Freeman was fantastic early scoring the 1st TD Melt down. It was an all time, colossal melt down. Chernobyl had nothing on the Falcons last Sunday. The embers of which still smolder. Only Sherman's march to the Sea was a more crushing defeat for the Atlanta populace.
For every hero in a legendary tale there has to be a goat. In time, people will still recall how Brady, the greatest QB of all time (how I hate to say that - I need to wash mouth out with Clorox), led the biggest, by far comeback in Super Bowl history. Statues will be put in the parks in his honor. Epic poems will be written.
But fans will someday scratch their heads trying to remember who he beat. It will become the tie breaker question in trivia contests. In the ATL, we will know full well the answer. Time will heal the wound but the scar will remain.
Of course, for a greatest comeback to occur someone has to take a great lead.
The party at Dan’s was off to a rip roaring start. Davonta Freeman (and my early pick for MVP) was on fire early. His first run goes for 37 yards. If New England can’t contain Freeman it’s going to be a long night for Patriot fans.
For every hero in a legendary tale there has to be a goat. In time, people will still recall how Brady, the greatest QB of all time (how I hate to say that - I need to wash mouth out with Clorox), led the biggest, by far comeback in Super Bowl history. Statues will be put in the parks in his honor. Epic poems will be written.
But fans will someday scratch their heads trying to remember who he beat. It will become the tie breaker question in trivia contests. In the ATL, we will know full well the answer. Time will heal the wound but the scar will remain.
Of course, for a greatest comeback to occur someone has to take a great lead.
The party at Dan’s was off to a rip roaring start. Davonta Freeman (and my early pick for MVP) was on fire early. His first run goes for 37 yards. If New England can’t contain Freeman it’s going to be a long night for Patriot fans.
Hooper made it 14-0 Midway through the second quarter, Freeman rushes three straight times taking it the last 29 yards of the drive. TD! 7-0 Atlanta.
It's only the second quarter and Freeman had over 80 yards. The Falcons were gashing the #3 rushing defense in the NFL.
Then, with the Pats trying to cover Julio and Davonta, Ryan hits Austin Hooper 14-0 good guys!
An 82 yard pick six – 21-0!! Atlanta is destroying the Evil Empire. The Rebel Alliance lives. The Force was with us.
It's only the second quarter and Freeman had over 80 yards. The Falcons were gashing the #3 rushing defense in the NFL.
Then, with the Pats trying to cover Julio and Davonta, Ryan hits Austin Hooper 14-0 good guys!
An 82 yard pick six – 21-0!! Atlanta is destroying the Evil Empire. The Rebel Alliance lives. The Force was with us.
Alford blew by Mr Bunchen for a pick 6 - 21-0!! By now we were paying more attention to our squares and the prop bet poster I had built for the game. A scoreless quarter at 5-1 odds was off the board putting my over in jeopardy. Nick texted - that’s seven straight Super Bowls that the Patriots hadn’t scored in the first quarter. Good one.
The pick six scored at least four prop bets. Would there be a non offensive TD at 3-1; would Brady throw a pick at +130; the first turnover will be a pick -140 and longest TD went over 49.5 yards. Huge play in so many ways.
Mrs Bruce and Mrs H were chiming in with more updates. Another sack! That makes five making it over four….and the game isn’t half over. Wow! First challenge is by the Falcons! -110. First score is a TD! -190. First score is by Atlanta!! +110. Mrs Bruce went even as far as to time the national anthem. It was under by 2 seconds. We were having a blast.
The pick six scored at least four prop bets. Would there be a non offensive TD at 3-1; would Brady throw a pick at +130; the first turnover will be a pick -140 and longest TD went over 49.5 yards. Huge play in so many ways.
Mrs Bruce and Mrs H were chiming in with more updates. Another sack! That makes five making it over four….and the game isn’t half over. Wow! First challenge is by the Falcons! -110. First score is a TD! -190. First score is by Atlanta!! +110. Mrs Bruce went even as far as to time the national anthem. It was under by 2 seconds. We were having a blast.
Brady was under siege throughout the first half Beverages and food were being consumed at a frantic pace. Bruce was six lemon squares past his limit. His huge smile was edged by sugar powder sprinkles in the corners. Mrs Doofus made sure to point out that I was wearing some of my home made dill dip down my pants. A near miss.
A Pats FG screwed up my square at the half. I had Falcons 1 Pats 0 but the FG made it 21-3. Crap. Typical of my luck this year.
Still, it was 21-3. This game had blow out all over it. The Falcons were getting to Brady, he was throwing bad passes and the Falcons were running up and down the field.
Our thoughts turned to what kind of show would Lady Gaga bring and how good were the commercials going to be.
Great on both counts. This was going to be a fantastic Super Bowl!
A Pats FG screwed up my square at the half. I had Falcons 1 Pats 0 but the FG made it 21-3. Crap. Typical of my luck this year.
Still, it was 21-3. This game had blow out all over it. The Falcons were getting to Brady, he was throwing bad passes and the Falcons were running up and down the field.
