Super bowl LI

[MerrittsMustache]

Yep.  NE's comeback was amazing, but if ATL just made the obvious calls after the Jones catch, it never would have gone to OT.

NE had to make about 20 plays and made them all.

Atlanta had to not screw up and couldn't do it.

[brandx]

I have never seen a coaching decision that was undefendable...until tonight. On the 20 yard line, how do you not run the ball three times and kick the field goal?

Couldn't agree more. The ultimate choke job, biggest of all time, on the game's biggest stage. 

All around - coaches, offense and especially the defense. 31 points in 21 minutes? Even a Caper's defense couldn't have done that. Defensive play calling was unbelievably brutal. Seemed as though they said - we got it won, so just sit back and play as vanilla as possible. No effort to make any changes as NE rolled time after time after time after time.

[Dish]

Still trying to process what just happened. Certain decisions the Falcons made really odd in hindsight. At the end of the third, Falcons were lined up to punt around midfield. They took a delay of game on purpose, at that exact moment, I said out loud, "this isn't about the yardage, they want the penalty to reset the play clock to end the quarter". And that ended up happening.

When the Pats cut it to 28-20, Falcons return guys were in onside protect (5:56 left), and the Falcons return guy had to sprint back to catch the kick, started that possession with terrible field position.

I know this will sound dumb, but Jeff Seaman (umpire) sprinted in emphatically to give Edelman possession on that crazy catch before the two minute warning. I know you probably should challenge that play, but between Seaman's rush in and the quickness and quality of the camera angles because it's a SB broadcast, that failed challenge really hurt.

Pats had to be perfect to win, but the Falcons certainly helped their cause.

[SoCalEagle]

Somewhere Pete Carrol is smiling and saying thank you.

[Celtic Truth]

Tom Brady is just absolutely amazing. The guy just knows how to get it done

[B. McBannerson]

I was at the game tonight with a dear friend who is Vermont.  Most Patriots fans admitted they got a gift with some extremely poor coaching.  That's two Super Bowls (Seattle and Atlanta) they were given in my opinion.    ATL fans were not pleased, more like sickened.

Enjoyable to be part of history.

[Tugg Speedman]

Couldn't agree more. The ultimate choke job, biggest of all time, on the game's biggest stage. 

All around - coaches, offense and especially the defense. 31 points in 21 minutes? Even a Caper's defense couldn't have done that. Defensive play calling was unbelievably brutal. Seemed as though they said - we got it won, so just sit back and play as vanilla as possible. No effort to make any changes as NE rolled time after time after time after time.

This

Arthur Blank is the owner of the Falcons (and the founder of Home Depot).  At the beginning the fourth quarter he went down to the sidelines with his wife and they were giddy with excitement, like children in a candy store.  (They shows them several times on the broadcast) It was emblematic of the entire Falcons team, they really thought the game was over and they were too busy planning the after-party.

By the end of the game Blank and his wife looked like they were attending a funeral ... because they were!  His team's funeral!!

[jsglow]

Not running the ball into the line 3 times after the Julio catch was the worst coaching decision I've ever seen.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

With the score 28-3, my wife asks if any team had ever come back from that much.  Silly wife. That's impossible.

[mu_hilltopper]

Was it just me, or did 98% of America wake up and mutter "effing Patriots" this morning?

[StillAWarrior]

Holy crap. Is that the biggest collapse in sports history?

When ATL punted, I texted in my family group text:  "Hmmm...Cavs come back from 1-3 deficit; Cubs come back from 1-3 deficit..."


Clearly, it's the year of the comeback in the major professional sports.  Full disclosure:  I was rooting for the Falcons (and talking trash with 2:00 left in the third quarter).  I didn't want the Pats to come back, but by that point I totally expected them to finish the job.  Clearly, ATL's choke was amazing, but NE had no margin for error whatsoever.  An amazing comeback.  I completely disagree with anyone who says that was 90% ATL choke.

[StillAWarrior]

After the 1985 season, when NE surprised a lot of people by making it to the SB (and getting crushed), who would have ever imagined that 31 years later we'd be looking at the Patriots as arguably the most successful franchise in NFL history.  Certainly not me.

[wadesworld]

When ATL punted, I texted in my family group text:  "Hmmm...Cavs come back from 1-3 deficit; Cubs come back from 1-3 deficit..."


Clearly, it's the year of the comeback in the major professional sports.  Full disclosure:  I was rooting for the Falcons (and talking trash with 2:00 left in the third quarter).  I didn't want the Pats to come back, but by that point I totally expected them to finish the job.  Clearly, ATL's choke was amazing, but NE had no margin for error whatsoever.  An amazing comeback.  I completely disagree with anyone who says that was 90% ATL choke.

Two 3-1 series collapses and 31 unanswered Super Bowl points.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Was it just me, or did 98% of America wake up and mutter "effing Patriots" this morning?

I feel bad for Falcons fans more than anything.  But it is too bad the Patriots had to be the team that crushed them.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

After the 1985 season, when NE surprised a lot of people by making it to the SB (and getting crushed), who would have ever imagined that 31 years later we'd be looking at the Patriots as arguably the most successful franchise in NFL history.  Certainly not me.

Uh hem, Packers.  History started before 2000.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Two 3-1 series collapses and 31 unanswered Super Bowl points.

Plus Jenkins buzzer beater for Nova and Clemson in football. Quite a calendar year for sports championships.

[warriorchick]

Uh hem, Packers.  History started before 2000.

Exactly.  I don't recall Boston ever being called "Titletown."

