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The History of the New England Patriots by Jersey Number #5-#10

NUMBER FIVE

While Gostkowski and Vinatieri will go down as the two best kickers in Patriots history, Shayne Graham is a footnote of the 2010 season. When Gostkowski went down with an injury, the journeyman Graham stepped in admirably. He made all 14 of his field goal attempts in a Pats’ uniform. He is most well-known for being a Pro Bowl kicker for the Bengals.

NUMBER SIX

Ryan Allen just completed his fifth season as the Patriots punter. He was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and beat out Zoltan Mesko for the role. He has earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors twice and has performed very well under the pressure of playoff action. His best game was probably in Super Bowl XLIX against the Seahawks when he blasted a record 64-yard punt. In Super Bowl LII against the Eagles, New England’s offense was so unstoppable that Allen did not have to punt one time. Allen was in the ball game, however, as he struggled to place a poor snap on a first half field goal miss.

NUMBER SEVEN

There hasn’t been a lot of great talent wearing the #7 for New England over their 58-year history so we have to discuss two mediocre quarterbacks! Hugh Millen went 5-15 over two seasons as the Patriots starting quarterback. He had a few good ball games during that period including stunners over Warren Moon and the Oilers and the powerful Buffalo Bills. He toughed out seven games (all losses) in ’92 playing with a seriously injured shoulder.

Jacoby Brissett was part of Tom Brady’s “wolfpack” as a member of the 2016 World Champion Patriots. Brissett had one solid start while Brady served his suspension for the deflated balls controversy and one miserable one. To be fair, he was playing with a severely injured thumb. After the 2017 preseason, the Patriots traded Brissett to Indianapolis for Phillip Dorsett. With the Colts, he was steady and dependable, but far from outstanding.

NUMBER EIGHT

Josh Miller punted for the Patriots for two and a half seasons including the Super Bowl XXXIX win over the Eagles. He had a solid night in that game forcing Philadelphia to attempt to drive the length of the field on several occasions. That proved to be an undoing for the Eagles as they conked out late in the game exhausted on offense. Ironically, Miller had a punt returned for a touchdown by Troy Brown as a member of the Steelers in the 2001 AFC championship game.

NUMBER NINE

We had to really do some investigatory work to find somebody who wore #9 that made an impact on the organization. We could not find anyone! In 1978, placekicker David Posey stepped in for the latter half of the season when John Smith went down with injury. And, in 1993, Scott Sisson had one lousy season as the kicker.

NUMBER TEN

Jabar Gaffney spent three seasons as New England’s third or fourth receiving option. In 2006, he had 11 receptions in the regular season but 21 in the postseason. He was easily Brady’s most dependable target during those ill-fated playoffs. In 2007, New England added Welker, Moss, and Stallworth, but Gaffney still made his share of big plays. None was bigger than his game-winning touchdown reception in a Monday night thriller at Baltimore. Unfortunately, Gaffney went missing for Super Bowl XLII as Brady could not connect with him on two huge second half throws.

He had an uneventful 2008 campaign with the Patriots before bolting to Denver to play under Josh McDaniels.

Jimmy Garoppolo wore #10 for the Patriots for three and a half seasons and won two Super Bowls. The Patriots drafted him with their second round choice in the 2014 draft out of Eastern Illinois. With the Panthers, Garoppolo was tremendous. He broke virtually all of Tony Romo’s school records and won the Walter Payton player of the year for best offensive player in the nation.

Though his opportunities were limited, Garoppolo flashed his brilliance when was able to get in. In the 2016 season opener at Arizona, he played incredibly well. He followed that up with a first half for the ages in New England’s home opener against Miami. Unfortunately, he got rocked by Kiko Alonzo. Therefore, he missed out on playing in the other two games Brady missed.

He was moved to the 49ers midway through the 2017 season. The future looks exceedingly bright for San Francisco and their multi-millionaire starting quarterback. Patriots fans wish him nothing but the best as he was a hard worker and an excellent teammate.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

The History of the New England Patriots by Jersey Number #1-#4

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NUMBER ONE

Snowplow Game

Let’s start by discussing the fourth leading scorer in Patriots history, John Smith. Smith is best known for a singular moment in 1982 famously known as “The Snowplow Game”. In the sixth game of the strike-shortened 1982 season, the desperate Patriots were deadlocked at zero in a snowstorm in Foxborough. Late in the fourth, Patriots coach Ron Meyer ordered snowplow operator Mark Henderson to clear a spot on the field specifically for Smith. He drilled the 33-yarder to give the Patriots the win. Ultimately, Miami defeated New England in the playoffs in sunny Florida, but the snowplow game will not soon be forgotten.

New England Patriots

Smith enjoyed a lengthy career with the Pats. He came over to the US from his homeland, England, and being a superb soccer player he asked the Patriots for a tryout. They liked what they saw. He ended up wearing #1 for the Patriots for 10 years. He led the NFL in scoring in 1979 and 1980 and made the Pro Bowl following an excellent 1980 campaign.

First Super Bowl kicker

Tony Franklin has the distinction of being the first Patriots player to ever score in a Super Bowl. Early in the first quarter of Super Bowl XX, Franklin’s field goal helped New England take advantage of a Walter Payton fumble. Unfortunately, Chicago scored the next 44 points in that ball game. Franklin kicked for New England for four seasons following a successful career with the Eagles where he kicked in one Super Bowl for them. His 1986 season was the best of his ten-year career. He was rewarded with a Pro Bowl appearance. Franklin was a popular player in the 1980’s due to the fact that he did not wear a shoe on his kicking foot.

Franklin is a Texas A&M legend as he kicked three 60-yard field goals with the Aggies including two in one game! His time with the Patriots came to end after a poor 1987 season.

NUMBER TWO

Doug Flutie was the only player of significance to wear jersey #2 with the Patriots. But, he had one incredibly unique career. He reached superstar status at Boston College. His 1984 senior season with BC was simply epic. He won the Heisman Trophy and authored one of the greatest victories in college football history when his “Hail Mary” defeated the Miami Hurricanes.

As a professional, Flutie ran the full gamut of performances and emotions. He started his career with a good season as a New Jersey General in the USFL. His next stop found him in Chicago where he backed up Jim McMahon. He played a terrible game for the 14-2 Bears as they got eliminated from the NFC playoffs by the Redskins. He was traded to the Patriots during the 1987 season and basically used as a fourth string QB. In 1988, Flutie got an opportunity to start and posted a 6-3 record as the starter. However, Raymond Berry turned to veterans Tony Eason and Steve Grogan in the last game at Denver. Flutie only played a few more games with the Pats after that in 1989 before bolting to the CFL.

