12/21/24
February 03, 2002
Pats win! Pats win! : And a lot of people lost money today... the Pats won this game with no doubt that they could match the Rams play for play, including the risky and gutsy push for a last second field goal attempt. Indeed, had that holding call not gone against the Pats during Jones' fumble/touchdown run, it would have been a blowout. Wow...
posted by hincandenza to football at 09:06 PM - 37 comments
and we would be watching overtime right now if the refs would have called the intentional grounding two plays or so before the field goal.
posted by howa2396 at 09:08 PM on February 03, 2002
Did that just happen?
posted by Succa at 09:10 PM on February 03, 2002
Field goal, nearly perfect. That was fun to watch.
posted by bjgeiger at 09:11 PM on February 03, 2002
And the Seventh Seal was opened, and lo, the Pats didst not choke mightily in the Great Bowl. And the mortals were sore afraid, for they did know that the end was at hand.
posted by Optamystic at 09:14 PM on February 03, 2002
There wasn't intentional grounding; he was outside the right tackle. Not by much, but he was.
Oh, and the Rams should be more in the Super Bowl more often, if this is (and the game against the Titans) are going to be typical...
posted by tieguy at 09:14 PM on February 03, 2002
And what's up with someone mentioning this place at metafilter? Is mentioning the site no longer verboten?
posted by tieguy at 09:16 PM on February 03, 2002
It's been linked to metafilter. Anyway, unbelievable.
posted by geoff at 09:17 PM on February 03, 2002
Great, GREAT game! Congrats, New England. You have your first championship in a major sport since, what, 1986 (Celtics)? Patriots dominated the Rams in the first half, withstood the Rams charge at the end and pulled it out. Vinatieri is now a legend in New England, for his two kicks against the Raiders in Snow Bowl, and his game-winner in SB 36. Also, a great year for the champion American football team to be called "Patiots".
posted by msacheson at 09:20 PM on February 03, 2002
"Dear Kurt, now will you stop talking about me?" - G.
posted by owillis at 09:20 PM on February 03, 2002
Wow. Someone I interviewed with on Friday is a Pats fan. Looks like I am going to have to send a brown-nosing congratulatory e-mail.
posted by adampsyche at 09:21 PM on February 03, 2002
Incredible. Congrats Pats!
posted by jacknose at 09:32 PM on February 03, 2002
Drew Bledsoe is one unhappy dude right now.
posted by Optamystic at 09:35 PM on February 03, 2002
Turns out Jesus is a pat's fan. =)
posted by justgary at 09:38 PM on February 03, 2002
Turns out Jesus is a pat's fan. Nope, just sick of Kurt Warner. I mean, Sunday is supposed to be His day of rest, but Warner's always bugging him to help win football games.
posted by yerfatma at 09:44 PM on February 03, 2002
what a great game. no, seriously, what a great game. the patriots played awesome defense, took advantage of their opportunities, refused to turn the ball over, or otherwise make horrible mistakes that would result in easy points for the rams. i'm sure that almost everyone, myself included, never counted the rams out, and were fully expecting them to come roaring back in the fourth quarter. but when they did, the patriots refused to roll over, opting instead to throw down the field in the closing moments. the football gods rewarded their chutzpah. way cool. way cool. one of the best ever. congrats all around.
posted by lescour at 09:56 PM on February 03, 2002
Drew Bledsoe is one unhappy dude right now. I don't think so. He's probably disappointed he didn't get to play in the big game, to be sure. Yet, he's getting a ring. The Pats wouldn't be there if he didn't play well in the Pittsburgh game last week. And Drew wouldn't be getting a ring without Brady and the other Pats. I think they all should be happy to be able to say they had a part in a Super Bowl winning season. Now, Terry Glenn. *HE* is (probably) one unhappy dude right now.
posted by msacheson at 10:19 PM on February 03, 2002
I'm sure he's happy for the team and whatnot, but wasn't he instrumental in blowing like three Super Bowls? To have this kid come in, take his starter gig, and win the most exciting game in memory, that's gotta sting a little.
posted by Optamystic at 10:56 PM on February 03, 2002
Pardon my ignorance, but why didn't they put Bledsoe in at all? Brady's taken over the proverbial torch? I know next to nothing about the Pats so try not to crucify me on this one. All I read about it is that Brady's quicker in all respects and younger too, albeit much less experienced. How old is Brady, anyway?
posted by evixir at 11:00 PM on February 03, 2002
One of the best Super Bowls I've ever seen. I admire the Rams for not giving in, and making two big drives to tie the game. But I love the Patriots' driving down to get the winning field goal. They played to win instead of playing not to lose, and they deserve to be the champs. The Patriots got physical and beat up on the Rams, but they also won the mental game. It must have been extremely tough for the Rams to go in losing big at halftime and being completely dominated, and even though a lot of stats don't mean anything, it was signifiant that the Rams were trailing by the biggest margin they'd experienced all season. The Rams never gave up, though (OK, until that last drive), but the Patriots were the better team today. evixir: Brady's been the starting quarterback since Bledsoe was injured early in the season. The Patriots went with the guy that got them there (although Bledsoe was huge coming off the bench to win the AFC Championship).
posted by kirkaracha at 11:04 PM on February 03, 2002
Optamystic: Three super bowls? Sure you're not thinking of Elway? Bledsoe has only played in one...
