1. I actually think the Butler pick was bigger than the Roberts steal. It’s the single biggest either/or play in the history of Boston sports … and probably NFL history, too. If Butler picks it off, the Patriots win the Super Bowl. If he’s a split-second late, or he doesn’t hold on to the ball, they probably lose the Super Bowl. There’s no in-between. It’s either the greatest or the second-greatest interception in Super Bowl history, depending on how you feel about James Harrison’s 100-yard scamper. You could make a legitimate case that it’s the most important defensive play in NFL history. Other than that, no big deal.
2. There’s a short list of unlikely Boston heroes who helped win titles (Butler, Gerald Henderson, Dave Roberts, Glenn McDonald) and a not-quite-as-short list of unforgettable plays in big moments (Hendu’s homer, Fisk’s homer, Henderson’s steal, Bird’s steal, Orr’s Cup winner, Vinatieri’s 48-yarder in Super Bowl XXXVI, Ortiz’s game winners in Games 4 and 5 of the 2004 ALCS, etc., etc.). Butler lives on both lists for the rest of eternity. He’s football Dave Roberts crossed with Gerald Henderson, but with a little Hendu thrown in, only if you super-sized all three plays.
3. As for the fan side of this whole thing, here’s a great email from Vermont reader Ben Finer: “The last three plays [of Seattle’s last drive] were like the Aaron Boone home run in 2003 followed by the 0-3 comeback back in 2004, but without the 12 months in between.” Exactly.