Pressure, crowd, got to Welker

[Tunescribe]

Regarding the muffed punt: I don't know if this came across on TV, but the end zone crowd chanting "Wel-ker" was pretty loud as he lined up at the 10 to take that kick. He later said he had brainlock deciding whether to fair-catch the ball or let it go.

I think it was an emotional day for him and it put him off his game. During warm-ups Bob Kraft met with Wes on the field and told him to watch the scoreboard screen, where the team showed a Welker tribute montage of big-play clips from his Patriots career with a "Thank You" headline at the end. He goes on to a mediocre four-catch for 31 yards performance and makes a mistake at the end giving New England the winning field goal.

 

[The Scrizz]

And Collinsworth touched on the chanting, saying be careful what you wish, like Wes was going to rip off a 50 yard return or something.

I think we all got what we wished for.

Do want to give props to the crowd though that is much maligned at times. Sounded like they were bringing the noise in the 2nd half.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Welker and Manning are great players, but the Broncos decided to run the ball after we took away the pass. Stats don't always matter. BUT, typical BB gameplan, take away what a team does best. I honestly thought Denver was going to crush us with the pass, shows how much I know.

 

[Rob0729]

Welker really came up small in big situations last night. It wasn't just the muffed punt. Don't forget he couldn't pull in the pass on a 3rd and 8 right before the drive the Pats' lst drive before the muffed punt. If he converted it, not only would it have given the Broncos a new set of downs but put them in field goal range (maybe because of the wind).

 

[Avenger]

Pretty much the entire stadium was chanting Wel-ker, or at least those of us that stayed.

 

[Kontradiction]

The crowd was phenomenal last night. That's how they should be every game. Have to believe the pink hats either didn't want to brave the cold and/or cleared out at halftime.

 

[hyperpat]

I think it was an emotional day for him and it put him off his game. During warm-ups Bob Kraft met with Wes on the field and told him to watch the scoreboard screen, where the team showed a Welker tribute montage of big-play clips from his Patriots career with a "Thank You" headline at the end. He goes on to a mediocre four-catch for 31 yards performance and makes a mistake at the end giving New England the winning field goal.

The Welker big screen tribute and meeting with Kraft was a brilliant bit of psy-ops. Made Welker a little mushy in the head. BB no doubt planned it that way!

 

[Ring 6]

My son and I did our own tribute to Welker.
We brouight an old Welker jersey to the game, and had a plan, but didn't know when to do it.
After the recovery we held it up between us, tore it in half and threw it in the air.

 

[Tunescribe]

The Welker big screen tribute and meeting with Kraft was a brilliant bit of psy-ops. Made Welker a little mushy in the head. BB no doubt planned it that way!

When I was watching it I thought it was unnecessary and gratuitous, but I think you're right. If Welker came in with any fire in the belly, that hosed it down pretty good. I think his emotional ties to Brady and New England (maybe not BB) still run pretty deep and he realizes he made a mistake handing his career over to his agent.

 

[The Scrizz]

The Welker big screen tribute and meeting with Kraft was a brilliant bit of psy-ops. Made Welker a little mushy in the head. BB no doubt planned it that way!

Was Wes maybe a little mushy in the head still after that concussion? I know they have to pass all the tests but aren't those compared to a base-line that they take in the off-season?

I'm pretty sure that Wes wasn't setting the threshold all that high.

 

[mosey threetupu]

And Collinsworth touched on the chanting, saying be careful what you wish, like Wes was going to rip off a 50 yard return or something.

I think we all got what we wished for.

Do want to give props to the crowd though that is much maligned at times. Sounded like they were bringing the noise in the 2nd half.

If thats the case then yes. And I'm maligning (if thats a word) the crowd in general.

 

[Avenger]

The crowd was phenomenal last night. That's how they should be every game. Have to believe the pink hats either didn't want to brave the cold and/or cleared out at halftime.

I think the people that left arn't really the type to get loud anyhow.

 

[Tunescribe]

I'm maligning (if thats a word) the crowd in general.

That's unwise. The crowd contributed to last night's win.

I think the people that left arn't really the type to get loud anyhow.

Not many people left at all.

 

[Avenger]

That's unwise. The crowd contributed to last night's win.

Not many people left at all.

I saw plenty of empty seats, I saw people leaving as I was walking in midway into the first quarter!

 

[mosey threetupu]

That's unwise. The crowd contributed to last night's win.

Not many people left at all.

What does this mean?- "if that's the case yes"

Maybe you missed that part

 

[italian pat patriot]

crowd

my impressions from tv : the crowd in the 2nd half was very very loud in an incredible night

i still am so excited about this win

to the fans that stayied (imho the majority) : you were so good ! nice job ! great !!!

 

[mosey threetupu]

That's unwise. The crowd contributed to last night's win.

Not many people left at all.

Tune, I should also clarify when I say I malign the crowd I didn't mean tonight I meant in general. I don't post enough for peeps to know that was the gist probably.

 

[Tunescribe]

Tune, I should also clarify when I say I malign the crowd I didn't mean tonight I meant in general. I don't post enough for peeps to know that was the gist probably.

No problem. I'm admittedly sensitive to people bashing the Gillette crowd because it very, very seldom is as bad as many people here portray it, especially compared to crowds in other NFL cities. (I've missed two regular-season home games in 20 years.)

 

[mosey threetupu]

Oh boy... Here we go. The old stadium was WAY louder (when there was a big game). Metal bleacher banging? Or crowd? Probably both.

I'm editing this for context. I generally get to maybe 1 game (PO's) a year.

 

[crew1954]

Luckily for us, to offset No-Shon they had Yes-Welker!