Our thoughts turned to what kind of show would Lady Gaga bring and how good were the commercials going to be.
Great on both counts. This was going to be a fantastic Super Bowl!
Coleman makes it 28-3 The third quarter kept things going. Atlanta gets another TD. It’s 28-3 with 8 minutes left in the third. ESPN calculates that Atlanta has a 99.8% chance of winning the game.
It didn’t register at the time but that was the same odds as Michigan had versus State in 2015. Oh, he has trouble with the snap!
New England, finally goes on a great drive to score their first TD but it takes a full precious six minutes off the clock. And they miss the PAT +270. We were still into the prop board. That will mess up everyone's squares too.
Joe texted – it’s a doink so it's still worth a point right? Would be if we were in charge.
No one realized it at the time but the game started to turn on the next series. New England tries the onside kick but botches it when the kicker touches the ball. Not only does Atlanta get the ball they get another five yards on the penalty. First and 10 at the New England 41. A pass gets it to the Patriot 32 - 2nd and 1. OK Falcons, run the ball, kick a FG and this game is ovah!
It didn’t register at the time but that was the same odds as Michigan had versus State in 2015. Oh, he has trouble with the snap!
New England, finally goes on a great drive to score their first TD but it takes a full precious six minutes off the clock. And they miss the PAT +270. We were still into the prop board. That will mess up everyone's squares too.
Joe texted – it’s a doink so it's still worth a point right? Would be if we were in charge.
No one realized it at the time but the game started to turn on the next series. New England tries the onside kick but botches it when the kicker touches the ball. Not only does Atlanta get the ball they get another five yards on the penalty. First and 10 at the New England 41. A pass gets it to the Patriot 32 - 2nd and 1. OK Falcons, run the ball, kick a FG and this game is ovah!
A strip sack put the melt down into high gear But they didn’t. Two penalties and a sack later and Atlanta is punting from their own 44. With the ball in their hands and a slam dunk chance to put the game away, the Falcons blew it.
New England gets the ball at their 13 and methodically drive to the Falcon 7. 1st and goal.
We were cheering as loud as we had all night. Got to make a stop!
Sack! 2nd and goal.
A short pass makes it 3rd and goal and then sack again!! The defense was rising to the occasion. They held Brady to a FG. It’s 28-12 with 9 minutes left.
The defense was doing their part - just need one more score.
New England gets the ball at their 13 and methodically drive to the Falcon 7. 1st and goal.
We were cheering as loud as we had all night. Got to make a stop!
Sack! 2nd and goal.
A short pass makes it 3rd and goal and then sack again!! The defense was rising to the occasion. They held Brady to a FG. It’s 28-12 with 9 minutes left.
The defense was doing their part - just need one more score.
Julio made a great catch to put the Falcons in scoring position If the last Falcon drive started the melt down the next one pulled out all the control rods. Atlanta gets the ball at their 27. They try burning clock with two straight rushes which net 9 yards. 3rd and 1. Pound out one more yard and they can take a few more minutes off the clock. Time to put this game away.
Ryan drops back and strip sack! Nooooooo! Ryan coughs it up at his 25. New England has life after all. This can’t be happening.
5 plays later Brady scores again. Not only that, they get the 2 point conversion. It’s 28-20. A one possession game.
Time for the NFL’s number one offense to win the game. A brilliant catch by Julio gets it to the Patriot 22 – first and ten.
All riiiiiight!!! Just run it a couple of times, burn some clock and....put….this….game….away!!
But it was too late. The control rods had been removed. The meltdown process had surpassed critical.
Ryan gets sacked for a loss of 12. A nine yard run is brought back by a holding penalty. And with an incomplete pass, what was 1st down at the 22 is now 4th down at the 45. It was the drive that lost the game for Atlanta.
Ryan drops back and strip sack! Nooooooo! Ryan coughs it up at his 25. New England has life after all. This can’t be happening.
5 plays later Brady scores again. Not only that, they get the 2 point conversion. It’s 28-20. A one possession game.
Time for the NFL’s number one offense to win the game. A brilliant catch by Julio gets it to the Patriot 22 – first and ten.
All riiiiiight!!! Just run it a couple of times, burn some clock and....put….this….game….away!!
But it was too late. The control rods had been removed. The meltdown process had surpassed critical.
Ryan gets sacked for a loss of 12. A nine yard run is brought back by a holding penalty. And with an incomplete pass, what was 1st down at the 22 is now 4th down at the 45. It was the drive that lost the game for Atlanta.
But Edelman made one for the ages to keep the drive alive Atlanta punts. Brady gets his chance to become the greatest ever.
Football is a team sport and greatness takes more than one player. If Brady is throwing the ball someone has to catch it.
Brady hits Julian Edelman on the what is probably the greatest Super Bowl catch of all time. A beautiful catch off a deflection, grab off the defenders leg, bobble and then catch again before hitting the ground completion. Amazing
Atlanta challenged the play stopping the clock. But it was a mistake. The catch fantastic and easily upheld. And Atlanta had stopped the clock.