David Silverman

Flutie came back to the NFL eight years later and had a memorable stint with Buffalo. He finished his career as a third-stringer for the 2005 Patriots, again wearing #2. Coach Belichick allowed Flutie to get into the meaningless season finale to attempt a dropkick for an extra point. Flutie nailed it to a raucous ovation.

NUMBER THREE

Matt Bahr spent the last two-plus seasons of his illustrious 17-year career with the Patriots. Bill Parcells brought him in to light a fire under the struggling Scott Sisson. Bahr was so solid, Sisson was released. Bahr was drafted by the Steelers in 1979 and proceeded to kick in the Super Bowl as a rookie. Eleven seasons later, he kicked the New York Giants into the big game with a tremendous performance in an upset over San Francisco in the NFC championship game.

He joined the Patriots late in 1993 and for the first time, he wore jersey #3. He had two pretty good seasons, but was beat out for the kicking job during the 1996 preseason. The kicker that took over the job: Adam Vinatieri.

Stephen Gostkowski

The kicker that replaced Vinatieri: Stephen Gostkowski. Gostkowski has worn #3 for New England now for 12 seasons. As is true for most kickers who do it for a long time, he has had some excellent moments and some miserable ones kicking for the Patriots. Overall, Gostkowski is one of the most accurate kickers in the history of the National Football League with an astounding 87.6 accuracy.

Perhaps his greatest moment occurred during the 2015 regular season at the New York Giants. It has been well-documented how the G-men always give the Pats fits in the Eli Manning era. And this game was no different. It was an exciting back and forth affair. After a dropped interception and a fourth down conversion, Tom Brady got the Patriots down to the 36-yard line with enough time for a game-winning field goal attempt. The kick was true and New England defeated their old nemesis thanks to the strong leg of Gostkowski.

Unfortunately, since the PAT has been moved back, Gostkowski has missed an extra point in three consecutive seasons in the playoffs. His miss at Denver in the AFC championship game may have cost the Patriots their shot at the Super Bowl.

However, Gostkowski has been a superb player for the Pats through the years. He is a great teammate and beloved in the community for his charity work.

A Top Punter From the 80’s

Rich Camarillo is a final #3 we’ll look at. Camarillo was one of the better punters in the league back in the 1980’s. His seven seasons with the Patriots was highlighted by a Pro Bowl appearance and some of the best playoff punting in NFL history. His nine-punt, 50-yard average in a playoff loss at Denver was bittersweet. The Patriots were obviously punting way too much. However, Camarillo gave New England a chance to win at Mile High Stadium.

Camarillo’s best days came with the Phoenix Cardinals. He made four Pro Bowls in five seasons there including a first-team All-Pro nod. His career was not perfect, though. In a 1990 game at Buffalo, Camarillo booted a punt that was knocked backwards due to the winds!

NUMBER FOUR

Adam Vinatieri is probably the most popular placekicker in NFL history. He has played 22 seasons and shows no signs of slowing down. He beat out Matt Bahr for the kicking job in the 1996 preseason. In his rookie year, he instantly gained acclaimed for his effort in tackling speedster Herschel Walker on a kickoff return. He had no such luck in Super Bowl XXXI when Desmond Howard took one of his kicks to the house ending New England’s bid for their first World championship.

Vinatieri was instrumental in the Patriots capturing three out of four titles in the next decade. His game-tying kick in the “Tuck Rule” game will always be his signature kick. When his 45-yarder in a snowstorm split the uprights, a dynasty was born. He ended both Super Bowl XXXVI and Super Bowl XXVIII with game-winning field goals in the most pressure-packed of situations. The latter came after a poor performance in Houston against the Panthers. He won one more Super Bowl with the Patriots.

Vinatieri to the Colts

Vinatieri added one more Super Bowl with Indianapolis. Miraculously, he has now played 12 of his seasons out there and has performed magnificently as a member of the Colts. No doubt, being in the comforts of Indy’s indoor stadium has surely added to his longevity. In fact, last season, he only made one of three kicks in the wretched Buffalo weather. But, overall, his output is still strong. He even won a special-teamer of the week award earlier this season in a win against the 49ers where he boomed two 50-yarders.

One day, Vinatieri will take his place in Canton in the Pro Football Hall of Fame!

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

Win or Lose, Tom Brady is the GOAT

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It was Week 6 of the 1983 season. My family’s Sunday tradition was to eat Grandma’s homemade pizza and watch football in her South Buffalo home. On this particular Sunday, the Buffalo Bills were playing at Miami to take on the Dolphins. The Bills had not won in Miami in my lifetime. However, the Dolphins were struggling offensively early that season, so they made a switch to a rookie quarterback on this day.

We had a good feeling about this game. The Bills bolted out to a 14-0 first quarter lead. We were smiling, giggling, eating, relishing the moment that our Bills would snap their streak of futility in Miami’s Orange Bowl. Then, something happened that made me even as a child stand up and pay closer attention. The Miami player wore number 13. The way he played quarterback completely mesmerized me. His name was Dan Marino and I had the privilege to watch him play in person 10 times. He was the greatest pure passer I have ever seen.

The Other Quarterback GOATs

I was 14 years old watching the 1989-90 San Francisco 49ers rake the turf with their opponents during their postseason run. The 49ers were going to kill the Broncos in the Super Bowl. I recall it was a freezing January day in Western New York, so we were homebound for the three-hour pregame show. We were not Broncos fans. Nevertheless, we hoped they would give San Francisco a game. They didn’t.

The 49ers put on a show for the ages. Their quarterback wore number 16 and in this, his fourth Super Bowl appearance, he pitched a perfect game. His name was Joe Montana. He was an assassin on the field. Montana always played with poise and threw gorgeous spirals into tight windows. He trusted his receivers implicitly. Whenever the 49ers were on national television, it was must watch. He was the most clutch player I have ever seen.

GOATs of the Past and Present

Peyton Manning was another player I witnessed at his best. He was the greatest regular season quarterback in NFL history and it is not even close. Teams that he played for won 75 percent of their contests. I rarely found myself rooting for the teams he played for, but I respected him so much for his intelligence and leadership.

Aaron Rodgers makes the impossible seem possible. I remember watching him on a Thanksgiving Day game at Dallas in 2007 when he came in for Brett Favre and thinking that he was “pretty good.” It only took him a few years to win the Super Bowl. Rodgers combines great athleticism with an uncanny football mind. His teams are never out of a game and his throws are sometimes majestic and other times magical. Rodgers is the best player in the NFL today.

GOAT Wide Receiver

Jerry Rice posted numbers as a wide receiver so gaudy and incredible that 34-year old Larry Fitzgerald would have to record seven more 1,000-yard seasons to break the record for most receiving yards. Rice was the best wide receiver of the 1980s, the best wide receiver of the 1990s and made the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl at 40 years old in 2002. He was the best non-QB in NFL history. I am grateful for the opportunity I had to watch him play a few times in Buffalo.

