Not only did Butler WIN that game, the PATRIOTS did

pdangle said:

And I heard Steve Young say that Wilson was supposed to go back shoulder to protect the throw and that made sense to me. I won't pretend to know enough to know who is right so I'm fine leaving it at Burlier making a great play that will go down in football history.

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I side thinking it was thrown very close to exactly where it should be. If Butler doesn't anticipate and blow up the play, the ball WOULD of been middle to back shoulder of where the receiver was supposed to end up.[/QUOTE]


Actually I think you have it right, if Butler doesn't beat him to the spot that's exactly where it would have been. Good call.

betterthanthealternative said:

QUOTE="Ivan, post: 4115710, member: 29357"]
I've seen three former NFL QB's on TV saying that the pass was thrown perfectly. Wilson, at his height, can't throw that pass lower. If thrown behind him farther, it is running against his forward movement and would be very difficult to catch, and possibly bounce of his back shoulder.

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See: Welker, Wesley in Super Bowl 46

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Rob Guerrera‏@StatsNBCSports
This is what Wilson saw on the big INT. I would have thrown that, too.




I'm glad we can all agree at this point - - and good on Ivan for keeping an open mind.

No real reason to go "back shoulder" given THAT route.

Seriously - - Malcolm Butler Superman.


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Kid made a play. Sad that people are downplaying it.

pdangle said:

And I heard Steve Young say that Wilson was supposed to go back shoulder to protect the throw and that made sense to me.

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Steve Young also said that Seattle should have called a timeout before that play if they didn't have the right personnel on the field (yes, he said they should have used their 3rd timeout after letting the clock run down to under 30 seconds so that they'd have 2nd and goal, around 25 seconds left in the game with NO timeouts).

Steve Young also said that they should have run the ball 3 times (presumably the 3rd time would be during the Patriots victory celebration as they look on from the platform).

I'm just taking what Steve Young says with a grain of salt.

The Brandon Five said:

Kid made a play. Sad that people are downplaying it.

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Absolutely. For Butler to recognize the play, to get to the ball, to blast through Lockette (otherwise he makes the catch), to catch the ball in the midst of that collision (otherwise it's incomplete and Seattle gets another shot), and to get out of the endzone (otherwise a possible safety, giving Seattle a fair chance at a gamewinning fieldgoal) was just a mindboggling quality play given the circumstances.

Really? I thought Public Perception Is:
1) Seahawks/Carroll Blew it
2) Patriots Won SB
3) Oh Yeah that rookie made INT and gave Butler NO Credit at all.

Right call here is Hawks drew up a play they thought was a LOCK'ket on 2nd down.
But Butler and Patricia were 10 steps ahead of them had Pass Pkg in and Butler broke and cut it and played it perfect. This story should more of Butler's INT then Hawk's play call.

You know if Lynch was the greatest RB of all time as the media has made him out to be then he would have scored from the 5.

pheenix11 said:

You know if Lynch was the greatest RB of all time as the media has made him out to be then he would have scored from the 5.

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Curious that no one is talking about the play before where Harmon had a chance to break up the play on the fluke catch. It actually looked like he could have intercepted it or at least done something to make sure Kearse didn't catch it. I wonder what Bill will say to him about that play when they watch the film. From watching it, it seems he should have done more than he did to break it up.

bradydaman29 said:

Curious that no one is talking about the play before where Harmon had a chance to break up the play on the fluke catch. It actually looked like he could have intercepted it or at least done something to make sure Kearse didn't catch it. I wonder what Bill will say to him about that play when they watch the film. From watching it, it seems he should have done more than he did to break it up.

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I can't blame him for that, he was worried about getting flagged for unnecessary roughness because he thought the play was over.

That's more a comment on the state of the NFL rules than anything.

If that pass had fallen incomplete like it should have and he hit Kearse he would gotten flagged for 15 yards and given the Seahawks a first down.

Each of you should hear the people of the NW cry and complain about this issue.

I am confused about Patriots safety play in this game. How good were they? I am conflicted because:

1. Wilson, for most part, could not find an open man. In addition to incompletions, all his runs came when he looked to pass and could not find an open man. Obviously, the coverage was good with safeties and LB's helping out.

2. He also had several long completions. In none of those plays was the safety nearby, let alone in a position to break up the play. Even the long incomplete near the end of the game to Matthews, it was the CB (Browner) who was in position to break up the play, with the safety at least a step and half behind.

Just an observation. I am not scheme savvy to figure this out.

People out here keep saying it was all luck, I'm not a big believer in luck so fans trying to make that case with me will have it fall on deaf ears. They beat a lot of excellent teams to earn their right to play in this game and made enough plays to be in a position to win in the end and they did. You don't get to the SB by luck and you don't win it by luck, it undermines so much hard work and achievements.

Just like Seattle earned the right to be there by beating GB, GB slept and the better team took over.

I'm out here in OR Hawks country, any talk of luck gets shut down immediately, sorry I don't use it as an excuse and don't care to hear it either. It was an epic win and I wouldn't change a thing.

ROBBO!!! Hey Mang, WE DID IT!!!!

Night crew dominant....('cept for that stick in the mud, Supa...)

Joker said:

ROBBO!!! Hey Mang, WE DID IT!!!!

Night crew dominant....('cept for that stick in the mud, Supa...)

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I have an excuse it's 3 hours earlier out here, lol. Not sure why you guys are always up so late. Great season, epic game, we have a whole year of bragging and chest banging in front of us Joker....

shmessy said:

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Rob Guerrera‏@StatsNBCSports
This is what Wilson saw on the big INT. I would have thrown that, too.




I'm glad we can all agree at this point - - and good on Ivan for keeping an open mind.

No real reason to go "back shoulder" given THAT route.

Seriously - - Malcolm Butler Superman.


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That still shot literally shows the explosion that Butler had to have come with to get there. Greatest play in Pats history? Just maybe. I know it's my favourite play of all time closely followed by the 1 hand deep ball reel in by Moss over our very own Revis.

Butler said he looked at the formation and knew a pick play was coming his way. Exceptional coaching and situational awareness won the game.

shmessy said:

I'm glad we can all agree at this point - - and good on Ivan for keeping an open mind..

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Isn't it great how a SB win has us all on our best behavior!

Can you all believe how close we came to having another improbable catch end it all? Butler got a hand on that one too. The guy had several pass breakups in that fourth quarter in fact. He was a mini Revis out there. I'm happy for the young kid. He almost certainly made himself a roster lock for next season.

What's lost in all this (to the casual fan) IMO are the two phenomenal drives TB orchestrated in the 4Q. Ridiculous the hawks came close. Seattle D was gassed.