Where does this game rank?

abdul7 said:

As a road game ,,or a road AFCCG,,I believe it's number 1 for me,,,the BEST.
I don't think we do well at Arrowhead,,ever and to do that to this Years MVP ,,,the kid that everyone is talking about,,,,what a brilliant performance ,,,and coaching.

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Yeah. While there isn’t really a sense of rivalry between the players, the opponent definitely made this one special

To get 3 TD on the last 3 drives, in that environment, with the cold and all the potential for problems that causes, with the fact the KC was on a roll with 14 straight points in the 4th - that may have been as fine a Patriot offensive late game performance as ever was. KC did not hand us great field position- we had to drive for every score.

For me personally.. if I had to rank the top 5 Super Bowl era games of all time. When including the game itself plus a factor of how it relates to all time legacy and lore...

1. Patriots vs Falcons
2. Patriots vs Giants(07)
3. Jets vs Colts
4. Patriots vs Seahawks
5. Patriots vs Chiefs

Sorry Pittsburgh, Dallas, SF, and Miami..
Your teams are all on a second tier and the game don't hold as much water anymore when looking at all time NFL folk lore

KontradictioN said:

1. 2001 vs. Oakland
2. 2014 vs. Ravens
3. This one

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I'll go with this if the criterion is "most satisfying" but for pure rollercoaster thrills this one was tops.

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

I’ve always ranked at Pittsburgh in 2004/05 as #1. Strong argument for this game among the best, a road win over a very formidable opponent. I’d personally rank the “tuck rule game” #2, and this game #3. The 2014/15 Ravens comeback was awesome but also had a “wtf - why this again!” feel to it and was against a weaker opponent.

Still going with Steelers first, as they team was 16-1 and quite a lot of ****iness and chest thumping before getting shut up within about 15 seconds. Chiefs just weren’t villainish enough.

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I think the 2004/05 game against the Steelers was very similar to this one. Team with a better record, team with home field throughout, a young stud QB, a team that was too ****y for it's own good, media saying the young upstart team was going to shut down the dynasty, just so many similarities. Biggest difference was the Pats pretty much blew Pittsburgh out. Final was 41-28, but the Steelers got some late garbage points. Also, though they played earlier in the season, like the Pats did w/KC this season, the Steelers crushed the Pats in the regular season, then got crushed in the playoffs.

But this game had the same kind of feel, and same kind of huge satisfaction after they won. Hopefully they get the same results in 2 weeks that they got after beating Pittsburgh in 2004/05 .

Here is how I rank the Patriots playoff non-super bowl games. (going by the year the regular season started)

#1 2001 Oakland game - While the first 3 quarters were ho-hum the 4th and OT makes up for it. An epic ending and epic come back. Coming back down from 3-13 in a blizzard in a single quarter without a gift turnover? Pretty insane.

#2 2014 Ravens game - This was the most entertaining game from start to end. While other games may have better endings this was a game that was very easy to watch and be invested in from the first quarter on. It had great plays and moments. I was instantly invested. The Pats literally HAD to make a play only about 15 minutes into the game or they risked punting and going down 3 scores.

#3 2006 Chargers game - This was clearly a game where the Pats were desperately trying to hold on vs a much more talented opponent. They did get a lucky break on the int which turned into a fumble but that was an epic 4th down play and the strangest play I've ever seen. It also came down to a last second 54 FG that missed when the Chargers tried to send a game into over time.

#4 2018 Chiefs game - This had the best final 5 minutes of regulation of any playoff game the Pats have ever played. It really was a tale of 2 games. One that took place over the first 55 minute and the other that took place in the last 5. While there weren't many scores early in the game there were plenty of big moments. Also the OT was awesome to watch.

#5 2017 Jags game - This game kind of gets looked over unfairly. The Pats after all were ONLY down 10 points with 9 minutes left. After the Falcons game you kind of expected a come back. That isn't really fair. This was a very talented D that was playing with a lot of confidence at the time. Every ingredient was working.

