it is one of the greatest plays in Patriots history. One could even argue it IS the single greatest.

But I would like to nominate Adam's game winning kick in SB XXXVI as the greatest single play in Patriot's history. I was lucky enough to be in attendance in the Superdome on Feb 3, 2002 and I can't help but think that play edges out all others as the single greatest. Many fans there that night were actually crying.

But then I get thinking... what about the tuck play, or the 45 yard fg in that same snow bowl game? Without either of those plays I never get to witness that scene in the Superdome. And what about the Mo Lewis hit on Bledsoe? If that play doesn't happen do we ever even have a snow bowl game to reflect back on? Wow!

So if you had to nominate one play as the single greatest in Ptriot's history, which would it be and why?

Mo Lewis' hit set the whole thing up.

 

[sieglo]

Tuck rule play.

 

[Va_Pats_Fan]

Mo Lewis' hit set the whole thing up.

But that wasn't something the Pats did, its something that happened to them.

I would go with AV 45 yd FG in the snow in the AFCCCG. That propelled the team into OT, and started the dynasty.

 

[NEGIRLPATSFAN]

I was at the snow bowl.... I was TEN
the field goal in the snow after the snow was plowed away was GREAT!

 

[Charlotte Pats Fan]

But that wasn't something the Pats did, its something that happened to them.

I would go with AV 45 yd FG in the snow in the AFCCCG. That propelled the team into OT, and started the dynasty.

It thats the criteria then I agree. The Tuck play also "happened to them"

 

[Absurdly Metro]

I was at the snow bowl.... I was TEN
the field goal in the snow after the snow was plowed away was GREAT!

Are you talking about the palyoff game vs. the raiders or the snow plow game vs. the Dolphins back in the eighties?

 

[Absurdly Metro]

I see the point about having some kind of criteria. Okay--I'll play. IMO< the criteria calls for TWO different categories of greatness...

#1. Greatest = most significant

#2. Greatest = most spectacular

In this case my nomination for most spectacular would be the Brady/Moss record breaking TD vs. the Giants and the most significant would be Adam V's game winner in SB XXXVI.

 

[Charlotte Pats Fan]

I see the point about having some kind of criteria. Okay--I'll play. IMO< the criteria calls for TWO different categories of greatness...

#1. Greatest = most significant

#2. Greatest = most spectacular

In this case my nomination for most spectacular would be the Brady/Moss record breaking TD vs. the Giants and the most significant would be Adam V's game winner in SB XXXVI.

#1. Greatest = most significant = Mo Lewis' hit
#2. Greatest = most spectacular = Snow Bowl Kick

 

[mgteich]

And Grogan spoke, and then Henderson went out on the field and cleared a section. What is he doing? He is swooping around and cleaning an area on the field. Shula is up screaming. The players have gone back on the field. And the British kicker approaches to ball and it's good. And the patriots win 3-0.

 

[Lansdowne]

Vinatieri's kick in the blizzard to tie the game in the Snow Bowl.

 

[Charlotte Pats Fan]

And Grogan spoke, and then Henderson went out on the field and cleared a section. What is he doing? He is swooping around and cleaning an area on the field. Shula is up screaming. The players have gone back on the field. And the British kicker approaches to ball and it's good. And the patriots win 3-0.

While I agree the Snowplow game was cool it didn't have any lasting effect on the Pats.

 

[Absurdly Metro]

And Grogan spoke, and then Henderson went out on the field and cleared a section. What is he doing? He is swooping around and cleaning an area on the field. Shula is up screaming. The players have gone back on the field. And the British kicker approaches to ball and it's good. And the patriots win 3-0.

it was truly a beautiful thing! thanks for the trip down memory lane. Given the history is it any wonder Shula hates us so much? Ya gotta love it!

 

[Snarf]

I would certainly vote for it as the best Pats play ever.

It wins for so many reasons:

- damn good pass, perfect position. great run by Randy (play greatness)
- taking the lead at a critical point in the game.
- the fact that for historical reasons it IS a critical game. (historical greatness)
- Brady takes a record, beating Manning (statistic greatness)
- Moss takes a record, beating widely considered greatest receiver of all time (Rice)
- the pass occurs right after a spectactular failure. (Moss DROPS a critical pass?! OMG!!! SKY IS FALLING!! Oh wait... TD!!! WE WINNN!!!!!) (emotional greatness)
- it's pretty much the same sort of pass, on the play after. Illustrates the trust. (they know they're great greatness)
- the play illustrates Moss NOT taking a play off. (FU mediawhores greatness)

Combine all of these elements, and you get the greatest play in Patriot's history. There's simply none other that has so many elements colliding.

