5 forgotten plays that won the Patriots the game
As is usually the case in a game as close as this one, all of the focus tends to shift to that final game winning play. Whether that's a kick, a touchdown, an interception, a fumble - it becomes the story of the game. Deservedly so, of course.
However, we shouldn't ignore the key plays that came before such a play and the players that made them.
Alfonzo Dennard, Kyle Arrington, Chandler Jones, Julian Edelman and Austin Collie. All five of those players came up with some huge plays to set up the Patriots in the position to win the game. Here are the plays:
1. Alfonzo Dennard's pass breakup
There were so many clutch plays it's hard to say where this one deserves to be ranked, but it's certainly right at the top. Dennard failed to defend a 3rd and 20 bomb to Kenny Stills that gave the Saints the go-ahead score earlier in the game, but he certainly made up for it with this one.
After the Patriots failed on fourth down, they gave the Saints the ball back deep into Patriots territory. With the Saints at the Patriots' 21 yard yard line, on 3rd and 7 and with 2:31 left in the game, the Patriots needed to not only stop them short of the first down, but also keep them out of the endzone. Alfonzo Dennard single-handedly made sure the team did both.
Brees threw at the much bigger Colston down the left sideline but Alfonzo Dennard was there with the beautiful pass breakup. He plays that any different, it might be six, and that might've been the game right there. It was the kind of play we routinely saw completed on the Patriots last season. Dennard deserves many props for the clutch play, dispite him being the victim earlier.
2. Kyle Arrington's interception
Teams don't often win games without winning the turnover battle, and with 12:20 left in the fourth quarter Sunday, Kyle Arrington tipped that in the Patriots' favor.
Brees had just been sacked by Chandler Jones on the prior play, and he felt the pressure coming again on the ensuing third and 12. Brees' pass intended for a hobbled Jimmy Graham soared too high and landed in the hands of Kyle Arrington. The play put the Patriots at the Saints' 20 yard line, and while the team wasn't able to get a touchdown out of it, their third field goal of the game ended up being the final difference in the game.
3. Chandler Jones stops Drew Brees
Another key play on a third down for this Patriots defense. This was the second time the Saints had gotten the ball back after Brady threw an interception following the Saints field goal earlier. With 2 minutes left in the game and the Saints again facing a third and 7, Chandler Jones made sure they went three and out for the second time, giving the Patriots the ball back.
The Saints tried some trickery on this play, perhaps seeing Peyton Manning waltz into the endzone the week prior on a quarterback keeper. New Orleans thought they might catch New England off guard, letting Brees waltz his way to a first down and seal a Saints victory. You can question the play call, but you can't question the effort of Jones, who made it look like a bad play call.
Brees ran to his left with plenty of open field ahead of him. If Jones hadn't caught up with him, tackling him 5 yards behind the line, he would've easily picked up the first down. In that play, Jones was all that was standing between Drew Brees and a Saints victory. He delivered.
4. Julian Edelman's 23 yard catch
This may be the most forgotten play of the day, but it was key. The Patriots got their third and final chance to win the game with just over a minute remaining in the game. The only passes they had completed on the previous two drives was to Michael Hoomanawanui and the other team. On the first play of the game, Brady went deep down the middle to Julian Edelman, who hauled in the catch and boosted the confidence of the team, instilling some hope with time quickly running off the clock.
"I would say that catch to Julian [Edelman] on the first play of that series was as big a play as we’ve had all season," Tom Brady told WEEI this morning. "Because without that play, you’re really in the hole. That’s a really clutch play by Julian to make that."
5. Austin Collie's fourth down conversion
This was probably the coolest story of the game. With Danny Amendola injured, recently signed Austin Collie was forced off the bench and thrown into the fire in extreme pressure situations.
Austin, welcome to the Patriots.
Immediately after the Julian Edelman catch, Collie picked up a first down for 15 yards but things seemed to be stalling after that.
A quick pass to Aaron Dobson grabbed the Patriots 6 yards and stopped the clock, but the next two passes fell incomplete, bringing up fourth and 4. Miss this pass, and the game ends.
Again it was Collie with the conversion, picking up nine yards. The next pass was the game winning touchdown to Kenbrell Thompkins.
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So, those are the five key plays that I feel won the Patriots the game, other than the game winning touchdown pass of course. Tom Brady and Thompkins deserve all the love in the world for the last play, but let's not forget the play of the defense, holding the Saints to two three and outs, and the other unheralded receivers who put the Pats into position for the miraculous comeback.
