, After a great game, an historic game even, it's natural to call what you've just witnessed as the 'greatest' or 'best' or 'most incredible' thing you've ever seen. But sitting back in your easy chair by the fire with your dog at your feet and a glass of Macallan 18 swirling in your hand, it's time to ask whether SB LI was the greatest game ever or whether there were others more deserving of that accolade. Amazingly, as supporters of this franchise we have a few other choice games to pick from and compare - a difficult exercise maybe, but not an altogether unpleasant one to contemplate!
Personally, when picking the best a big component is the level of play and on Sunday night (Monday morning for me) the Pats played so poorly in the 2Q and the Falcons in the 4Q and OT that it took a bit away from the whole. Don't get me wrong - the improbability of the comeback (only the Bills - Oilers Frank Reich game seemed more far-fetched - and that was on a Wild Card weekend vice the game's biggest stage) added an incredible element to the outcome and the surprising dominance that Jarrett, Alford and the rest brought to the 1st half of the game made the turnaround that much more incredible. But as well as they played early and as quick as they were, they never could instil the fear and respect that came with the Legion of Doom two years before. That Seattle team was dominant and falling 10 pts behind them felt almost as onerous as the 25-point deficit to Atlanta (ok, not quite but at least much of that same kind of dread of being too far behind was there).
The Kearse catch that evoked all the memories of Tyree and Manningham also brought in an element of being wronged once again by the Football Gods who seemed to be in league with the idiots and haters calling us cheats. Brady had risen to his highest level and overcome a defense on par with the '00 Ravens or '02 Bucs (if not the '85 Bears) to take the lead only to have it seemingly swept away but yet another lucky bounce of the ball. To see Malcolm Butler achieve redemption so soon afterwards and so completely was the clincher that took the game to the highest echelon in my humble opinion.
So with due respect to Hightower's strip sack, Edelman's miracle catch and James White's determination to find the end zone time after time after time after time, to Tom Brady removing the last hold out doubters that he is the GOAT from the premises, to the FU given to Roger Goodell on the League's biggest stage I still think that 49 was the ultimate game. It was the game I used to get my youngest daughter hooked on the NFL (no easy feat over here in London) and on Gronk, Edelman, Wilfork and Butler in particular. It was football at its highest level against a worthy adversary that was easy to hate. The Falcons were impressive and might go on to be great - but they're just not hatable and that, too, has it's place in the pantheon of great victories.
But I'll stop my rambling rant (too much Macallan?) and let you add your thoughts. Please vote and debate and defend your choices. Lots of good reasons out there to disagree...
Personally, when picking the best a big component is the level of play and on Sunday night (Monday morning for me) the Pats played so poorly in the 2Q and the Falcons in the 4Q and OT that it took a bit away from the whole. Don't get me wrong - the improbability of the comeback (only the Bills - Oilers Frank Reich game seemed more far-fetched - and that was on a Wild Card weekend vice the game's biggest stage) added an incredible element to the outcome and the surprising dominance that Jarrett, Alford and the rest brought to the 1st half of the game made the turnaround that much more incredible. But as well as they played early and as quick as they were, they never could instil the fear and respect that came with the Legion of Doom two years before. That Seattle team was dominant and falling 10 pts behind them felt almost as onerous as the 25-point deficit to Atlanta (ok, not quite but at least much of that same kind of dread of being too far behind was there).
The Kearse catch that evoked all the memories of Tyree and Manningham also brought in an element of being wronged once again by the Football Gods who seemed to be in league with the idiots and haters calling us cheats. Brady had risen to his highest level and overcome a defense on par with the '00 Ravens or '02 Bucs (if not the '85 Bears) to take the lead only to have it seemingly swept away but yet another lucky bounce of the ball. To see Malcolm Butler achieve redemption so soon afterwards and so completely was the clincher that took the game to the highest echelon in my humble opinion.
So with due respect to Hightower's strip sack, Edelman's miracle catch and James White's determination to find the end zone time after time after time after time, to Tom Brady removing the last hold out doubters that he is the GOAT from the premises, to the FU given to Roger Goodell on the League's biggest stage I still think that 49 was the ultimate game. It was the game I used to get my youngest daughter hooked on the NFL (no easy feat over here in London) and on Gronk, Edelman, Wilfork and Butler in particular. It was football at its highest level against a worthy adversary that was easy to hate. The Falcons were impressive and might go on to be great - but they're just not hatable and that, too, has it's place in the pantheon of great victories.
But I'll stop my rambling rant (too much Macallan?) and let you add your thoughts. Please vote and debate and defend your choices. Lots of good reasons out there to disagree...
I'm mortified that my daughter's going to see that...