#6 2011 Ravens game - Honestly while this was a tight game I find it hard to recall any amazing plays or moments. Maybe I need to watch it again? The ending was hilarious though. What a shank!

Where would the NFL be if the Patriots had lost to Baltimore in 2014?

Would the Patriots still be together? Would the Seahawks have repeated? Would Luck have gone to a Superbowl?

I feel that was a pretty significant game in NFL history considering legacies and dynasties, and it was so close to going the other way.

turkeyneck said:

I'll go with this if the criterion is "most satisfying" but for pure rollercoaster thrills this one was tops.

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I don't know about that. The sack and fumble was rock bottom in '01 followed by pure elation after Vinatieri's two kicks. Baltimore saw two 14 point leads erased. This one was exciting. No doubt about that. But both of those games had huge roller coaster thrills as well.

Snow Bowl #1 for many reasons. Kinda like your first love.

#2 the AFCC vs. the Colts in 2003 (2004 calendar). Sorry, Manning trumps all just because.

I guess this is #4 after the Ravens double comeback/pass/ eligible-ineligible. (We need a name for that one.)

1....The SnowBowl. I repeat the SnowBowl. I was there and never experienced anything like it.
2.....2018 KC game
3.....2006 Chargers
2014 Ravens was a great game but just misses out
When you have the 2017 Jags game in there then you must be young. No insult intended.I was at those AFC Colt’s games which were great games. The Titans Freeze Bowl was up there also

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

A win on 2/3 would put the Patriots at six Super Bowls, tied with the Steelers, but also would put them ahead in playoff victories (currently tied). Finish that off with more AFC championships (11-8), and they are check mated in terms of most successful franchise. Last year's Super Bowl would not have yielded that result yet, as the Patriots still trailed in playoff wins. This would be absolutely spic, especially with that team's tailspin.

There's no greater gift the Patriots could give me than surpassing this arrogant and unlikeable team and fanbase. I remember in the early 2000s going on ESPN message boards and was just blown away at how arrogant they were in declaring themselves the best franchise in the NFL while constantly being ugly and jealous about the Patriots success. They thought they were really awesome with their terrible towels, which back then was cool to them, for some reason.

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Pitt fans fear us winning a 6th ring. After they won six and we still had 3, they probably thought they were secure come theSB 46 loss. Then we won 4. Then we won 5. They fear us.

For me, 2018 Chiefs > 2014 Ravens, for the following reasons:

1. Being down by four in Q4 is a whole different world of anxiety than being down by three. (The 14-pt deficit was gone long before the end of the 3rd Q, and at all events, having already erased one such lead earlier, every reason to believe we could do it again.) In KC, we had to mount *two* touchdown drives down the stretch to stay afloat - FGs would not have cut it. Not to mention the one in OT.
2. Being on the road vs. playing at home
3. Mahomes vs. Flacco
4. Winning in overtime

The Snow Bowl, otoh, I cannot appraise impartially - it holds too much sentimental value for me. That was pure magic.

BUSTAMOVE said:

1....The SnowBowl. I repeat the SnowBowl. I was there and never experienced anything like it.
2.....2018 KC game
3.....2006 Chargers
2014 Ravens was a great game but just misses out
When you have the 2017 Jags game in there then you must be young. No insult intended.I was at those AFC Colt’s games which were great games. The Titans Freeze Bowl was up there also

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Yes, as I posted in the OP, I'm 21. None taken

Still, don't discredit that game. Losing Gronk (with Edelman already out) made it feel almost impossible. After the Dion fumble, it felt all but lost. Dola made some of the most freaking ridiculous plays I've seen a player make.... Of course his td in the back of the end zone, a couple insane diving catches, brady hitting him with a dart to convert a crucial 3rd and 14 or something... Gilmore's pass breakup at the end... I'm sure I'm forgetting some key moments, too. It was a hell of a game. If we beat the Eagles, I think people would give this game more credit

This game has to be way up there. The fact that they went into KC, one of the toughest places to play on the road, and beat one of the best offenses of all time in such a heart pounding way is just mind blowing. It was just an insane performance.

