As you look back on these past 2 weeks, it is a miracle that any Boston sports fan has any fingernails left to bite.
You have seen the Brady-Thompkins game winning TD pass and then just hours later you saw David Ortiz belt a grand slam to tie Game Two of the ALCS and set the stage for Jarrod Saltilamaccia to win the game and tie the series 1 game apiece. 4 games later, it was the long ball once again that brought us out of our seats as Shane Victorino in theory smacked home the long ball that sent the Red Sox to the World Series.
And then there was the Patriots who, after pushing their Week 7 game with the Jets into overtime saw their hopes dashed by a never before called penalty. But even after all of that, we would soon come to realize that the drama had not concluded. On Saturday night, the Bruins saw a 3-2 lead turn into a 4-3 loss right before their eyes all in a matter of seconds and then hours later the Red Sox squeaked out an insane Game 3 of the World Series only to lose on a questionable obstruction call at 3rd base.
For better or worse, it has seemed that greater forces have been renting permanent suites at Boston area sporting events and after two weeks of insanity those forces showed us that they were not ready to leave Gillette Stadium yet.
After going 2 and 1 over the past 3 weeks, it was no military secret that in order to keep pace as a top team in the NFL, the Patriots needed a win this afternoon. But for the Patriots, the motivation tonight drove far deeper the simply the win loss record. Over the past 3 weeks, New England had lost its identity as well as several key players. As the QB of a team devoid of Vince Wilfork, Jerod Mayo and in scattered stints, Danny Amendola Tom Brady needed to be perfect and since New England's 30-23 victory in Atlanta he had not been. Since Atlanta, Brady had complied just 1 touchdown pass and had put up a combined quarterback rating of 35.3. He was not simply playing unacceptable football, he was playing BAD football.
That trend continued through the first 30 minutes of Sunday's game with Miami.
Through those 2 quarters, Brady put up just 25 yards through the air and struggled to even get the ball past midfield. It was obvious that he had no trust in most anybody but Julian Edelman, Gronkowski or Ammendola and when those three guys got covered, Tom was lost. The Patriots ended the half trailing 17-3. The boos began to rain down and for the first time since 2003, Tom Brady failed to compile more than 30 yards in a half. Yet by the time the Patriots reemerged from the locker room prior to the 3rd quarter, everything had changed. After New England surrendered an early punt to kick off the 3rd quarter, the Dolphins marched up the field and seemed poised to strike until a fearsome 9 yard sack of Miami QB: Ryan Tannahil pushed them into a field goal situation. The wind was fighting kicker Caleb Sturges all the way and though it helped him convert on a late 2nd quarter kick, it hindered his efforts here in the 3rd and changed the tide of the game. Sturges clanked the 46 yard attempt off the right upright and gave New England the ball on the 36 yard line. From there it took New England just 5 plays to march the ball up the field and power a 14 yard TD pass into the mitts of Aaron Dobson. That touchdown pass moved Brady up to 4th on the all-time list.
Goskowski would convert on the extra point but for New England that was only the start of the rally. They were still down 17-10 and needed 1 more touchdown to tie the game. That nearly came just 45 seconds later as after just 1 play, Tannahill was sacked and promptly fumbled the ball which was soon scooped up by Patriot Rob Nincovich. Now at first glance it appeared that Nincovich hopped back to his feet after recovering the ball untouched meaning that after he marched into the end-zone the score would count. But looks can be deceiving as it was shown in film that Rob was in fact touched by the shoulder of a Miami offensive lineman before he got back to his feet.
Yet regardless of that, the ball was still seated comfortably inside the 5 yard-line and before long it would be marched in for the touchdown. Game tied, 17-17.
The Patriots would add on a game winning touchdown in the 4th quarter and as the clock expired, the boos that were heard echoing around Gillette Stadium following the 1st half seemed far off. The elation spinning inside the mind of Patriots coach: Bill Belichick was shown on his face but even more so, it was shown in the win column. Tom Brady threw just 116 yards through the air and still blasted a pick to start the game but in the end he came through when he needed to most. New England forced 3 turnovers an improved their run game combining for 152 yards and watching as Stephan Ridley put up 79 yards on the ground.
"The momentum always kind of goes back-and-forth as the game goes on." Tom Brady said post-game "You love to have those momentum plays. We had the touchdown to Gronk [Rob Gronkowski] that got called back on the holding penalty – that would have been a big play. It's up and own and you just try to stay focused on your execution and stay focused on what you need to do."
Brady was not perfect but today he did not half to. It was a team effort and frankly if you can get away with playing as bad as you did in the first half and still grind out the win, it becomes clear the pure potential that sits within your locker room.
As for the hand of Tom Brady that has been noted by countless reporters as being swollen, Brady insists that he is fine.
"I didn’t know [how] anyone knows what the back of my right hand looks like, but it looks fine to me and it feels good. I’ll be out there next week; you don’t have to worry about that."
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