Best Of Social Media: Week 7 Falcons vs Patriots

In one of the most anticipated games of the 2017 season, the New England Patriots prepared to welcome in the Atlanta Falcons for a Super Bowl rematch, and while Bill Belichicks team wasn’t taking the time to think about the past, it was hard to ignore the Gillette Stadium fans reminding both teams of the epic comeback during pregame.

Premium trolling. Well played. #LETSGOOO #GOPATS #DOYOURJOB @FitzyGFY @jerrythornton1 pic.twitter.com/Vs7IgDXGYl

— LadyBrady (@NYPatsFan21) October 23, 2017

https://twitter.com/xmasape/status/922254005614661632

As shared by NESN’s Zack Cox in the tweet below, Patriots long snapper and Naval officer Joe Cardona played a role in providing 200 tickets to men and women serving in the US Armed Services so they would be able to attend the evenings game.

At Joe Cardona’a suggestion, the Patriots donated 200 tickets for tonight’s game to military members. Here they are watching warmups. pic.twitter.com/AbArDC7y84

— Zack Cox (@zm_cox) October 22, 2017

Nice moment at Gillette as military members are applauded during a pregame lap. #Patriots pic.twitter.com/McVfQGeOX9

— Jim McBride (@globejimmcbride) October 22, 2017

AWESOME!
Tom Brady High-5's about 200 members of the military before last nite's #Patriots game @GilletteStadium #wbz #ArmedForces @Patriots pic.twitter.com/c6IQxlFiCQ

— Scott Sullivan (@sullybunZ) October 23, 2017

Patriots players greet the 200 military members on hand as their guests (tickets donated by players/coaches) after taking the field. pic.twitter.com/eBaVkFNreL

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 22, 2017

Thank you for your service! #SNF #supportourtroops https://t.co/Ki8CJrPoBi

— Chris Hogan (@ChrisHogan_15) October 24, 2017

Ok #PatriotsNation. My favorite fan so far tonight. Check out this member of the military. Can you guess who he's cheering for?
@nbcboston pic.twitter.com/lM6qbMUv02

— Raul Martinez (@RaulNBCBoston) October 22, 2017

Two Boston College legends met on the field before the game.

my man @M_Ryan02 pic.twitter.com/SsHFHNgbGq

— Pete Frates (@PeteFrates3) October 22, 2017

https://twitter.com/rayclayborn26/status/922259668306624515

“Did I ever tell you about that time we came back after being down 28-3?”

Good luck tonight @Patriots pic.twitter.com/MIvB4ivxT1

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 22, 2017

https://twitter.com/patriots/status/922247063601057793

Just before kickoff, the Patriots held a special on field tribute to cancer survivors as part of the NFL’s “Crucial Catch campaign that featured Tom Brady’s mother Galynn making her return to Foxboro.

Tom Brady's father Tom Sr. and mother Galynn, a cancer survivor, were recognized on-field. #CrucialCatch pic.twitter.com/Wqbsu1EY9d

— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) October 23, 2017

https://twitter.com/patriots/status/922424112483651585

Cancer does not discriminate (ages, ethnicities, sexes, or wealth). ‘07 cancer entered my/@Andruzzi63 world & changed it 4EVR. #UpBeatCancer https://t.co/1rKxDWOgof

— Jen Andruzzi (@JenAndruzzi) October 23, 2017

https://twitter.com/nflnetwork/status/922100486127476737

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gisele Bu?ndchen (@gisele)

Quite a moment at @GilletteStadium.

450 cancer survivors + caregivers, 200 military members & players + coaches together on the field. pic.twitter.com/lU0ji0KmI4

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 24, 2017

As for the game itself, the Patriots offense struggled early on to find a rhythm, but the defense stepped up, as Cassius Marsh swatted away three points from the Falcons and fired up the normally “all business” Bill Belichick.

https://twitter.com/patriots/status/922268439162392576

Bill Belichick lovin' that blocked field goal #EMOTIONS pic.twitter.com/xdCpju3YCl

— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) October 23, 2017

The Patriots would strike first in the second quarter, with Brandon Cooks following the blocking of Rob Gronkowski for a 7-0 lead.

https://twitter.com/patriots/status/922272303274016768

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brandin Cooks (@thearcher)

Teamwork. pic.twitter.com/gPlbHbOKO5

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 23, 2017

https://twitter.com/patriots/status/922825959887093760

Midway through the second, an errie fog settled in over the Gillette Stadoum field that would provide an interesting backdrop (and internet memes) for the remainder of the game.

