The Pats ran 85 plays and totaled nearly 500 yards of offense. Moving the ball against the Seahawks was hardly the problem yesterday. In my mind, from a Pats' offensive perspective, here were the plays that doomed them.
2nd quarter, after the fumble by the Seattle punter, the Pats are assured of 3 points. Well, almost. Facing 3rd and goal from the 3, Brady throws one out of the back of the end zone and grounding is called, ending the half and costing them 3 points.
3rd quarter, 1st drive, up 17-10. Pats have the ball 2nd and 4 at the Seattle 13. Ridley loses 3 yards on a run, then Brady completes to Hernandez for a loss of one yard. They settle for a field goal when a TD looked like a very good possibility. Cost them potentially 4 points there.
3rd quarter, up 20-10, about 5 minutes left. Pats are driving again, have 2nd and 5 from the Seattle 45. Brady tries a deep throw to Branch that is way off (either the throw or the route or both) and intercepted at the Seattle 20. They were marching for at least a field goal there. Cost them potentially 3 points.
4th quarter, up 20-10, Pats driving deep into Seattle territory again. 3rd and 1 from the Seattle 6. Should get at least 3 here, but no. Brady's pass is tipped and intercepted. Cost them a certain 3 and potentially 7 points.
4th quarter, up 20-10, Pats driving *again*. Facing 3rd and 2 from the Seattle 17, Ridley's run attempt is smothered for no gain. Settle for a field goal. Cost them potentially 4 points.
4th quarter, clinging to a 23-17 lead, trying to run out the clock. Facing 2nd and 10 from the NE 47, Brady is hit as he throws an incomplete pass at the feet of a lineman. Grounding is called, which costs the Pats 10 yards and a down. They cannot convert a first down.
The Pats left a TON of points on the board. They had no problem, for the most part, moving the ball against Seattle's vaunted defense. But they couldn't make the key play when they needed to. It turns out that they only needed to avoid *one* of these mistakes, but they made them all.
If these two teams played again I have no doubt the Patriots would lay a beatdown on them.