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From the Bleachers by Cormac Eklof

Drive to extinction: Patriots 7:45 long drive leads directly to demise

Posted on Monday, January 17, 2011 at 01:46 AM

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Cold, grey January morning here in Dublin. Perfect weather to wake up to a world where Rex Ryan is right, and Braylon Edwards is still in the playoffs. A good friend sent me a short, despairing text which said simply; ‘Brady has lost his magic.’ He’s not alone in thinking that, and all over the globe Patriots fans are questioning how their team lost to the offensively challenged Jets.

However, as with everything in life, the simplest explanation is the most logical explanation.

The Patriots made a key stop with the majority of the fourth quarter remaining. They were only 10 points down. A quick, efficient scoring drive would have given them a Vince Wilfork sized portion of tasty wiggle room. This was easy to envisage as they had sped down the field like an Olympic sprinter on the previous drive, scoring easily after chucking the ball around the park a few times.

The Patriots embarked on their crucial drive, and 7 minutes and 45 seconds later their season was effectively over.

Instead of launching a quick strike attack, something these Patriots are not only famous for, but infinitely well equipped for also, they instead spilled out onto the field into a turgid, slow, painful drive that had players, coaches and indeed fans livid on the field, sideline and sofas. The drive to extinction for the 2010/2011 Patriots started at their own 18. It took 14 plays to make 48 yards (3.4 yards a play) and it ended on downs when Brady and Branch couldn’t hook up down the left sideline.

Side-note, the Patriots could have attempted a 52 yard field goal instead of a 13 yard first down, and you would imagine in hindsight they may have taken that option. But, what is it they say about hindsight?

Two factors on ‘the drive’ would add up to equal fatality. The Patriots looked very, very slow and lethargic out of the huddle. They frequently allowed the play clock to click down to 04, 03 and 02 seconds before running off a play. As the game clock ticked down towards single digits, you were left wondering, ‘what’s the plan here?!’ Secondly, were 7 running plays really going to get the job done at that stage? 7 ineffective run plays, when the Patriots needed to score quickly, stop the Jets and then score again.

You really need look no further at all to find the source of the end of the Patriots season. Brady has not lost his magic, in fact he looked superb on the previous drive. There is no great mystique here. A slow, ultimately ineffective drive killed them off. There is nothing or no one else to blame. The Jets won fair and square, and their class-less, idiotic and childish celebrations at game end were only to be expected from a team as arrogant and mouthy as they are.

The Patriots have only themselves to blame, and that’s what stings perhaps the most.

Now, when do pitchers and catchers report?

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JoanKaren | Jan 19, 2011, 09:10 PM EST

The Pats believed their own publicity. Glad to see them get trounced. Now, on to Pittsburgh and that pervert of a quarterback, Super Bowl, here we come!!!

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tippboy | Jan 17, 2011, 04:55 PM EST

The Patriots were outcoached and outplayed both on offense and defense. Brady was confused by the coverage and the coverage led to 5 sacks by the Jets. The fake punt attempt was a ridiculous decision. As far as the Jets celebrations were concerned, they were only responding to the ignorant,foul-mouthed, front-running Pats fans who booed their team at half time and were pouring out of the stadium well before the end. Face facts - Brady and Belichick have now lost their last three post-season games, in each of which they were heavily favored. Seems like they've lost their mojo also!!

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seagreen | Jan 17, 2011, 01:39 PM EST

I don't really care, but can anyone on this site give an example of something bad this guy has done?(Brady) Brawling in bars? No Being an abusive person? No Suspected illegal behavior? No Involved in domestic violence? No Tied to drug usage? No He is guilty of being a great quarterback who is married to drop dead good looking wife, who probably makes more than he does, and is not a rump swab for the media lice. I suspect that that in itself is enough to irritate any one that is not in his inner circle of friends

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seagreen | Jan 17, 2011, 01:27 PM EST

I watched Unitas at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Great player. Generally speaking, the players are much better now, they are faster, and in better condition. the older players were slower,looked and acted like the fans, which perhaps endeared them to the old fans to this day. They all had crew cuts too! With all of his marketing contracts, his wife (who is Brazillian). knows the value of longer hair. The crew cut works in the US, but not in the rest of the world. I think Brady and his wife are looking down the road when football is done. (which could be any time)

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Pittsburghkid | Jan 17, 2011, 12:47 PM EST

Brady has a helmet problem, his head is too big. He is one of the best, but he lost his humility. Now in Pittsburgh, Ben was knocked down a pag or two, and got humility. Although, I think it is New Yorks year, because of Santanio Holmes. Pittsburgh made a mistake trading Holmes, and that mistake is going to haunt them in the Playoffs.

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seagreen | Jan 17, 2011, 11:38 AM EST

Management calls the plays. The days of the quarterback calling them are over. Bellichek benched Welker for the entire first half, for having an opinion during the week. There was a 37 year old (that had never been sacked) calling senseless running plays in the booth. If I was a bookie, I would be highly suspect! Last year he suspended three players for being 20 mins late at 0830. This day they were late the roads were covered with ice, vehicles were overturned, and traffic was at a standstill. Sure somebody is going to say "the other players made it" They were not on the road that the cops blocked off. Managerial decisions lost the game, not the players. Perhaps the players are tiring of Bellichek'S b/s. Not that any of it matters! the only winners were the Facist hierachy and appendages of the NFL.

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DaddyMac22 | Jan 17, 2011, 11:26 AM EST

@ tsawyer42; hi there, there are a very large group of Patriots fans in Ireland, and perhaps a large part of that is the huge number of Irish students and young people that spend summers or longer in New England working summers and what not. I imagine that's a large part of it. Good point about the Steelers, they will become a well supported NFL team in Ireland, no doubt. Particularly if they beat the Jets :o)

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tsawyer42 | Jan 17, 2011, 11:12 AM EST

I think you are right about the unexplanable last drive. Too slow, too many runs. It was like they were deliberately kiling time! Where's the Belicheck magic gone? But the larger question here is why this fixation on the Patriots? What's Irish about them? I would wager that there are more people of Irish heritage in the Steeler Nation and the team is owned by the Rooney family! He's the US Ambassador to Ireland for any of the one or two people out there who didn't know.

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Siobhan39 | Jan 17, 2011, 10:04 AM EST

It's time to start cheering for the GREEN and the gold, the GREEN Bay Packers. Go Pack!!

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TheOldPerfessor | Jan 17, 2011, 09:31 AM EST

Simple case of the Patriots believing the bookies and looking past New York to the championship game. Unwise.

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cillowen | Jan 17, 2011, 09:29 AM EST

Brady is too much of a toff hanging out with the beautiful people. The heavy betting is another feature that leads one to imagine - how it can be blown.

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