By John Sarianides
In honor of the NFL Network re-airing the five Patriots Super Bowl wins, we are going to give you five thoughts on each game.
Super Bowl 36: Patriots 20 Rams 17
1. Tom Brady was truly a game manager in this game. He completed 16-27 for 145 yards and a touchdown pass. The Patriots rushed for 133 yards in the game. Antwan Smith had 18 of those carries for 92 yards.
2. The Patriots were in a lot 21 and 22 personnel. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis did everything he could to help the defense by running the ball and controlling the clock.
3. The Patriots got so much out of defensive veterans such as Otis Smith, Bobby Hamilton, Roman Phifer, Bryan Cox and Terrell Buckley. They complemented Tedy Bruschi, Willie McGinest, Richard Seymour and Ty Law well.
4. The Patriots defensive game plan against the Rams was one for the ages. Bill Belichick and Romeo Crennel held arguably the most potent offense in league history up until that point to three points in three quarters. Unbelievable.
5. Tom Brady literally hit running back JR Redmond on four check downs and completed two passes to Jermaine Wiggins and Troy Brown on the game winning drive. The game winning Drive is stil remarkable to me. John Madden thought the Patriots should have played for over time.
Super Bowl 38: Patriots 32 Panthers 29
1. People forget that Super Bowl 38 was scoreless for the first quarter and a half. There was 24 point explosion by both teams in the last four minutes of the half. A Mike Vrabel strip sack started the barrage. Brady hit Deion Branch on a five yard touchdown pass to start the scoring.
2. It took almost the entire half but the Panthers eventually started targeting Tyrone Poole and the Panthers started taking advantage of it. Poole had help over the top from Rodney Harrison but it wasn’t enough.
3. Super Bowl 38 was a coming out party for wide receivers Deion Branch and David Givens. Branch had 10 catches for 143 yards and a touchdown. Givens only had 5 catches for 69 yards and a touchdown but he made a couple of big catches on the Patriots go ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.
4. Charlie Weis called a great game in the second half, particularly in the fourth quarter. We witnessed the transformation of Tom Brady from game manager to franchise quarterback. Brady finish the game with 354 yards and 3 touchdown passes.
Brady did throw a costly red zone interception in the fourth quarter. Had the Patriots scored a touchdown on that possession, it would put them up by 12 with eight minutes left.
5. You forget how good the Patriots and Panthers were defensively going into this game. Both units finished in the top ten in total defense. The Patriots were first overall in total defense while the Panthers were tenth.
In the fourth quarter however, both defenses fell apart. Neither defense tackled worth crap and both gave up big plays.
Super Bowl 39: Patriots 24 Eagles 21
1. The game was scoreless in the first quarter. The Eagles actually scored first when Donovan McNabb hit L.J Smith on a 6 yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.
After a Tom Brady fumble halted a potential scoring drive earlier in the quarter. The Patriots responded and tied the game right before the end of the half when Tom Brady hit David Givens on a 4 yard touchdown pass.
2. Speaking of McNabb. He had a great season in 2004 and was playing well in the playoffs but he struggled in this game. He threw an ill advised interception in the first quarter that halted an Eagles drive. McNabb threw three interceptions in the game.
3. It is easy to forget that both Ty Law and Tyrone Poole were hurt and did not play in this game. Asante Samuel and Randall Gay played well in relief. Troy Brown was the nickel back. Remember that? That is why Brown is so beloved by Patriots fans.
4. The Patriots scoring on the opening drive of the second half was the turning point of this game. Mike Vrabel’s acrobatic touchdown catch gave the Patriots the lead. By the way, Vrabel mocking the Eagles with the wing flapping was awesome.
5. The Patriots took control of this game in the second half going up 24-14. Philadelphia scored late to make it 24-21 but Rodney Harrison sealed the deal with his late interception of McNabb.
Super Bowl 49: Patriots 28 Seahawks 24
1. Per usual, the Patriots got off to a slow start offensively in the first quarter of a Super Bowl. Tom Brady and company were on the brink of scoring right before the end of the quarter but Brady threw an ugly/costly interception to Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane.
Ironically enough, Lane broke his wrist on the play and missed the rest of the game.
2. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels neutralized the effectiveness of the Legion of Boom by using crossing routes and quick routes to the flat in this game. McDaniels was able to get Julian Edelman, Danny Anendola and Shane Vereen in space one on one against the Seahawks defenders and allowed them to make plays.
3. The Patriots did a great job defensively of keeping Russell Wilson in the pocket in the first half. Wilson started getting comfortable in the pocket in the second half and the Seahawks did a good job of protecting him.
4. The Patriots really struggled with Seattle’s size at receiver. Chris Matthews scored right before the end of the first half and Jermaine Kearse made a ridiculous catch that put Seattle in position to win the game late.
5. Malcolm Butler’s interception still gives me goosebumps. What a play!
Super Bowl 51: Patriots 34 Falcons 28 (OT)
1. The Patriots once again got off to a slow start in the first quarter. In fact, the Patriots got off to a slow start for the half. Atlanta dominated the first half in all three phases of the game.
2. The Patriots had major protection issues throughout the first half but thanks to a prolonged half time, Offensive Line Coach Dante Scarnecchia was able to fix some of those issues and the offensive line did a great job of protecting Brady in the second half.
3. The turning point of this game occurred at the 8:34 mark of the fourth quarter. With Atlanta up 28-12, the Falcons were facing a 3rd and 1. Atlanta decided to throw the ball. Dont’a Hightower sacked Matt Ryan, stripped him and recovered the fumble. It led to a Patriots touchdown and two point conversation that got them within eight.
4. James White had a performance for the ages. White had 14 catches and 119 receiving yards and scored three touchdowns. The Falcons couldn’t match up with White as he morphed into J.R Redmond/Shane Vereen all in one.
5. Tom Brady’s greatness was on full display in the second half. He willed the Patriots to a Super Bowl title.
Brady was an assasin in the fourth quarter and in overtime. He picked apart a Falcons defense that was gassed. TB12 was a played like the football God that he is.