Wow, this fog is something else. pic.twitter.com/6gtJzgObmY

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 23, 2017

After a Stephen Gostkowski field goal, the Patriots were on the move again, as James White provided even more Super Bowl flashbacks with a touchdown of his own just before halftime. 17-0 Patriots going into the half.

https://twitter.com/patriots/status/922282279346376705

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bam0f2EBBAX/?taken-by=sweetfeet

The Mist (2007) pic.twitter.com/Vhyz8JJrHD

— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) October 23, 2017

At halftime, the Patriots honored their three Pro Football Hall of Famers with a special ceremony awarding them ”rings of excellence”.

Highlights from last night's @KayJewelers Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence ceremony for Hall of Famers & @Patriots greats: @AndreTippett, @MikeHaynesNFL and John Hannah pic.twitter.com/hKNSXOJFvz

— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) October 23, 2017

Thank you @ProFootballHOF what a great night for the fans.. pic.twitter.com/knipx2vMkp

— Andre Tippett (@AndreTippett) October 23, 2017

It was great to be back in Foxboro last night. Appreciate all of the love from @Patriots and the #PatriotsNation https://t.co/LuJ4lCLkBv

— Mike Haynes (@MikeHaynesNFL) October 23, 2017

So… it's just a bit foggy in Foxborough. #ATLvsNE https://t.co/BtimXIIygD

— NFL (@NFL) October 23, 2017

"Looks like we're in a blimp." – Cris Collinsworth pic.twitter.com/yhRMZETELF

— Pats Pulpit (@patspulpit) October 23, 2017

In the second half, the Patriots defense continued to stymie Matt Ryan’s offense as two more field goals put the Super Bowl champs ahead 23-0 midway through the fourth.

Are we sure this is the same #pats D we saw in the first 6 games??? Balling tonight!

— Dan Koppen (@koppen67) October 23, 2017

Almost 76 minutes & counting #Falcons haven't scored 1 point!

— Troy Brown (@RealTroyBrown80) October 23, 2017

Patriots unanswered points against the Falcons tracker: 54.

— Pats Pulpit (@patspulpit) October 23, 2017

Falcons kicker Matt Bryant also did his best Nick Folk impression.

HE MIST IT! pic.twitter.com/yXKZdFFCos

— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) October 23, 2017

Kyle Van Noy provided a huge tackle on fourth down to again keep the Falcons off the scoreboard.

https://twitter.com/patriots/status/922302277624328192

https://twitter.com/marissa_vannoy/status/922470703697416192

Put a fork in them, last year haunts the falcons like poltergeist! #PatsNation #gooseegg

— Rob Ninkovich (@ninko50) October 23, 2017

With four minutes to go in the game, the Falcons at last broke through on the scoreboard after an incredible touchdown reception by Julio Jones after he jumped above Malcolm Butler.

Julio Jones is a baaaad man #Falcons #NFL https://t.co/V6ofDCKM5x

— Charlie Quinn (@CharlieQuinnMMA) October 23, 2017

https://www.instagram.com/p/BanK7umD3tX/?hl=en&taken-by=mac_bz

The streak ends at 54 straight points. Hell of an effort by the defense tonight

— Paul Perillo (@pfwpaul) October 23, 2017

If my calculations are accurate, Patriots held the Falcons scoreless in 83:10 of gametime dating back to Super Bowl LI.

— Ryan Hannable (@RyanHannable) October 23, 2017

https://twitter.com/tombradysego/status/922541728049098752

That would be all the Falcons could muster as the Patriots improved to 5-2 in 2017 following an impressive complete performance on both sides of the ball. A 23-7 victory heading into a home matchup with the San Diego Chargers next week.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BaotmofhQYE/?taken-by=tombrady

Patriots defense now has more games of allowing 20 or fewer points than 30+. And the lowest totals have been the last 3 games #BeAfraid pic.twitter.com/nffxKKRfAd

— Jerry Thornton (@jerrythornton1) October 24, 2017

Don't look now, but the Patriots' defense ranks fourth in the NFL in points allowed/game over their last three games with 12.7.

— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) October 23, 2017

https://twitter.com/snfonnbc/status/922313223994593280