Mountain_Commando
Rotational Player and Threatening Starter's Job
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We've all witnessed these moments. Credit to @Kargetina for cataloging this.
Long story short. Pats have consistently displayed a trend of crunch time defensive collapse during the final minutes of ALL our super bowl victories, as well as several AFCCG's, and also numerous meaningful regular season games.
Why?
How do we explain this trend? Pats could easily have been 0-8 in SB's, or even less appearances in the big game, due to what seems to be an uncannily predictable Defensive collapse during the opposing drive UNLESS rescued by a heroic play on our side/boneheaded play on the opposing side.
Is it merely selection bias? (which Pats SB ever have you felt comfortable during the last 2 mins??)
Is it BB's high stakes all-in high risk vs reward coaching style during late game defense?
Or is it simply an inevitable consequence of making it to the big game (or a crucial juncture thereof) way more than average, so that its given that at that point we'd run into an opponent formidable enough to corner us into a spot?
DISCLAIMER: This is NOT a whiny, ingrate, or chicken little post. Please. I'm ever so grateful for what the Pats' have accomplished, and none of us deserve better. I am merely trying to make sense of what seems to come across as a trend. Does it merit concern, or is it simply the price of unparalleled success? Discuss.
Long story short. Pats have consistently displayed a trend of crunch time defensive collapse during the final minutes of ALL our super bowl victories, as well as several AFCCG's, and also numerous meaningful regular season games.
Belichick's defenses and his coaching at the end of games:
Important games:
SuperBowl 36: TD allowed with 90 seconds left, 55 yards in 21 seconds
SuperBowl 38: TD allowed with 68 seconds left, 80 yards in 1:43 minute.
SuperBowl 39: TD allowed with 1:50 left, 80 yards in 4 minutes, a double digit lead cut to 3 points.
SuperBowl 42: TD allowed with 35 seconds left, 83 yards in 2 minutes
SuperBowl 46: TD allowed with 58 seconds left, 88 yards in 3 minutes
SuperBowl 49: First play of last drive, Lynch wide open for 30 yards. Seahawks come within 1 yard and Butler makes a historic play/Seahawks make a horrible decision to throw in traffic needing a yard.
SuperBowl 51: First play on last drive, Devonta Freeman wide open for 35 yards, no one near him. Falcons in easy field goal range, gift the ball back instead of doing anything but what they did. Three kneel downs or three runs win the game.
SuperBowl 52: TD allowed with 2:21 left, 75 yards in 7 minutes
AFCCG 2006: TD allowed with 1 minute left, 81 yard with in 2 minutes
AFCCG 2011: Last drive Ravens march without any issue to the Pats 13 yard line, then drop a game winning pass/miss a 32 yard field goal.
2015 Week 16 Pats need a win to secure homefield vs Jets: First drive in OT, TD allowed, 80 yards in 2 minutes
2017 Week 15 ''winner gets homefield in the playoffs game'': Juju Smith Schuster makes a 69 yard run and the Steelers lose because their TE decides to make a stupid play instead of securing the catch/Ben throws a stupid Int with a secured field goal.
Peculiar finishes:
2007 vs Ravens undefeated season on the line, Hail Mary caught, but stopped a yard from TD.
2018 vs Bears, Hail Mary caught but stopped a yard from TD.
And today's new addition, the longest game winning TD in modern NFL history. (Pats - Dolphins: Week 14 2018).
Without some appalling mistakes and drops from our opponents, who gave up sure fire field goals into sacks and interceptions, and Brady making a game winning or game leading drive in every single SB, our history would be very different. Our end of game defenses have been thoroughly outplayed and outcoached in the Brady/Belichick era.
It doesn't matter whether it's a HoF QB or your run of the mill Mark Sanchez, Nick Foles or Ryan Tanehill, with the game on the line, we rely on dumb luck/coaching to close out games.
Why?
How do we explain this trend? Pats could easily have been 0-8 in SB's, or even less appearances in the big game, due to what seems to be an uncannily predictable Defensive collapse during the opposing drive UNLESS rescued by a heroic play on our side/boneheaded play on the opposing side.
Is it merely selection bias? (which Pats SB ever have you felt comfortable during the last 2 mins??)
Is it BB's high stakes all-in high risk vs reward coaching style during late game defense?
Or is it simply an inevitable consequence of making it to the big game (or a crucial juncture thereof) way more than average, so that its given that at that point we'd run into an opponent formidable enough to corner us into a spot?
DISCLAIMER: This is NOT a whiny, ingrate, or chicken little post. Please. I'm ever so grateful for what the Pats' have accomplished, and none of us deserve better. I am merely trying to make sense of what seems to come across as a trend. Does it merit concern, or is it simply the price of unparalleled success? Discuss.