Football is a team sport and greatness takes more than one player. If Brady is throwing the ball someone has to catch it.
Brady hits Julian Edelman on the what is probably the greatest Super Bowl catch of all time. A beautiful catch off a deflection, grab off the defenders leg, bobble and then catch again before hitting the ground completion. Amazing
Atlanta challenged the play stopping the clock. But it was a mistake. The catch fantastic and easily upheld. And Atlanta had stopped the clock.
Amendola makes the catch for the two point conversion. We are tied. By now, the Falcon defense was exhausted. They were no longer pressuring Brady and he was easily dicing up the secondary.
With 57 seconds left New England scores and more importantly gets the 2 point conversion. We are tied.
Atlanta had blown a 25 point lead.
Now it was Matt Ryan's chance to write the legend. He gets the ball at the 11 yard line with no time outs left. Another miscue from the challenge of Edelman's catch, it used up Atlanta's final time out.
Ryan, the league's MVP, the QB who rewrote the record book in 2016, had his chance. It was a drive that could make him a hero. A drive that Brady, Peyton, Aaron and Montana have all made. Multiple times. Ones that put them in the Hall.
Matty Ice is going to have to wait on that invite. He goes four and out. We are headed to OT.
"Game went into OT - that's 7 to 1". No one seemed interested in the prop bets anymore. Shock had set in.
With 57 seconds left New England scores and more importantly gets the 2 point conversion. We are tied.
Atlanta had blown a 25 point lead.
Now it was Matt Ryan's chance to write the legend. He gets the ball at the 11 yard line with no time outs left. Another miscue from the challenge of Edelman's catch, it used up Atlanta's final time out.
Ryan, the league's MVP, the QB who rewrote the record book in 2016, had his chance. It was a drive that could make him a hero. A drive that Brady, Peyton, Aaron and Montana have all made. Multiple times. Ones that put them in the Hall.
Matty Ice is going to have to wait on that invite. He goes four and out. We are headed to OT.
"Game went into OT - that's 7 to 1". No one seemed interested in the prop bets anymore. Shock had set in.
James White punches it in from the 2 to win the first OT in the Super Bowl Mrs Doofus says I can be a jerk at times. Guilty as charged. Because it was then that I remembered Bruce giving me all kinds of grief before the game. He was jerking my chain on how he was going to start his own blog and all it would be was making the opposite of my picks. Bettors would clean up. Couldn't argue with that logic. Not this year at least.
I turned to Bruce and said "Looks like my prop bet for the game being 6 points either way is going to pay off" It was like the Roman guard stabbing Bruce in the side. He collapsed on the side of his chair.
"Not only that but my bet on the over is in the bag too!" He practically went fetal.
See, I'm not a jerk. I just see the bright side of things.
Atlanta had won the toss to begin the game. New England would win the more important coin toss. The one to get the ball first in OT.
They opt to receive (make a note of that Lions). Brady now gets his chance for the final drive - the one Ryan couldn't make.
It was never really in doubt. Not this QB and not against an exhausted defense. New England cruises 75 yards without missing a beat and score the first winning TD in OT in Super Bowl history.
Atlanta never had a chance.They never got to touch the ball. They blew a 25 point lead. They lost 34-28.
The parades are still going on in Boston. The fans are still cheering, the tales of glory still being written. But where are the stories for the Atlanta fans. Somehow, wait until next year seems too shallow. No, this tale requires us to be Goliath, the larger than life foe. To make the hero bigger, the opponent (not the villain thank you) needs to be bigger too.
Just not sure that is how the story will be written. But we know how it went down.
Rise Up Atlanta. Now is the time to Rise Up.
I turned to Bruce and said "Looks like my prop bet for the game being 6 points either way is going to pay off" It was like the Roman guard stabbing Bruce in the side. He collapsed on the side of his chair.
"Not only that but my bet on the over is in the bag too!" He practically went fetal.
See, I'm not a jerk. I just see the bright side of things.
Atlanta had won the toss to begin the game. New England would win the more important coin toss. The one to get the ball first in OT.
They opt to receive (make a note of that Lions). Brady now gets his chance for the final drive - the one Ryan couldn't make.
It was never really in doubt. Not this QB and not against an exhausted defense. New England cruises 75 yards without missing a beat and score the first winning TD in OT in Super Bowl history.
Atlanta never had a chance.They never got to touch the ball. They blew a 25 point lead. They lost 34-28.
The parades are still going on in Boston. The fans are still cheering, the tales of glory still being written. But where are the stories for the Atlanta fans. Somehow, wait until next year seems too shallow. No, this tale requires us to be Goliath, the larger than life foe. To make the hero bigger, the opponent (not the villain thank you) needs to be bigger too.
Just not sure that is how the story will be written. But we know how it went down.
Rise Up Atlanta. Now is the time to Rise Up.