The Non-Football GOATs

The first time I realized that Michael Jordan was other-worldly occurred in a playoff game against my beloved 1986 Boston Celtics. The Celtics were obviously the far better team, but Jordan was so amazing, he single-handedly forced overtime and double-overtime. He won six titles. I did not get to see him play until he was past his prime, but it was a great joy to be at that game nonetheless. He was the greatest competitor in sports history.

Wayne Gretzky was above and beyond the finest hockey player to grace the ice. He had speed and maneuverability like Bobby Orr. He had a sneaky hard slap shot like Mark Messier. His passes put Jari Kurri and Glenn Anderson onto leaderboards for goals annually. Additionally, he was a leader, a gentleman and an ambassador. That is why in hockey circles, he is known as “The Great One.” He was the greatest athlete in the history of team sports.

I don’t observe individual sports with the regularity with which I enjoy team sports. I understand Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Tiger Woods have gone through eras of invincibility and I respect their accomplishments as well.

The Evolution of a GOAT

On Sunday, we will witness an athlete that will forever be discussed in the same breath as those mentioned above. The first time I saw him play was during the 2001 season. I recorded a game on my VCR between the New England Patriots and San Diego Chargers. My beloved Bills were having a dreadful season with the two-headed quarterbacking monster of Rob Johnson and Alex Van Pelt at the helm, so I enjoyed watching other teams play as much as possible. The young Pats’ quarterback played a fine game and led his team to a comeback win. The performance hardly stuck with me.

A few weeks later, I watched this young man play in person at Rich Stadium for the first time. He did nothing special. In fact, the play I remember most from this game was how the quarterback impressively popped right up after a vicious hit delivered by Buffalo’s Nate Clements. The Patriots won the game. Nothing stood out to me about this player even as he continued to help his team win games leading to a surprise playoff spot. In the playoffs, he benefited from a controversial, obscure rule. In the AFC championship game, he was knocked out of the game.

Tom Terrific is Born

He was back to play in the Super Bowl and he was average through three-plus quarters. The Patriots took a 17-3 lead as they converted three turnovers into the 17 points. Their opponents, the St. Louis Rams, tied the game 17-17 with less than 2 minutes to play. This is when I first noticed Tom Brady.

The last drive of the 2002 Super Bowl can give any football fan goose bumps. Brady’s poise on that platform at that age is almost incomprehensible. He pulled it off launching the most compelling and polarizing career in the history of team sports.

His story has been told countless times, so I need not get into the nuances of winning this game or losing that one. Inevitably, due to his consistent success, people want to debate his place among the greats of all-time. The fact that people need to explain to us why Michael Jordan, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and even Aaron Rodgers are better than Brady teaches us that even they believe he is one of the best of all-time or we would not have to rehash his resume annually as his records get loftier. Otherwise, why would they bring it up days before Brady is to play in yet another championship game?

Can Somebody Really be Called the GOAT?

I don’t believe in saying that somebody is the greatest of all-time. There is simply no way of knowing, so it is futile to argue such things. For example, how would one know if Michael Jordan is better than Tom Brady? That is like asking to choose a favorite entertainer between Tom Hanks and Justin Timberlake. Hanks is a better actor while Timberlake is the better singer and dancer. By the way, Jordan won his titles between the ages of 27 and 35 while Brady has done it between the ages of 24 and 39 when athletes are said to be too young or too old to peak.

Others bring up Jerry Rice. How might we decide who is a better football player between Tom Brady and Jerry Rice? Well, who is the better musician between Lenny Kravitz and Lars Ulrich? Kravitz is a better guitar player while Ulrich is a better drummer.

The comparison that I hear the most has to do with Joe Montana. Who is the GOAT: Joe Montana or Tom Brady? Well, who is the more attractive female between Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie? To each his own! I will say this about the Montana-Brady debate. We have a lot of revisionist history when it comes to the great Joe Montana’s career.

Is Joe Montana the GOAT?

Montana was very good in 1981, but not great. The 49ers were the best team in the NFC because of their phenomenal defensive backfield and they won the NFC championship game due to the excellence of Bill Walsh’s coaching as they overcame six turnovers. The 1982 49ers were poor virtually from start to finish and missed the playoffs. One year later, the Pro Bowler Montana was solid in defeat in the 1983 NFC championship game.

In 1984, Montana was spectacular. He played tremendously in the Super Bowl against a terrible Dolphins defense. However, Montana was terrible in three consecutive seasons in the playoffs. Following the 1985 and 1986 seasons, Bill Belichick’s Giants defeated the 49ers 17-3 and 49-3. In the 1987 playoffs, the 49ers got embarrassed at home by the Minnesota Vikings in a game that got so out of hand, Montana was benched in favor of Steve Young. These losses occurred while Bill Walsh was the coach and Jerry Rice was a wide receiver.

Montana’s Transcendent Seasons

Montana bounced back to have a very good season in 1988. He played great in the NFC championship game against Mike Ditka’s Bears at Soldier Field as the Niners won 28-3. He also played very well against an average Bengals defense in the 1989 Super Bowl until the fourth quarter. In that final frame, Montana’s unflappability was put on display like nothing we had ever seen up to that point in the history of the big game. Most of the first 22 Super Bowls were lousy ball games. Yet, the 1989 version featured one of the great fourth quarters of all-time as Montana and Rice possessed excellence of execution in the tensest of moments. In the end, Montana hit John Taylor with a sublime pass with just 34 seconds to play to give San Francisco their third Super Bowl championship.

That momentum carried through the 1989 and 1990 seasons. This is the Montana that “Joe Cool” lovers will most frequently boast of. He was phenomenal during those two campaigns. As mentioned above, he was flawless in his dismantling of Wade Phillips’ Broncos defense in the 1990 Super Bowl. He likely could have won another Super Bowl and a “three-peat” had Coach Belichick’s Giants not crushed him with such ferocity that he did not become a starting quarterback again until 1993 with the Kansas City Chiefs.

A Painful Conclusion

In his two seasons with the Chiefs, Montana maintained his trademark poise in leading Kansas City to the playoffs. I was an eyewitness in Buffalo when he was knocked senseless in the AFC championship game by Bruce Smith and again in 1994 when the Bills destroyed the Chiefs 44-10 at Rich Stadium. The mojo was gone and the 38-year old retired following that season beaten and bruised.

Thus, as you can see with this brief recap, there is no doubt that Montana was a tremendous player and perhaps if he played in today’s era of protecting the quarterback, he may have survived to do greater things. He may well be the greatest ever to do it in the Super Bowl, but unless one simply despises Brady, a concession has to be made that Brady’s career is the stronger of the two.