However, we shouldn't ignore the key plays that came before such a play and the players that made them.
Alfonzo Dennard, Kyle Arrington, Chandler Jones, Julian Edelman and Austin Collie. All five of those players came up with some huge plays to set up the Patriots in the position to win the game. Here are the plays:
1. Alfonzo Dennard's pass breakup
There were so many clutch plays it's hard to say where this one deserves to be ranked, but it's certainly right at the top. Dennard failed to defend a 3rd and 20 bomb to Kenny Stills that gave the Saints the go-ahead score earlier in the game, but he certainly made up for it with this one.
After the Patriots failed on fourth down, they gave the Saints the ball back deep into Patriots territory. With the Saints at the Patriots' 21 yard yard line, on 3rd and 7 and with 2:31 left in the game, the Patriots needed to not only stop them short of the first down, but also keep them out of the endzone. Alfonzo Dennard single-handedly made sure the team did both.
Brees threw at the much bigger Colston down the left sideline but Alfonzo Dennard was there with the beautiful pass breakup. He plays that any different, it might be six, and that might've been the game right there. It was the kind of play we routinely saw completed on the Patriots last season. Dennard deserves many props for the clutch play, dispite him being the victim earlier.
2. Kyle Arrington's interception
Teams don't often win games without winning the turnover battle, and with 12:20 left in the fourth quarter Sunday, Kyle Arrington tipped that in the Patriots' favor.
Brees had just been sacked by Chandler Jones on the prior play, and he felt the pressure coming again on the ensuing third and 12. Brees' pass intended for a hobbled Jimmy Graham soared too high and landed in the hands of Kyle Arrington. The play put the Patriots at the Saints' 20 yard line, and while the team wasn't able to get a touchdown out of it, their third field goal of the game ended up being the final difference in the game.
3. Chandler Jones stops Drew Brees
Another key play on a third down for this Patriots defense. This was the second time the Saints had gotten the ball back after Brady threw an interception following the Saints field goal earlier. With 2 minutes left in the game and the Saints again facing a third and 7, Chandler Jones made sure they went three and out for the second time, giving the Patriots the ball back.
The Saints tried some trickery on this play, perhaps seeing Peyton Manning waltz into the endzone the week prior on a quarterback keeper. New Orleans thought they might catch New England off guard, letting Brees waltz his way to a first down and seal a Saints victory. You can question the play call, but you can't question the effort of Jones, who made it look like a bad play call.
Brees ran to his left with plenty of open field ahead of him. If Jones hadn't caught up with him, tackling him 5 yards behind the line, he would've easily picked up the first down. In that play, Jones was all that was standing between Drew Brees and a Saints victory. He delivered.
4. Julian Edelman's 23 yard catch
This may be the most forgotten play of the day, but it was key. The Patriots got their third and final chance to win the game with just over a minute remaining in the game. The only passes they had completed on the previous two drives was to Michael Hoomanawanui and the other team. On the first play of the game, Brady went deep down the middle to Julian Edelman, who hauled in the catch and boosted the confidence of the team, instilling some hope with time quickly running off the clock.
"I would say that catch to Julian [Edelman] on the first play of that series was as big a play as we’ve had all season," Tom Brady told WEEI this morning. "Because without that play, you’re really in the hole. That’s a really clutch play by Julian to make that."
5. Austin Collie's fourth down conversion
This was probably the coolest story of the game. With Danny Amendola injured, recently signed Austin Collie was forced off the bench and thrown into the fire in extreme pressure situations.
Austin, welcome to the Patriots.
Immediately after the Julian Edelman catch, Collie picked up a first down for 15 yards but things seemed to be stalling after that.
A quick pass to Aaron Dobson grabbed the Patriots 6 yards and stopped the clock, but the next two passes fell incomplete, bringing up fourth and 4. Miss this pass, and the game ends.
Again it was Collie with the conversion, picking up nine yards. The next pass was the game winning touchdown to Kenbrell Thompkins.
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So, those are the five key plays that I feel won the Patriots the game, other than the game winning touchdown pass of course. Tom Brady and Thompkins deserve all the love in the world for the last play, but let's not forget the play of the defense, holding the Saints to two three and outs, and the other unheralded receivers who put the Pats into position for the miraculous comeback.
