Let's give Hightower and Ayers their due

My wife said at the time the stop Ayers made in not letting Lynch score was HUGE.

This defense has a killer instinct. They've been a pleasure to watch.

Another unsung hero (not on the defense) is Ryan Wendell. He played really well.

HT was killer on that play. I finally just watched some highlights and it is remarkable how much fight he displayed.

This year's mid season pick ups : Ayers, Casillas, Blount, Branch.

I am not an NFL historian - but I've gotta think that ranks high on "key guys on a SB winner who weren't on the team in TC"...

BelichickFan said:

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 9m9 minutes ago
With the Super Bowl over, the plan is for #Patriots LB Dont'a Hightower to have labrum surgery, I’m told. Played mostly with one arm.

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As Edelman said everyone was banged up, but they came out and won because they wanted to

Also I noticed ayers and chandler were subbed for one another. Seemed like a rotation of chandler and ayers. Man if we could keep 90-95% of our free agents and hit on a draft pick/fa or 2, we will be in very nice position for next year.

Awesome play. All the talking heads are babbling about Carroll's horrible decision but I like our defense's chances of making a goal line stand in Lynch runs or not. They are tough as nails.

Archeryaddict12 said:

Also I noticed ayers and chandler were subbed for one another. Seemed like a rotation of chandler and ayers. Man if we could keep 90-95% of our free agents and hit on a draft pick/fa or 2, we will be in very nice position for next year.

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And get a healthy Easley...don't sleep on Easley!

JMC00 said:

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JMC00 said:

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Absolutely Cousin. Perhaps the biggest "under the radar" story of the game was Ayers stop of Lynch.

It is a ironic to put this loss on the one play (but Butler deserves that credit). But if Kerse laying on his back has the ball fall into his gut, perhaps the game ends closer to mid field. The Kerse reception was a gift. The Seahawk fans are mad at the call, but there should not have even been one to fret. They were very lucky to even have been down near the goal line.
DW Toys

A generally excellent Bill Barnwell article has discussion and video of that play near the end.

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/super-bowl-new-england-patriots-seattle-seahawks/

Chung took on a blocker, spun off the block, and grabbed Lynch's ankle. I think he deserves far more credit on that play than Ayers, who did nothing special. HT is a warrior tho.

Fencer said:

A generally excellent Bill Barnwell article has discussion and video of that play near the end.

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/super-bowl-new-england-patriots-seattle-seahawks/

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Great read.

Oswlek said:

HT was killer on that play. I finally just watched some highlights and it is remarkable how much fight he displayed.

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Yup, he played through that shoulder! #WARRIOR

Nice (albeit random) thread bump here. Nice to remember why we care about this stuff.

aluminum seats said:

Nice (albeit random) thread bump here. Nice to remember why we care about this stuff.

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I have zero issue with random thread bumps that talk about SB49.

Man, that 3rd & 14 to Edelman. Down double digits, only what, 10 minutes left, when Brady dropped back to pass he was around the Pats' 20....unbelievable.

Just an amazing play by hightower.