Tom Brady Brings out Extreme Passion

What makes Brady unique is he is not universally beloved and there are millions of people who make the claim that he isn’t even that good. On the other and, I’ve yet to meet a smart sportsperson rationalize that Montana, Jordan, or Gretzky weren’t that good. However, there are people standing in line in an effort to discredit Brady. Some of these folks are giants in our industry.

Especially because I am from Buffalo, I witness people who loathe Brady as a player. Who can blame a fanbase that is 2-29 against this man in meaningful Patriots’ games? Yet, one would be hard-pressed to find a Bills fan say, “I hate Tom Brady, but he is an excellent football player” as if acknowledging such might indict the fan of actually liking Brady. Some fans plainly know Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers do not have the same playoff success. Yet, they will blabber about Brady is successful because of “fill in the blanks.”

Brady supporters can be equally annoying. In their eyes, we must all now admit he is the GOAT or we are foolish. Bring up a time when he failed such as in the fourth quarter of the 2012 Super Bowl and you will hear a montage of, “Gronk was hurt, Welker dropped the ball, etc.” Talk about how he struggles throwing the ball deep as evidenced by his terrible output at Miami two months ago and prepare to be pelted with verbal snow balls. The point is Brady supporters have become so used to having to defend his greatness that even rational criticism based on film study and analysis gets met with outrage unless, of course, they do it themselves.

Tom is the GOAT

Brady could have won the two Super Bowls against the New York Giants as easily as he could have lost against the Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons. In the end, those inches don’t matter. It’s about the yards traveled to be in those kinds of positions season after season from the age of 24 through the age of 40. Also, keep in mind that this thing is a work in progress. The Patriots can come right back in 2018 and do this again. Who do you think in the AFC East might be better than New England next year?

You want statistics. He’s got those. You prefer to measure individuals on the greatness barometer based on championships, he’s your man. Perhaps you just use the eye test or a player’s longevity. Maybe you look at one’s ability to make others around him better or work ethic or composure or whatever. One player stands above the rest in the history of sports and that is Tom Brady. That is why he is the GOAT.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XXVII – LI

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51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowls I – XXVI

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51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl LI

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The Super Bowl is just 1 day away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 1 year ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Houston hosted Super Bowl LI on February 5, 2017. The game pitted the AFC champion New England Patriots against the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football Conference.

Atlanta Falcons 1 Year Ago

“Rise Up” was team motto for the 1016 Atlanta Falcons. That is exactly what they did. Led by the great coaching of former Seahawks assistant Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, the Falcons were fast and explosive. Quarterback Matt Ryan won the NFL MVP and his favorite target was the outstanding Julio Jones. The Falcons scored more points than other team in the NFL.

The Falcons were young, fast and inconsistent on defense. They gave up 30 points per game over the first month but found themselves in a clutch road win over the World Champion Broncos in Denver. They lost two consecutive heartbreakers to fall to 4-3. From then on, they were very difficult to beat.

Atlanta rolled into the playoffs with the three straight blowout wins. They played the veteran Seahawks in the Divisional round. The first half was a tight, back and forth affair. The second half was all Falcons. Atlanta carried their momentum in the championship game where they crushed the Packers. Jones caught 9 passes for 180 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Falcons were on to the franchise’s second ever Super Bowl.

New England Patriots 1 Year Ago

Their opponent came as a surprise to nobody. They are called the New England Patriots. The path the Patriots took to the big dance was unconventional, however. Tom Brady was suspended for his involvement in the apparent deflating of footballs prior to the 2014 AFC championship game. Jimmy Garoppolo started the first two ball games and played lights out including a win at Arizona.

Jacoby Brissett started the next two and won one of those with an excellent job against the Texans. When Brady came back in week 5, he set the league on fire. In the regular season, Brady went 11-1 with 28 touchdown passes against only 2 interceptions. Unfortunately for New England, Rob Gronkowski was lost for the season with a back injury. Martellus Bennett stepped in and had a very productive year.

Patriot Power

In the playoffs, the Patriots played a very sloppy first half as an 18-point favorite over the Texans. Dion Lewis scored three touchdowns, but also fumbled twice. The defense came up big when each of their three Rutgers defensive backs picked off Brock Osweiler. The 34-16 win propelled the Patriots back to the AFC championship game for an unbelievable sixth consecutive season.

In that game, New England proved way too tough for the Steelers. In the third quarter, LeGarrette Blount had one of the great rushes as he carried about seven guys with him on the play. Then, Kyle Van Noy forced a fumble. Moments later, Julian Edelman found the end zone. The two stories from this game were: Chris Hogan’s amazing performance and Le’Veon Bell leaving the game with a groin injury very early. The Patriots were on their NFL-record ninth Super Bowl!

Atlanta Explodes to the Lead

This Super Bowl will be talked about as long as the NFL is an organized sports organization. The first half belonged to Atlanta. After a Blount fumble, the Falcons swept down the field easily. They followed that up with another very easy touchdown drive. Tight end Austin Hooper caught a wonderful pass from Ryan to go up 14-0.

Aided by several defensive penalties, the Pats moved down the field again. And, again the drive ended in a turnover. Bruce Alford ran the Brady interception back for a TD and the Falcons appeared well on their way to their first World Championship. They added to their lead in the second half. In fact, midway through the third quarter, Atlanta led 28-3! Then, history took place in NRG Stadium!

Comeback Key Plays 1 & 2

The first key play for New England on the comeback trail was a fourth down conversion to Danny Amendola. Subsequently, James White scored the first of three touchdowns to cap the drive. Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed the PAT, so the score was 28-9 heading to the fourth quarter. The Patriots moved the ball on their next drive well also. Brady lofted a lovely third and one pass to Bennett to get the Pats into the red zone. However, Grady Jarrett sacked Brady on two of the next three plays forcing a field goal.

The second key play for New England on the comeback trail occurred on a third down for the Falcons’ offense. Dont’a Hightower forced a Ryan fumble recovered by Alan Branch giving the Patriots the short field. Amendola scored a few plays later and it was 28-18. On the 2-point play, the Patriots ran a play that worked during Super Bowl XXXVIII. The ball was snapped directly to James White for the two.

Still, it looked like Atlanta would escape. They got a giant play from Devonta Freeman and a spectacular sideline catch from Julio Jones to give them a first down on the 22. However, unsung Trey Flowers sacked Ryan and that was followed by a Jake Matthews’ holding penalty. Atlanta was now out of field goal range, so they were forced to punt.

Comeback Key Plays 3 & 4

The third key play for New England on the comeback trail happened on a third and 10 from their own nine-yard line. Brady threw a perfect pass to the far sideline to Hogan. First down. Three plays later, Edelman made the catch of the century two inches off the ground in triple coverage. On the next play, Amendola grabbed a 20-yarder. Eventually, the Patriots scored on another short White TD.