 

[Snarf]

I think it's easy to think that Vinateri's kick is a "greater" play because it kept super bowl hopes alive.

In the same vein, the TB-Moss TD pass kept a perfect season alive, something I consider as equally important.

IMO, winning the Giants game was just as important as winning the Super bowl for this team and many Pats fans. I know that I would have been disappointed had the Pats won the Superbowl this year and finished 18-1.

 

[Rawky77]

Yes the Tuck, the Snow Plow, the KICK, all are great plays and more importantly great memories, we are lucky to have those and many others to remember with fondness.

But there is a point to be made for this Pass to Moss from Brady that the others can not ever accomplish.

THE NFL HISTORY in this one throw exceeds all those other plays hands down.

This one throw symbolizes so much history it is amazing.

In one Throw Brady achieves the NFL TD record with 50 TD passes in a season.

In one Catch Moss breaks the all time NFL TDs in a season record for receivers.

In one THROW and CATCH the Patriots complete scoring in a 16 wins 0 losses NFL record setting regular season.

Not for nothing that pass WON the game it was not a let us do this just to break a record crap or one early that made the rest of the win ho hum.

This play epitomizes this team in so many ways it was a CLASSIC LONG BOMB an art form in itself and then its NFL historic meaning just sets it apart for all time.

Now lets talk fate for a min. what are the odds that one single pass could actually accomplish so many things at once?

Yes we all have our favs but this one the entire fan base of the NFL will know about or learn about for the rest of time.

 

[Caspir]

Vinatieri's kick in the blizzard to tie the game in the Snow Bowl.

This is the only acceptable answer.

In the same vein, the TB-Moss TD pass kept a perfect season alive, something I consider as equally important.

IMO, winning the Giants game was just as important as winning the Super bowl for this team and many Pats fans. I know that I would have been disappointed had the Pats won the Superbowl this year and finished 18-1.

Then you're an idiot.

 

[Absurdly Metro]

The historical significance of the play we saw on Saturday is still being determined. If, as I believe, this is a team destined to be the GOAT then that play may yet be in consideration as the greatest. I'm on the fence right now simply becasue the job's not done yet.

 

[FibSeq13478]

I see the point about having some kind of criteria. Okay--I'll play. IMO< the criteria calls for TWO different categories of greatness...

#1. Greatest = most significant

#2. Greatest = most spectacular

In this case my nomination for most spectacular would be the Brady/Moss record breaking TD vs. the Giants and the most significant would be Adam V's game winner in SB XXXVI.

The most spectacular play for me is Tedy Bruschi's play in 2004 AFC divisional game against Colts when he fought the ball away from Dominic Rhodes.

 

[OhExaulted1]

MavFan just got me thinking about this and I can't decide! He just posted the YouTube version of the Brady to Moss record breaker in another thread and used the moniker "greatest single play in Patriots history" to describe it.

I agree it is one of the greatest plays in Patriots history. One could even argue it IS the single greatest.

But I would like to nominate Adam's game winning kick in SB XXXVI as the greatest single play in Patriot's history. I was lucky enough to be in attendance in the Superdome on Feb 3, 2002 and I can't help but think that play edges out all others as the single greatest. Many fans there that night were actually crying.

But then I get thinking... what about the tuck play, or the 45 yard fg in that same snow bowl game? Without either of those plays I never get to witness that scene in the Superdome. And what about the Mo Lewis hit on Bledsoe? If that play doesn't happen do we ever even have a snow bowl game to reflect back on? Wow!

So if you had to nominate one play as the single greatest in Ptriot's history, which would it be and why?

If it was the single greatest moment I would go with BB playing the Jets for 24 hours and becoming the NE Patriots HC the next day.

As far as plays go I'm going with Troy Brown's 23 yard catch on 2nd and 10 then getting out of bounds with 21 seconds left at the 36 to set up Vinatieri's heroics in SB XXXVI. Brady got off a 0-1 yrd pass (4-5 YAC) to Wiggins then spiked the ball to stop the clock at the 30-31.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2002/playoffs/news/2002/02/03/play_by_play_ap/

IMO, that catch started the Dynasty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86t1fHdxnfo