fgssand said:
Why do you feel there was a score to settle for the officials? It is clearly evident that the right call was made in the Oakland - NE game, replays and countless reviews have proved this to be true. If any call was blown, it was the illegal blow to Brady's head that should have been called.
As for the Denver game, I think the Pats know the blame rests squarely within themselves. They just could not get out of their own way that game - too many errors and blown assignments to overcome.
I will always wonder what would have happened had Watson made the block on the Bronco that ended up getting through, untouched to force Brady's throw.
Go ahead...watch the 5:00 of video from that game which shows the plays leading up to Baileys pick......and make yourself sick again. Givens miss was not too cool on that same drive as you will see on the play before the interception.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB4Ltkrovi4&search=touchback
I was just thinking about this play yesterday, and I don't mean anything ill of Watson, but what if he went for the strip instead of the big hit? It might not even be possible since the only way he was going to get Bailey before the endzone was at full speed. But even if Bailey broke away from Watson's strip attempt and got into the endzone, that's almost the same result of knocking him out at the 1. If Watson had tried to grab the ball when Bailey was holding it out like a trophy, it's a gamble with little downside, but could have changed the play. Just a thought.
And I'm sure we all remember BB "talking" with Triplette in the 1st quarter. I'm surprised this hasn't been talked about and further analyzed (God, 25 days!). I went backed and took a look, and here's what I found:
The reason for argument on this drive was the distance measurements. Dillon’s run only went for about 4.8 yards, so the CBS broadcast had the rest of the drive at 3rd/4th and
6. The penalty would add
5 yards, making it 4th and 1, or a re-kick. However, the NFL.com play-by-play would have the rest of the drive at 3rd/4th and
5. Since a 5 yard offsides penalty not assessed on the return would add 5 yards to the offense, it would be a Patriot 1st and 10. But since in the actual game it would be 4th and 1 (what Belichick argued against), the gamelog would put the penalty down as
4 yards. Also, in the WBCN radio broadcast of the game, Gil Santos would immediately notice that only 4 yards were assessed, just before he notes an official moved the ball. Gino would then quickly add that that official only moved the ball another ½ yard, making the penalty
4 ½ yards. Conveniently, CBS would not show their normal broadcast view for the re-kick, and instead just a shot behind Miller in the endzone, so there’s no graphical evidence to examine for this matter.
New England Patriots at 02:34
1-10-NE4 (2:34) T.Brady pass incomplete to D.Branch (A.Wilson).
2-10-NE4 (2:30) C.Dillon left tackle to NE 9 for 5 yards (J.Lynch).
3-5-NE9 (1:45) T.Brady pass incomplete to D.Givens.
4-5-NE9 (1:42) J.Miller punts 53 yards to DEN 38, Center-L.Paxton. C.Adams to NE 45 for 17 yards (L.Izzo).
PENALTY on DEN, Defensive Offside, 4 yards, enforced at NE 9 - No Play.
4-1-NE13 (1:31) J.Miller punts 50 yards to DEN 37, Center-L.Paxton, fair catch by C.Adams.
Denver Broncos at 01:23
(25 days, and finally something new to talk about!)