The fourth key play for New England on the comeback trail was the two-point conversion. On a designed play for Amendola, Atlanta jumped offsides. It did not matter as Danny just got in. Amazingly, the game was tied at 28. And, when the Patriots received the kickoff in overtime, everyone knew how this was going to end.

Brady threw some beautiful passes on the drive: two to White, one to Amendola, one to Edelman, one to Hogan, one to Bennett. The one to Bennett resulted in a DPI that left the ball 2 yards from glory. On second down, White ran a sweep right and landed with the ball on the goal-line. The Patriots did it!

Tom Brady broke a truckload of records en route to the most incredible Super Bowl victory in NFL history. His season started with a suspension and it ended receiving the MVP of the Super Bowl. But, he is not done yet!

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XLIX

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The Super Bowl is just 3 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 3 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

Glendale, Arizona hosted Super Bowl XLIX on February 1, 2015. The game pitted the AFC champion New England Patriots against the defending World Champion Seattle Seahawks of the National Football Conference.

Seattle Seahawks 3 Years Ago

The Seahawks started their season with a bang by defeating the Packers on opening night easily 36-16. Two weeks later, they beat Denver 26-20 in overtime. They finished the season by winning nine of out 10 to claim the NFC’s top seed. Michael Bennett and Bobby Wagner emerged as superstars on defense.

In the Divisional round of the playoffs, Seattle humbled the Carolina Panthers 31-17. Safety Kam Chancellor was the player of the game. First of all, he made an all-world effort at blocking a Panthers’ field goal attempt right before the intermission. He followed that up with a pick six that put the game out of reach.

Epic in Seattle

There are no words to describe the 2014-15 NFC championship game. The Packers controlled the action to the tune of a 16-0 lead. Frankly, the score should have been much more lopsided. Russell Wilson was throwing just as many passes to the players in a white jersey as he was throwing passes to people wearing a dark one. Finally, Seattle showed a pulse when a fake field goal resulted in a TD cutting the lead to 16-7. With the score 19-7, Wilson threw another interception. On this one, Green Bay’s Morgan Burnett downed the ball when he could have returned the pick for several more yards.

The Seahawks received the ball back with about four minutes to go. They drove the length of the field for a TD that cut the lead to 19-14. Seattle’s season was on the line now. On the onside attempt, Brandon Bostic mishandled the Stephen Hauschka kick. Seattle recovered and there was life. It only took Seattle 30 seconds to find the end zone on an easy Lynch run. The 2-point conversion was absurd. Wilson under much duress lofted a rainbow toward Luke Willson. Haha Clinton-Dix misjudged the pass and Wilson caught it. It was 22-19 for the Seahawks.

Aaron Rodgers calmly guided the Packers back to field goal range. Mason Crosby nailed the game-tying kick and it was on to OT. Wilson threw two gorgeous passes in the overtime period. The second one to Jermain Kearse propelled the Seahawks back to the Super Bowl. If you have not watched the last 15 minutes of this game lately, this is required viewing for a real football fan. Simply put, this was unreal. However, the Seahawks would have one more drama-filled affair at Super Bowl XLIX.

New England Patriots 3 Years Ago

The Patriots limped out to a 2-2 start. In a week 4 Monday Night loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Tom Brady was flustered and off target. He played so poorly, Coach Belichick was even asked if he would consider benching him. Belichick scoffed at the notion.

Brady had a tremendous game the following Sunday night against the Bengals. In fact, New England would only lose one more meaningful game over the course of the 2014-15 season. The Patriots’ offense was at full-strength with receivers Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell and Danny Amendola. Rob Gronkowski, maybe the greatest tight end in NFL history, had a marvelous season. At running back, Shane Vereen was the pass catcher. The Patriots also acquired LeGarrette Blount during the season to add a power running dimension.

Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner were signed to bolster the defense. Jamie Collins, Dont’a Hightower and Vince Wilfork keyed a one-year rise in defensive rank from 26th to 13th overall. The Pats cruised to the top seed in the AFC and played Baltimore in the Division round. The Ravens were ready.

Patriots Back to the Super Bowl

They pounced to a 14-0 lead. New England tied it. Early in the third, Baltimore reestablished their 14-point lead. Again, New England nodded things up as they went to their bag of tricks. They used an unusual formation where they would line up a running back or tight end outside and then announce him as ineligible while using just four offensive linemen. It worked as the Patriots drove the field easily. Then, they allowed Edelman to throw a pass. He found Amendola streaking down the far sideline wide open and tossed a perfect throw. Gillette Stadium went off its gord. In the 4th quarter, Brady hit LaFell to put the Patriots ahead 35-31. They prevented Baltimore from scoring on their last drive and advanced despite another tough home playoff game verses the Ravens.

The AFC championship game was a smash down. The Pats humiliated Andrew Luck and the Colts in a driving rainstorm. The Pats won 45-7. However, the real story from this game was the accusation that the Patriots purposely deflated footballs below the legal weight limit. Brady, Belichick and owner Robert Kraft were inundated with press reports that they were cheating. For normal teams, this would have been a distraction. For these Patriots, it was merely noise on the outside. Belichick was distracted in the sense that he endeavored to figure out why the balls may have been underinflated. But, the Patriots look fully prepared to battle the defending champions tooth and nail.

Seahawk Power vs. Patriot Skill

In the first half of Super Bowl XLIX, the Patriots moved the ball handily against the might Seahawks. On their first scoring opportunity, though, Jeremy Lane picked Brady off in the end zone. Sadly, Lane broke his wrist on the play. Right away, Brady went after his replacement Tharold Simon. Lafell scored on a slant-in while covered by Simon giving the Pats the 7-0 lead. Seattle tied it on the strength of a tall receiver by the name of Chris Matthews of all people.

The Patriots regained the lead on a beautiful pass and catch from Brady to Gronk. The Seahawks used a linebacker in man to man on Gronkowski and got burned. Seattle, though, marched down the field on a remarkable drive in response. With 6 seconds left, the Seahawks decided to throw once to the end zone. Matthews could not be covered by Kyle Arrington. Hence, the Seahawks scored tying the game at the half 14-14.

The Seahawks owned the third quarter as Brady threw another interception. Doug Baldwin scored to put Seattle up 24-14. Things looked dire for New England. But, Rob Ninkovich got a clutch sack and Julian Edelman picked up a crucial third down. Thus, the Patriots had life.

Seattle switched to a zone defense and Brady like a great maestro went to work. Even Seattle’s top-ranked defense was not capable of stopping him when he reached this level of play. His two touchdown passes went to Amendola and Edelman on perfect short tosses. Gronkowski and Vereen were super-clutch as well. But, Seattle never goes away.