posted by tieguy at 11:07 PM on February 03, 2002
ah...my bad.
posted by Optamystic at 11:09 PM on February 03, 2002
there were several important plays in the game, but my wife (who isn't a football fan, but did predict the pats to win) and i both agree on this one. it's a tiny little play, unimportant in terms of actual points scored at the time. but near the end of the first half with the patriots set to kick off, the rams, trailing 14-3, chose to place marshall faulk deep to recieve. we both began immediately criticising this decision, as it basically signalled the patriots that the rams were *seriously concerned* about the situation. as the rams were heavy favorites, we felt this was a terribly revealing admission of lack of confidence in their basic unit's ability to get the job done. placing faulk back to receive indicated to the patriots that the rams, instead of being completely confident they would overcome this niggling 11 point deficeit, were instead starting to become desperate.
posted by lescour at 11:19 PM on February 03, 2002
Vinatieri is a total badass.
posted by catatonic at 11:39 PM on February 03, 2002
$100 says Bledsoe wears a Ravens uniform next year. What the hell does a kicker have to do to win MVP. 48 yards, under pressure?! Mad props to Vinnie. Best Super Bowl ever.
posted by McBain at 11:52 PM on February 03, 2002
McBain, I'd take that bet. Bledsoe'll go to Washington or Seattle next year, depending on who offers the best package. The current Ravens brain trust has too much pride to cut Elvis Grbac loose now. Jumpin' Geezus H - I'm still digesting it. Man Bites Dog. The Pats won, fair and square. And yeah, it was a hell of a game. Oh. I just gotta say - aside from the iced tea puppet rebellion, the ads were pretty lame compared to previous years. Nothing else stopped the conversation at our party, not even the darts-in-the-neck sandwich place.
posted by chicobangs at 12:25 AM on February 04, 2002
Bledsoe a Raven? Nahhh.... He'll be a Bear or Texan. At least that we he'll have somebody to throw the ball to.
posted by ttrendel at 12:26 AM on February 04, 2002
The 'Skins seem to be shopping for Brunell or Bledsoe. I'd love either one, 'bout time we had a real QB. You folks with good QBs: love them, cherish them, hold on to them. Because hell is going through Heath Shuler, Gus Ferrote and Tony Banks.
posted by owillis at 12:46 AM on February 04, 2002
owillis it can't be any worse then the hell that is Kordell. To have brought my Steelers to the point of ecstasy and then pull a Neil Odonnell, sorry folks, Belicheck did an unbeleivable job as coach. The Pats did everything right, and they didn't thank Jesus, God, Allah, or Budha.
posted by jbou at 01:23 AM on February 04, 2002
I thank God everyday for Daunte. If Randy would just grow up a little... I think my Vikes are going to suck for a bit yet though... At least the Pats (my other team) won to end my year on a high note.
posted by McBain at 01:31 AM on February 04, 2002
I feel your pain, McBain. The Vikings are a serious Super Bowl contender every 10 years or slow, then slide into mediocrity.
posted by kirkaracha at 02:01 AM on February 04, 2002
My nomination for most telling inconsequential play would be the Warner scramble that turned to a fumble that turned into a TD that turned into a defensive holding penalty. What convinced me the Rams were going to lose was Warner who looked as uncertain on that 6-7 yd jaunt as I've ever seen a football player look, not counting Garo Yepremian.
posted by pastepotpete at 02:02 AM on February 04, 2002
it can't be any worse then the hell that is Kordell Oy, oy, oy. 'Ello? You made the AFC Championship game. The 'Skins have made the playoffs ONCE in the past 10 years. Once. And they only won one game. Heath Shuler. As bad as Ryan Leaf is, he's still in the league. Heath is selling real estate. [let venomous rats feast on the soul of norv turner] Warner just looked out of it. And that fumble was beyond weak.
posted by owillis at 05:36 AM on February 04, 2002
The Patriots did a great job of forcing the Rams to work for points with a short-yardage game. The Rams seemed to lack the patience to pursue it. A few times, the Rams got to midfield and then took a couple shots deep, digging themselves into long third downs.
posted by rcade at 07:35 AM on February 04, 2002
great game ... but brady for mvp was a travesty. i voted for ty law on superbowl.com. the defense shut down the rams for 50 minutes and when warner did get some yards through the air at the end it wasn't to bruce/holt. law's interception return set the tone for the game. or, like McBain suggested, the mvp could have legitmately gone to vinatieri. but brady? 145 yards passing are mvp numbers? he had one clutch drive, he didn't turn the ball over ... commendable, but not deserving of mvp.
posted by danostuporstar at 07:57 AM on February 04, 2002
I wonder how the Cleveland Brownie fans are doing today? Last year, their good friend Art Modell rejoiced in his Ravens winning the Super Bowl and this year, Cleveland's most hated head coach, Bill Belichick, wins the big one. Only Modell not being elected to the hall of fame (located less than an hour from Cleveland) on Saturday kept this from being a trifecta.
posted by Jr at 11:41 AM on February 04, 2002
Maybe Mike Martz will finally lose that idiot smirk. "Max Q"? Maybe it should just be Max Queerness...heheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheh.... Alright, I'm done.
posted by ttrendel at 04:11 AM on February 05, 2002
Hats off to your team, they deserved it the way they played today. Nobody was more surprised than me that the game's highlight wasn't the Britney Pepsi commercial...