[tower912]

I was rooting for the patriots simply because I dislike Roger so much.   I wasn't mad that Atlanta was kicking butt for 3 quarters, merely disappointed that I wouldn't get to see the trophy presentation to NE.   

[wadesworld]

Plus Jenkins buzzer beater for Nova and Clemson in football. Quite a calendar year for sports championships.

I just meant that it was a lot of 3s and 1s involved there.

[GGGG]

Couldn't agree more. The ultimate choke job, biggest of all time, on the game's biggest stage. 

All around - coaches, offense and especially the defense. 31 points in 21 minutes? Even a Caper's defense couldn't have done that. Defensive play calling was unbelievably brutal. Seemed as though they said - we got it won, so just sit back and play as vanilla as possible. No effort to make any changes as NE rolled time after time after time after time.

Actually they should have been more vanilla.  3rd and 1, they pass and Ryan gets stripped sacked.  Next possession after the Julio catch, they lose 13 yards on a sack.

BTW, for as bad as those play calls were Matt Ryan simply cannot turn the ball over and take that sack in those situations.  For as good as he played, he has to know better than that.

[Eldon]

Was it just me, or did 98% of America wake up and mutter "effing Patriots cheaters" this morning?

FTFY

[Eldon]

This. Of course. Absolutely unbelievable that they didn't just run (which they had done well all game) and, if stopped, kick the clinching FG. To me, this was SIGNIFICANTLY more stupid than Seattle trying a first-down pass at the goal line the last time NE won.

I have a friend with an online gambling account and I almost bet $250 on NE -3 and $100 on the over. But I chickened out. For 3Q+ I was happy I had chickened out, but the combination of Atlanta's idiotic play-calling and Brady being Brady would have made me a double-winner!

This is easy to say with hindsight.

Suppose that ATL runs 3 straight plays and gains a few yards.  Or perhaps they run three straight times and each results in a negative carry.  Say the kicker misses the field goal (or are perhaps pushed out of FG range from the negative carries).  And then Brady et al storm down field, score, etc.

People would have then said this about the ATL playcalling: "I just don't get it...ATL took its foot of their throats...they should have just played their game, stick with what was working...they stopped playing football and started playing clock management."

[MerrittsMustache]

Actually they should have been more vanilla.  3rd and 1, they pass and Ryan gets stripped sacked.  Next possession after the Julio catch, they lose 13 yards on a sack.

BTW, for as bad as those play calls were Matt Ryan simply cannot turn the ball over and take that sack in those situations.  For as good as he played, he has to know better than that.

The biggest problem I had with the play call that resulted in the strip-sack was Atl's formation.  It was 3rd and 1 and Ryan was in the shotgun with Freeman lined up 2 yards behind the right tackle. They're not running out of that. You're not going to catch a DB (or a blitzing LB!) hesitating or peeking into the backfield for a split-second. It was a pass all the way. Not only that but there were no short routes. No slant, no pick, no out. Every receiver was 7+ yards down field when Ryan got hit. Even if they throw a short incompletion or get stuffed on a run, they're punting from the 35 and likely pinning NE around the 20 with under 8 to play and a 16-point lead.

I definitely agree that Ryan has to know better than to take a sack but he shouldn't be put in that situation to begin with. A seven-step drop when you cannot afford to take a sack? Inexcusable.

The Pats did everything they needed to do to win and the Falcons did everything they needed to do to lose.

This is easy to say with hindsight.

Suppose that ATL runs 3 straight plays and gains a few yards.  Or perhaps they run three straight times and each results in a negative carry.  Say the kicker misses the field goal (or are perhaps pushed out of FG range from the negative carries).  And then Brady et al storm down field, score, etc.

People would have then said this about the ATL playcalling: "I just don't get it...ATL took its foot of their throats...they should have just played their game, stick with what was working...they stopped playing football and started playing clock management."

1) They were at the 23 yard line. Bryant's long on the season was 59 (he made 34 of 37 FGs). They'd have to have some terrible running plays to be driven back 20 yards on 3 carries.

2) The running game was working for the Falcons. They were averaging 6 yds/carry. Not to mention they were #5 in the NFL in rushing yards and had the 4th-leading rusher in the NFC.

[wadesworld]

This is easy to say with hindsight.

Suppose that ATL runs 3 straight plays and gains a few yards.  Or perhaps they run three straight times and each results in a negative carry.  Say the kicker misses the field goal (or are perhaps pushed out of FG range from the negative carries).  And then Brady et al storm down field, score, etc.

People would have then said this about the ATL playcalling: "I just don't get it...ATL took its foot of their throats...they should have just played their game, stick with what was working...they stopped playing football and started playing clock management."

I'd take my chances kneeling the ball 4 times (meaning an intentional turnover on downs) over what the Falcons did.  At least they would've forced the Pats to take their timeouts and you're still up 8 with around 3 minutes left.

I'll take my chances that my NFL kicker can make a 40-46 (if you assume 0 to negative 2 yards per carry after the Jones catch) yard field goal to go up 11 and leave NE with 0 timeouts and a little over 3 minutes left.  If the kicker misses and it's an 8 point game that's on the kicker, not on the coach.  Nobody is blaming Mike Zimmer for not getting the football into the end zone against the Seahawks last year.  They're blaming Blair Walsh for missing a 26 yard field goal, and rightfully so.

[Dish]

Didn't help that in the 4th quarter with game clock running, Falcons consistently snapped the ball with 15 seconds to go on the play clock.