ATL Choke vs. NE Win

[QuantumMechanic]

Thinking about the game the past couple of days and the question of "Did Atlanta choke or did NE win?" I've come to the conclusion it was actually both. Atlanta did choke. But NE did win.

NE's ability to win that game was out of their hands. They could only win if Atlanta did some dumb things (like the remainder of the Atlanta possession after the insane Jones catch). Well, Atlanta did do some dumb things. Hence Atlanta most certainly did choke.

However...

NE could only win if they executed near-perfectly when Atlanta gave them the opportunities to win. They had a near-zero margin of error so, so many times. Yet they executed and pulled it off. Hence NE most certainly did win.

 

[qbno12]

I wouldn't say ATL choked. They collapsed.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

Memory typically recalls (only) the winners. With the possible exception to 2007 and the fans of the losing team (from any year).

 

[turkeyneck]

In Tiger Woods' heyday, if someone happened to be playing hot enough to have the lead over him, it was a thing that they would crumple under the psychological pressure of maintaining that lead through the final round, waiting for him to mount the expected comeback. I think ATL succumbed to something like that.

 

[JJC]

A huge factor in winning this game comes from the stuff that was done weeks and months in advance, not just in the game.

1. Physical Conditioning: You hear Jules talk about running the hills, so that they can play as hard at the end of the game as they do at the beginning. When the chips are down, they have the physical stamina to execute. How many teams really commit to that and then do it?
2. Mental Toughness: The leadership of this team, from the executive suite on down cultivates an Us vs. Them culture. They take the setbacks (suspensions, loss of draft picks, media abuse, etc.) and fold that into their mindset and use it as fuel. Suspend the GOAT QB, we'll win with our second stringer and rookie QB. Take away our draft picks, we will sign proven, talented free agents (Bennet, Long) on cap friendly contracts to fill gaps.
3. Faith & Shame: Every one of these players knows that doing less than his absolute best, both mentally and physically is shameful. They don't want to let down their teammates by doing that. The flip side of that is that each man has extreme faith in his teammate – that he will also exert his full effort, mentally and physically. They all make mistakes, but they forgive each other of their imperfections, knowing their own. That's why Edelman can drop balls in Q1 and Brady will still go right back to him when it's do or die. Players that don't buy into this culture are cut loose – no matter how physically gifted (e.g., Collins, Jones, Wayne, etc.)
4. Decision Agility: The Patriots, from the coaching staff to the players, implement Boyd's OODA strategy with brutal efficiency. They observe, orient, decide, and act faster than their opposition. This instills chaos and fear in their opponents' minds. They freeze up and make mistakes It is part of the culture and pervades everything they do. So, when you ask if ATL choked, the answer is yes – because the NEP got inside the ATL OODA loop and broke them late in the game.

That is why they never quit. Why when they finally caught a break, it made them stronger. Why when ATL made a mistake, they were further emboldened and rose to the occasion.

ATL lacked these things in comparison. I am sure that seeing an adversary, that they though was vanquished, grow stronger with each play late in the game, created chaos in their minds and made them weaker. That was the result of the actions taken by the Patriots.

It wasn't a choke at all. It was superior preparation and culture that won out in the end.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

Thinking about the game the past couple of days and the question of "Did Atlanta choke or did NE win?" I've come to the conclusion it was actually both. Atlanta did choke. But NE did win.

NE's ability to win that game was out of their hands. They could only win if Atlanta did some dumb things (like the remainder of the Atlanta possession after the insane Jones catch). Well, Atlanta did do some dumb things. Hence Atlanta most certainly did choke.

However...

NE could only win if they executed near-perfectly when Atlanta gave them the opportunities to win. They had a near-zero margin of error so, so many times. Yet they executed and pulled it off. Hence NE most certainly did win.

Well put!

Their O bungled badly in the crucial 4Q when they still had a chance to go up two scores and their tired D just couldn't handle the GOAT - and his weapons - precision as he systematically tore thru them.

That said, there were so many crucial things (TWO two point conversions for eg!) that were in our control but HAD to be pulled off by us to win.

And boy did we!

So, though ATL helped a lot, NE's performance is the reason for the win.

 

[rookBoston]

The rise of the Pats pass attack coincided with the disappearance of the Atlanta pass rush. That is all about conditioning.

Two 2-point conversations made is a testament to play design and execution.

The timely forced fumble and recovery is "situational football". Everyone could see that the Pats needed a turnover, so Hightower took a risk and made the play.

