This is not the way they would have preferred to go out, just plain giving the game and their crown away.
The Patriots are men enough to accept defeat. Had the Broncos gone out and just plain outplayed them, the men from New England would have tipped the ol’ fedoras and offered proper congratulations. But that is not what happened Saturday night at Invesco Field at Mile High.
What happened before 76,238 enraptured, orange-clad observers was that the New England Patriots curiously, inexplicably and terminally imploded. They turned the ball over five times, four of them directly leading to the Broncos’ first 24 points in a 27-13 Broncos’ victory, sending the Broncos into the AFC Championship game against today’s Indy-Pittsburgh victor next Sunday.
That’s not cryin’. That’s just explainin’. It was one weird ballgame.
The Patriots did what many NFL experts doubted they could do, which is take away the run from the Broncos. Running the football is the Broncos’ identity. But last night all they could manage from their ballyhooed ground game was 96 yards, the final 19 in garbage time.
Taking away the run was supposed to mean that quarterback Jake Plummer would have to win the game. That didn’t happen, either. He wasn’t much of a threat, either via his arm (15-for-26, 197 yards) or by his legs (8 yards).
In the end, none of this mattered. Who needs an offense when either by fumbles (two unforced, one quasi-forced) or interception (one a super ballhawking move by the great Champ Bailey) you are able to score on “drives” of 40 (39 of them coming on a highly dubious pass interference call on Asante Samuel), 7, 1 and 15 yards? Jake gets no credit for this.
In fact, no one on the Denver offense gets no credit for this.
Did Denver deserve to win? Oh, absolutely. These are the NFL playoffs, and turnovers have been historically important. The Patriots have won big playoff games in this run by turning that ball over and by taking the ball away and then making the defense pay. That’s life in the playoffs.
But when things happen the way they did Saturday, you start thinking that some things are just meant to be. Kevin Faulk was losing control of the ball before he was even hit when he fumbled the ball over at his own 40 with the Pats leading, 3-0 and 1:51 remaining in the half. Two plays later back judge Greg Steed generously awarded a pass interference penalty to Ashley Lelie in the end zone, thus placing the ball at the Pats’ one.
On the ensuing kickoff, Ellis Hobbs was coming out of a spin at the end of a nice return when he, too, was separated from the ball, by, of all people, punter/kickoff man Todd Sauerbrun at the New England 39. That led to a Jason Elam field goal.
Turnover No. 3 was no fluke, however, and it was a killer.
The Broncos were about to find themselves either behind, 13-10, or shakily in front by a 10-9 score as Tom Brady approached the line of scrimmage on a third and 5 at the Denver 5 in the third period. But Champ Bailey, subject of a long, adoring oration by Bill Belichick earlier in the week, leaped in front of Troy Brown, picked off the ball and took off for the end zone, making it all the way to the New England 1 before a hustling Benjamin Watson delivered a tremendous blow from behind, knocking Bailey and the football far out of bounds. The Pats challenged, hoping for a touchback, but the call was upheld.
The final turnover summed it all up. When has anyone ever seen Troy Brown fumble away a punt? Yup, Troy Brown. Well, ladies and gentlemen, Troy Brown did drop a punt in the fourth quarter. On his own 15! That led to another Elam field goal, making it 24-6 and pretty much ensuring that the Patriots would soon be ex-champs.
Patriots’ fans are hereby granted 24 hours to commiserate over the bizarre nature of this particular loss. After that, it’s time to reflect on what we have all just lived through. The New England Patriots have taken their place at the top of the all-time New England great teams list, alongside the Russell Celtics. Winning is one thing, but becoming a standard of excellence for all teams – in all sports – is another. That is what the Patriots have done.
One wacky evening in Denver cannot change that. Someone will win Super Bowl XL, and when it’s over people will say, “Good luck trying to catch up to the Patriots.”