Butler to the Rescue

Thanks to a miraculous pitch and catch from Wilson to Kearse in which the ball bounced off of most of his body before he caught it, Seattle had a first and goal from the five-yard line with less than a minute to go. On first down, the ‘Hawks ran Lynch to the one. The clock kept ticking…40 seconds left…35, 30…no time out taken. Finally, the Seahawks lined up in shotgun. The Patriots brought in all their big bodies and three cornerbacks. Revis lined up on the right side. Browner coached Arrington’s replacement, rookie Malcolm Butler as the teams got set for the play. Wilson took the snap and fired inside. Butler jumped the route and made possibly the most significant interception in NFL history.

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick captured their fourth Super Bowl championship in one of the most dramatic Super Bowls ever. Tons of controversy ensued following this game for both sides. However, watching these two teams with so many all-stars in their prime was a treat. The 2014 Patriots and Seahawks both deserved to win the Super Bowl.

We’ll discuss tomorrow how a superstar from the Denver Broncos’ defense stole the show at Super Bowl 50!

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

Positional Group Comparisons for Super Bowl LII

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Amid the pomp and circumstance of Super Bowl week, there is actually a game that will be played. Let’s allow everybody else to focus on the pageantry of the event. We are going to dive into a position by position evaluation ahead of the big game. Let’s start with on the offensive side of the ball.

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACK

If there is one clear-cut advantage for either team in this game, it’s at the quarterback position. Tom Brady is the consummate professional. He will demonstrate great poise throughout the game regardless of the literal and figurative noise around him. Nick Foles played perhaps the best game of his entire life in the NFC championship game against a stellar Minnesota Vikings defense. He will need to replicate that performance to give his team a chance.

RUNNING BACKS

The New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles almost mirror one another in the way they use their running backs. As the season progressed, Dion Lewis saw his role expand. He is known for his elusiveness, but he runs with deceptive power as well. James White’s track record in the postseason speaks for itself. He was a savior in last season’s Super Bowl. White possesses great hands and his quarterback has the utmost trust in his abilities. Rex Burkhead is another solid option as he can spell either Lewis or White.

When the Eagles obtained Jay Ajayi, they showed the NFL they were all-in on this season. Ajayi would be a feature back on many teams like he was with the Miami Dolphins. However, Philadelphia has excellent depth in the backfield. LeGarrette Blount is the power option while Corey Clement specializes in the passing attack. Last week, the Jacksonville Jaguars moved the ball easily at New England as they replaced Leonard Fournette with seldom-used Corey Grant. Look for the Eagles to keep the fresh back in the game and do a lot of different things with their halfbacks.

RECEIVERS

Rob Gronkowski is arguably the greatest tight end to ever play the game. He is hardly the lone threat for the Patriots on offense, though. As we witnessed last week, Danny Amendola is as clutch as it gets. Brandin Cooks added six receptions for 100 yards and one critical drop. Brady has been looking deep more regularly in 2017 than ever before. Hence, if Cooks gets behind the Eagles gambling defensive backs and Brady connects, that could be a game-changer. The Pats’ will try it at least once per half. Chris Hogan and Philip Dorsett are also versatile, useful receivers. New England will be ultra-tough to stop if this game turns into a shootout.

The Eagles have a few weapons of their own. Alshon Jeffery has seen his career rejuvenated by coming over to Philly. He was huge in beating Minnesota’s all-world defensive backfield. His 53-yarder proved to be the dagger in the Eagles rout of the Vikings. Nelson Algohar and Torrey Smith are good second and third options on the outside, but not great. The Eagles’ tight ends have been a strength this season especially Zach Ertz. How many times did Foles hit Ertz on third down in the NFC championship game? Ertz keeps improving and the Eagles will look to exploit this advantage Sunday.

OFFENSIVE LINE

The Eagles from top to bottom have the better offensive line. Their center Jason Kelce is a terrific athlete and perhaps the best screen blocker in the game today. Likewise, Lane Johnson is a powerful right tackle. Since Foles is not as much of a threat to move in the pocket as Carson Wentz is, Johnson’s play has taken on a more magnified role. When watching the film, he has passed with flying colors. Halapoulivaati Vaitai is the weak link on this strong line. Look for Bill Belichick to switch between Trey Flowers and James Harrison over Vaitai to keep the backup tackle off-balance.

The Patriots’ offensive line has experienced some inconsistencies. Cameron Fleming has struggled to step into Marcus Cannon’s large shoes at right tackle. On the other hand, the interior has been stout especially when run-blocking. David Andrews is a star in the making and surrounds himself with Shaq Mason and Joe Thuney. That trio means more time for Brady to pick his poison.

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINE

Simply put, Brandon Graham is superb. He is an elite pass rusher who garnered 9.5 sacks and 47 tackles while sharing time with former Patriot Chris Long at defensive end. The Eagles have a nice interior as well with high-priced Timmy Jernigan and Fletcher Cox. The Patriots have experienced multiple injuries along the line, but appear to be at their most healthy coming into the game Sunday.

Malcolm Brown, Alan Branch and Deatrich Wise Jr. all claim to be 100% ready to play. Trey Flowers is the unsung man on the Patriots. He was enormous in the Super Bowl last year. Twice, the Atlanta Falcons could have put New England in a world of hurt. The Pats’ failed to recover an onside kick giving Atlanta the short field. Flowers sacked Matt Ryan ending the threat. Later in the game, Flowers got Ryan again after a miraculous Julio Jones reception set up Atlanta nicely. Flowers will have another big game this year. Adding James Harrison was the most necessary and incredible move Coach Belichick made during the season. Harrison’s phenomenal play in the 2009 Super Bowl against the Arizona Cardinals is one of the greatest moments in professional football history.

LINEBACKERS

The Eagles appear to have the better group at linebacker. The underrated duo on the outside, Mychal Kendricks and Nigel Bradham, are solid tacklers who defend the pass expertly. The Eagles’ linebackers and edge rushers were flying around the field in the second half of the NFC championship game. For the true fan of the intricacies of the game, it was such a pleasure to watch Jim Schwartz defense in action. They play a smart scheme with throwback relentlessness.