When the D needed to drive Atlanta out of FG range they got a sack and induced a holding call.

So many things had to go right. There was no time to recover from any more negative plays, everything had to be perfect. Perfect is what Belichick coaches them to be, every week. And when they needed it, they were.

 

[Minitron]

It was totally both. Atlanta thought they could just go on offensivley like they did i the first half. And that just wasn't the case bc our defense played lights out. And the ATL defense just was tired as hell. They were that one split second to slow to get to Brady and the recievers now. And we were just so patient and relentless at the end that they no chance.

 

[resdubwhite]

the analogy I heard the other day was of the marathon runner going out too fast being overtaken by the smarter runner.
It has some merit. However, I do think there was a collective brain fart on the Atlanta sideline in field goal territory. so, thats a bit of a choke.

 

[IllegalContact]

choking doesn't last that long

more like falling down an eternal flight of stairs

 

[JMC00]

Pats defense dominated the Falcons...... Held them to their 2nd lowest points total and lowest yardage total of the season. That isn't some fluke because all we heard about how this was one of the greatest offense OF ALL TIME. Held them for 1 for 8 on 3rd down which is 12.5%, which was the Falcons lowest 3rd down conversion rate on the season. Sacked Ryan 5 times which was the most Ryan had been sacked in a game all year.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

We won the game and that's all i care about. Should the giants give back the two superbowls they won against us because of the missed interception and dropped ball by welker.

 

[LightSkinSmurf]

Agreed, no doubt atlanta choked. When you have a lead like that so late until the game all you have to do is not be a dumbass and you will win. Regardless of what the pats did they had no chance without the falcons help. That being said, the patriots themselves as you said needed to be near perfect with every single chance they got. Which, they were. Once we won the coin flip in OT I knew the game was over. This comeback was just meant to happen!!!

 

[mosi]

Thinking about the game the past couple of days and the question of "Did Atlanta choke or did NE win?" I've come to the conclusion it was actually both. Atlanta did choke. But NE did win.

NE's ability to win that game was out of their hands. They could only win if Atlanta did some dumb things (like the remainder of the Atlanta possession after the insane Jones catch). Well, Atlanta did do some dumb things. Hence Atlanta most certainly did choke.

However...

NE could only win if they executed near-perfectly when Atlanta gave them the opportunities to win. They had a near-zero margin of error so, so many times. Yet they executed and pulled it off. Hence NE most certainly did win.

I agree 100%. The Falcons could have iced this game but made bad decisions. Even when they had a chance to get a FG with 53 seconds left, they made bad decisions.

At the same time, the Pats had to drive 91 yards and convert a 2 point play to tie the game.

Also, in the OT coin flip, the Pats sent out the same guys as they did in the start of the game. The Falcons just sent out Ryan. Was he the only Falcons guy at the start of the game as well? I just thought that was odd.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Hard to fault atl much, we were just too much to overcome and they really didnt do anything outrageously bad/stupid. credit our offense for finally exploiting a weak d. And our defense for holding their explosive offense to 21 points, plus a great play by hightower to set up a td.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

I agree 100%. The Falcons could have iced this game but made bad decisions. Even when they had a chance to get a FG with 53 seconds left, they made bad decisions.

At the same time, the Pats had to drive 91 yards and convert a 2 point play to tie the game.

Also, in the OT coin flip, the Pats sent out the same guys as they did in the start of the game. The Falcons just sent out Ryan. Was he the only Falcons guy at the start of the game as well? I just thought that was odd.

Our guys did some early choking themselves as well. It's a telling stat that we almost ran 100 plays. Pats where their own worse enemy on offense.

 

[Dr Pain]

Pregame I expected the Falcons to score 23 points. Their offense scored 21. The Patriots dug themselves in a hole early between the fumble and the pick 6. The Falcons defense did better than I thought they would but I think if they play 10 games, the Patriots win 8 by 2+ TDs.

 

[qbno12]

It's unreal if we think about it. There were so many things on so many different levels that had to go right for us to win and we made them all happen. Every single one of them. The resolve and resilience this team has is amazing. They were patient and surgical in their comeback. They did not force anything (you can hear JMD tell our RBs not to do anything they can't do in inside the NFL video).

Also, many people called this luck. Every SB winner needs an element of luck. But it's not luck alone that matters. To come back from a 25 point deficit and score another TD is more than luck. If people honestly believe it's pure luck, then I call them dumb and say that ATL is lucky to have 28-3 against this team.