Underrated plays

There are huge plays people are rightfully talking about. But other big plays are being neglected by comparison.

For example, if Lynch hadn't been stopped before the goal line, Butler's INT could never have happened. Brady also kept drives alive with some scorching darts in bad down-and-distance situations.

I'd love to see good video of that Lynch tackle. Somebody -- I'm guessing Hightower -- met him head-on, low and hard.

Another great play, although I don't recall it as being all that important, was Ninkovich's flying sack of Wilson. Rather go low and get juked, he went so high that he wasn't penalized.

Butler's "breakup" of that deep pass from Wilson to Kearse at the end of the third quarter.

It had this Welker feeling to it where it was totally catchable and if converted would have put Seattle in FG range while being 10 up...

If they make that play the game might have been over.

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

Bill Barnwell's write-up of the game is generally superb. At the end he covers three plays, two of them with video:

1. The long 3rd-down pass to Edelman, where he endured the Chancellor hit.

2. Ninko's 3rd-and-1 stop on a read-option play that forced the game's only FG.

3. The stop on Seattle's penultimate play.

Based on the video, I got that wrong -- Hightower's tackle of Lynch was more of a wrap-up than I thought. Obviously, given how close Lynch got to the goal-line, Ayers' contribution was probably a difference-maker too.

Vereen one handed catch.

massive standout moment for me.

I am not sure if it was intentional or truly incidental, but when Butler slipped and fell, he tripped up his man whom otherwise may have run for more than lynch picked up on the next play.

I'm not going to reference plays as there are too many little things for me to list but if Rob Ninkovich didn't get a gameball, it would be a travesty. He made some critical tackles and stops in key moments for the Patriots.

Ninkovich confirmed my Ninkovrabel nickname in the Super Bowl. Not flashy but necessary.

it has probably come up in other threads, but with all the snow i've been stuck home with no wifi for a few....


the 3rd down play where brady stepped up and just came right over the top and drilled a laser to edelman, who took a huge (helmet to helmet) hit was simply vintage brady and helped confirm the edel-dude legend

resdubwhite said:

Vereen one handed catch.

massive standout moment for me.

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This. That was a huge play.

neuronet said:

This. That was a huge play.

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iwas the first time in the game since the gronk td where I tought to myself "Hang on".

The Butler "incidental-or-not" "tripping" play. If the 'Hawks player catches that ball, he's gone for a huge gain.

Browner's manhandling of Kearse on "The Pick!!"

There were several third-and-short stops. Each can be regarded as a big deal.

Harmon was in position to take the ball away when Kearse was juggling the ball. Instead he jumped over to avoid contact. I am still pissed. That was the worst decision in the game. Safety was there to finish the play. Glad we won, but still pissed that Harmon made the game this close to a defeat.

Fencer said:

There were several third-and-short stops. Each can be regarded as a big deal.

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Exactly.

If the defense doesn't stop Seattle, they wouldve pulled away with the lead. It also wouldve killed the clock and not given the Patriots enough time to comeback.


The defense deserves so much respect for that 4th qtr.

vuudu said:

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I almost started a thread on this. Every media outlet has referred to this as a "drop". This was a phenomenal play by Butler. He was picked on the play and Kearse ran a wheel route like they typically do with Lynch. Butler had to fight through the pick and catch up to Kearse to make a phenomenal, likely game saving play.

edkk323 said:

Harmon was in position to take the ball away when Kearse was juggling the ball. Instead he jumped over to avoid contact. I am still pissed. That was the worst decision in the game. Safety was there to finish the play. Glad we won, but still pissed that Harmon made the game this close to a defeat.

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You're asking a guy running at full speed to adjust to something that has a .1% probability of happening, and that adjustment needs to be made in a split second, never mind the possibility of hitting the guy on the ground after an incompletion and thereby incurring a late hit penalty.