New England lacks experience and depth. Julian Edelman’s injury made the headlines, but Dont’a Hightower’s absence is one of the underplayed stories of the week. People close to the organization recognize Hightower’s greatness. While it is more juicy to discuss a perceived riff in the relationship between Brady and Belichick or how the Patriots get all the officiating breaks, there is an actual news item regarding these Patriots. They miss the terrific Hightower. In both the 2015 and 2017 Super Bowls, Hightower made signature game-altering stops. The Eagles have the tight ends and receiving backs to out-man the Patriots linebackers.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Both teams look good on the back end. Everybody remembers Malcolm Butler’s iconic play as a rookie in the 2015 Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks. That was a career-builder for Butler, not a one play wonder. Butler is scrappy, turnover-conscious and gives 100% on every play. Hence, Belichick loves him. On the other side, Stephon Gilmore is susceptible to penalties, but has big play ability as was on display in the last minute of the AFC championship game. Safeties Pat Chung and Devin McCourty are in their fourth Super Bowls. Along with Duran Harmon, they epitomize the bend but don’t break style of Patriot defense. New England gives up a lot of yards, but not a lot of points. That is a recipe for victory.

The Eagles are well-positioned at corner as well. Preseason acquisition Ronald Darby and lockdown guy Jalen Mills join nickelback Patrick Robinson to form a trio that stopped Atlanta with a goal-line stand and had a pick six against Minnesota. While the patriots do not possess the star power of a Julio Jones or Adam Thielen, their receiver by committee will be quite the test for Philadelphia’s backfield. Malcolm Jenkins is one of the best in the game at his position and will have his hands full deciding where to help out.

The Patriots typically plan an offensive attack that has not been seen before. Will they feature Gronk like they did when they won in Pittsburgh? Or will they try to get their backs involved in the passing game? Perhaps they will do something totally different. Your guess is as good as mine. When Schwartz was the defensive coordinator for the Bills in 2014, Tom Brady threw for 361 yards and the Pats’ scored 37 points against one of the best defenses in the league that year. The game will be decided by whoever wins the matchup between the Patriot receivers and Eagle defensive backs. One thing is for sure: Coach Schwartz will have a busy week and a stressful Super Bowl night.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Overall, the Patriots have the edge in the kicking game. Veteran Stephen Gostkowski has been doing his thing for New England for 12 seasons. He has a big, dependable leg. Jake Elliott’s highlight came in a Week 3 win for the Eagles over the New York Giants. He boomed a 61-yard field goal at the buzzer. Each team has a reliable, if not spectacular, punter. The Eagles Donnie Jones has a rocket for a leg while the Patriots lefty Ryan Allen does a great job pinning the opposition deep with his directional gems. He flew under the radar with a strong second half performance against the Jaguars. Belichick was content to get into a field position game and it paid off.

As if New England isn’t tough enough to defeat, the Eagles will have to be mindful of two veteran threats. Danny Amendola provided a spark in the punt game against Jacksonville when he set up his own game-winning touchdown with a 20-yard return. Dion Lewis returned a kickoff for a touchdown in last year’s playoffs and another one this season at Denver.

Obviously, these ball clubs match up well. The Patriots have the better offense, the Eagles have the better defense. However, only one of these teams has Coach Belichick. That is a pretty significant factor. The better overall team comes from Philadelphia. The better coach and quarterback come from New England. This should be a fabulous contest.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XLVIII

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The Super Bowl is just 4 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 4 years ago to honor this not that significant occasion!

MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey hosted Super Bowl XLVIII on February 2, 2014. The game pitted the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks and their top-ranked defense against the Denver Broncos and their #1-ranked offense of the American Football Conference. It was the immovable object against the irresistible force! But, as we will read, the matchup turned one-sided early and the rout was on.

Seattle Seahawks 4 Years Ago

The Seahawks came off a dramatic loss in Atlanta to end the 2012 season. Their rookie quarterback Russell Wilson led a desperate comeback as they actually took the lead with less than a minute remaining only to see the Falcons kick a long field goal to eliminate them. The Seahawks and the 49ers were the two favorites in the NFC in 2013 and they battled all season for that all-important NFC west title. In week 2, the Seahawks made a statement by clobbering San Francisco in a nationally televised game. On offense, the Seahawks rode the powerful legs of Marshawn “Beast mode” Lynch.

On defense, the Seahawks fielded a great squad with Pro Bowlers all over the place. Their “Legion of Boom” defense featured three phenomenal players on the back end in Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman. Sherman was as brash a player the NFL had seen in quite some time, but he really could back it with superb corner play. In the week 2 win over the Niners, Sherman celebrated with the cheerleaders to the roar of the Seahawks’ crowd known as the “12th man.”

Seattle finished the 2013 regular season at 13-3 just ahead of the 49ers. That meant the Niners had to start on the road in the Wild Card round at Green Bay. In five-degree temps, Colin Kaepernick and Frank Gore led the Niners back to a thrilling win over the Pack. In the divisional round, San Fran won at Carolina and Seattle held off New Orleans setting up the NFC championship game everybody wanted. It did not disappoint.

Seahawks vs. 49ers

Wilson fumbled on the very first play of the game setting up a San Francisco field goal. Early in the second quarter, Kaepernick ran one for 58 yards setting up a touchdown. Seattle responded with a field goal drive and a third quarter touchdown by Marshawn Lynch. Lynch’s 40-yard scamper set the home crowd into a frenzy. To their credit, the 49ers came right back with Kaepernick hitting Anquan Boldin for a 26-yard score and a 17-10 lead. Again, the Seahawks answered with a field goal.

The fourth quarter got off to an awesome start for the Seahawks when Wilson connected with Jermaine Kearse for a go-ahead touchdown. You could cut the tension in the fourth quarter with a knife. Seattle forced a Kaepernick fumble and had a golden opportunity to put the game out of reach. They reached the 1-yard line when NaVorro Bowman forced a Kearse fumble. Seattle was given the recovery, but Bowman was lost for the game with a terrible ACL injury. On the very next play, Wilson fumbled, and the 49ers were still alive.

Seattle added one more field goal for a 23-17. Kaepernick drove the Niners into Seattle’s territory with less than one minute to play. However, Kaepernick threw to Michael Crabtree in double coverage. Sherman made a great defensive play knocking the ball back to Malcolm Smith for a game-clinching interception. Sherman spouted off to Fox’s Erin Andrews about the way the 49ers and particularly Crabtree disrespected him. Whatever the case was, Seattle qualified for their second Super Bowl.

Denver Broncos 4 Years Ago

The Denver Broncos made an early season statement as well. They annihilated the World Champion Ravens on opening night. Peyton Manning threw for a ridiculous 7 touchdowns. The offensive record book was about to be revised courtesy of Manning, offensive coordinator Adam Gase and a group of receivers including Wes Welker, Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas and tight end Julius Thomas. When it was all said and done, the Broncos broke league records for points scored, yards, passing yards and passing touchdowns.

They followed their 49-27 win over Baltimore with a 41-23 victory for Peyton over Eli in New York. In week 4, they scored 52 against the Eagles, then 51 in a comeback win over the Cowboys. However, the Broncos were not perfect. They had a lackluster season on defense. That was on display in their 39-33 loss in Peyton’s return to Indianapolis. The Patriots stunned the Broncos in the game of the season 34-31 in overtime. The Broncos blew a 24-0 halftime lead that night. Late in the season, Denver lost at home to San Diego on a Thursday night.