Patriot Missile said:

Rewatched last night and I keep checking the time.. down 21-17 with 3 minutesnto go. How that game ended in regulation 31-31 is just crazy.

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Heh. Yeah, if you happened to have placed a wager going over the total, this will be one of the timeless gambling stories that are passed down through multiple generations.

17-7 in the fourth quarter, and 21-17 with three minutes left in regulation. Final score of 37-31.

gitgronked82 said:

If we beat the Eagles, I think people would give this game more credit

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I’m guessing that you’re right, although as you’ve noted and many others have pointed out, there are so many to choose from that it’s a difficult exercise.

I think your logic applies to this game, too. If NE goes on to win the SB, this will be a highly memorable game forever. If they lose to LA, it certainly takes some of the polish off.

pheenix11 said:

This game has to be way up there. The fact that they went into KC, one of the toughest places to play on the road, and beat one of the best offenses of all time in such a heart pounding way is just mind blowing. It was just an insane performance.

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Yeah, I agree. Pats crashed through the gauntlet of the Chargers and Chiefs looking dominant. They beat KC in the Lions den in the freezing cold in an epic win. They are battle tested for the Super Bowl.

gitgronked82 said:

Yes, as I posted in the OP, I'm 21. None taken

Still, don't discredit that game. Losing Gronk (with Edelman already out) made it feel almost impossible. After the Dion fumble, it felt all but lost. Dola made some of the most freaking ridiculous plays I've seen a player make.... Of course his td in the back of the end zone, a couple insane diving catches, brady hitting him with a dart to convert a crucial 3rd and 14 or something... Gilmore's pass breakup at the end... I'm sure I'm forgetting some key moments, too. It was a hell of a game. If we beat the Eagles, I think people would give this game more credit

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All you on this site are extremely intelligent and passionate and have an opinion. I like that. I am older. Have had season tickets for a long time. Even had them for a period in the 80’s. We have been so lucky to so many great games to choose from. Back in the 80’s we rooted for 1st downs. We had a few Raider playoff games in the 80’s that were great ones. The Jags game was the loudest game at Foxboro I was ever at. Place was going nuts and it was a memorable one. Go Pats and keep up your posts and opinions

I guess it depends on whether the game is judged by:

1. how entertaining/harrowing it was,
2. how tough the opponent was,
3. how well the Pats executed,
4. or how high the stakes were.

If all four are the case, I'll give the recent Chiefs game top billing. or 2014 Ravens play off. Especially in case #1.

If it is 2 and 3., the 2004-2005 playoff destruction of the Colts and Steelers have to be there. Holding best offense to 3 and dropping 42 on the best defense in back to back weeks in winner take all circumstances.

If it is 4, the Tuck rule game goes up. I can't remember if the rest of the game had a ton of intrigue or was particularly well played.

Pats/Jags in 17-18? Eh, trailing by a score for most of the game and pulling ahead late to beat a score of 20 probably isn't quite at the center of the legend of Tom Brady. Maybe I'm forgetting.

(I'm presuming the game here excludes Super Bowl wins)

BUSTAMOVE said:

All you on this site are extremely intelligent and passionate and have an opinion. I like that. I am older. Have had season tickets for a long time. Even had them for a period in the 80’s. We have been so lucky to so many great games to choose from. Back in the 80’s we rooted for 1st downs. We had a few Raider playoff games in the 80’s that were great ones. The Jags game was the loudest game at Foxboro I was ever at. Place was going nuts and it was a memorable one. Go Pats and keep up your posts and opinions

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Appreciate it!

The Jags game last year was a great crowd. That was a lot of fun.

But 2014 Ravens was undoubtedly the best/loudest crowd I've ever experienced. I think Zolak still claims that to the day. The place was literally shaking. What an unreal experience.