Nevertheless, Denver earned the top seed. In the playoffs, they survived a gutty effort by the Chargers in a rematch. In the AFC championship game, the Broncos were never threatened in a 26-16 win over the Patriots. Peyton passed for 400 yards in one of the least compelling Brady-Manning matchups. John Fox’s Broncos qualified for the franchise’s seventh Super Bowl.

Seahawk Shellacking

Like many of their previous appearances, this was a nightmare for Denver. They were out of their usual extraordinary rhythm from the outset causing their own safety on the game’s first play. Seattle poured it on to the tune of a 15-0 lead late in the second quarter. The game got completely out of hand when Smith picked off Manning and ran it back for a touchdown. Then, Percy Harvin ran back the second half kickoff. It was 29-0 with 29 minutes to go. The rest of the game was a coronation.

Pete Carroll’s Seahawks won the Super Bowl almost effortlessly. It is hard to put this defensive performance into perspective. Denver averaged 38 points per game during the regular season. They finished on the tail end of a 43-8 score in the Super Bowl. Therefore, Seattle’s defense does not have to take a back seat to anybody in league history.

Tomorrow, we’ll discuss their shocking loss in Super Bowl XLIX.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl 50

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The Super Bowl is just two days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from two years ago to honor this not-that-significant occasion!

Santa Clara, California hosted Super Bowl 50 on February 7, 2016. The game pitted the NFC champion Carolina Panthers against the Denver Broncos of the American Football Conference.

Carolina Panthers Two Years Ago

The 2015 Panthers kept winning and winning and winning. Yes, there were other guys on Ron Rivera’s offense. But, this team started and ended with quarterback Cam Newton. The Panthers led the NFL in points scored. Their QB, in this, his fifth season in the NFL, was by far the league’s best player. Newton threw for almost 4,000 yards and 35 touchdowns. He rushed for more than 600 yards and another 10 touchdowns. He was the most fun player in the league and the fiercest competitor. This was his season.

On defense, Carolina had three first-team All-Pros, an almost unheard-of achievement. Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis and Josh Norman joined the underrated Kawann Short on the Pro Bowl team. Carolina won their first 14 games, some in nail-biters like their last-second comeback victory over Seattle or their Monday night win in the pouring rain over the Colts. Others were laughers like their Thanksgiving Day destruction of the Cowboys or their 38-0 win over the Falcons. The Panthers became the first team to start a season 14-0 since the 2009 Colts and first team with at least 15 regular-season wins to make the Super Bowl since the 2007 Patriots.

They lost their undefeated season at Atlanta 20-13. But, they still had the top seed in the NFC. In the Divisional round matchup with the Seahawks, Carolina got off to an enormous start. But, the Seahawks never quit and clawed their way back within 31-24. Russell Wilson was brilliant. However, it wasn’t enough as the Panthers prevailed 31-24. The following week, Carolina blasted Arizona 49-15. The Panthers were on to their second Super Bowl.

Denver Broncos 2 Years Ago

Their opponent would be the Denver Broncos. The Broncos brought with them one of the worst offenses we have ever seen to the big game. The good news is they had one of the greatest defenses of all time. They had five Pro Bowlers including the NFL’s Defensive MVP Von Miller. Chris Harris was an outstanding cornerback while Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward and Demarcus Ware brought great skill and leadership.

The Broncos’ road to the Super Bowl was not an easy one. Peyton Manning had a lot of trouble throwing the ball. His mobility, which was never great to begin with, was compromised by injury. Finally, he had to miss some time due to a foot injury. Enter Brock Osweiler. In his second start, he had to take on the undefeated Patriots. He kept his team in the game long enough for C.J. Anderson to score a game-winning touchdown in overtime.

That game in the snow opened the door for Osweiler and the Broncos to finish with the best record in the AFC. Manning was back in time for the playoffs. In the Divisional round, Denver found themselves in a tussle with Pittsburgh. The Steelers came off a brutal win at Cincinnati. Roethlisberger was somewhat limited while Le’veon Bell and Antonio Brown were out. Still, the Steelers led most of the way. Manning led one touchdown-scoring drive all night, but it was enough to help Denver edge Pittsburgh 23-16.

The Last Brady-Manning Game

The AFC championship game was a very tense affair with New England. The Brady-Manning rivalry came to its conclusion in dramatic fashion. Manning actually outdueled Brady in the first half. But by the second half, it was obvious that Peyton’s best stuff was gone. Still, Denver’s terrifying defense whipped the Patriots. So, the score was 20-12 Broncos heading into the last few minutes. Stephen Gostkowski had missed an extra point that loomed large. Because Brady and Gronk hooked up a few times down the stretch, the Patriots had the opportunity to tie the game if they converted fourth and goal. They did that much but could not make a two-point conversion or recover an onside kick. The Broncos took a knee on the clock and they were on to Super Bowl 50 to face the Panthers.

Poorly Played Super Bowl

This is seriously difficult Super Bowl to describe. What’s not difficult? Naming Von Miller as the best player on the field. C.J. Anderson and Demarcus Ware also played well for Denver. Kona Ealy was out of his mind for the Panthers. And Jordan Norwood made a huge play with a 61-yard punt return.

The Broncos finished with less than 200 total yards, 11 first downs and 1 for 14 on third down conversions. Peyton Manning was a shell of his former self in what was the worst offensive performance by a winning team in Super Bowl history. They had two possessions the entire day where they moved the ball…the first one of each half and both ended in three points.

Dominant Denver Defense

The good news for the Broncos is their defense was something fierce. Miller was responsible for the first touchdown in the game when he strip-sacked Newton. Malik Jackson fell on it for the 10-0 lead. The Panthers struck back quickly and scored on a Jonathan Stewart run.

In the second half, Newton hit Ted Ginn for a big play that led to a field-goal miss. He later connected with Corey Brown on a huge gainer that led to a Graham Gano field goal make. The score was 16-10 when the teams traded punts and sacks, then they traded even

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more punts and sacks. Other than not being able to throw, run, catch, block or tackle, Carolina played pretty good ball.

Finally, on a third and nine from their own 25, Miller caused Newton to fumble again. The Broncos recovered as Newton was lambasted by the media for not trying to recover the ball. A few plays later, Anderson punched it in to end the competitive nature of the ball game.

Manning retired after the victory. He went out at top playing his worst. But, Super Bowl victories do not have to come with style points. And, for a fan of defense, this was a beautiful game. Von Miller will someday be in the Hall of Fame and this game will be the signature performance of his career.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills