5 Unsung Heroes from Super Bowl LI
By Mike Silva
What. A. Game.
I don't need to get into details about the game. I'm sure 90% of all your water cooler conversations at work today revolved around the unforgettable Super Bowl LI.
If you were under a rock or you blacked out from celebrating an Atlanta win midway through the 3rd quarter and just emerged from a drunker stupor, here's the quick recap:
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Deion Jones continues his run of excellent defensive play by stripping New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount in the second quarter. Falcons go on to score and take the lead, 7-0.
After more futility from the Pats offense, Atlanta gets the ball and scores again, 14-0.
Tom Brady marches New England down near the redzone, hoping to cut the deficit to one score or 11 points at the most. Disaster strikes. An uncharacteristic pick-6 puts the game at 21-0.
Pats drive down and eek out a field goal going into the half down 21-3.
Back-to-back punts leave the Falcons with another scoring drive, putting the game seemingly out of reach at 28-3.
Brady gives the Pats their first touchdown drive after both a 4th down conversion and a 15-yard scramble. After a missed PAT, Pats still down 28-9.
After only managing a field goal, the game is at least in two-possession range. Pats linebacker Donta Hightower blindsides Matt Ryan and forces a huge turnover deep in Falcons territory.
Brady hits Danny Amendola for a touchdown. James White brings back flashes of Houston's last Super Bowl in 2004 with a direct snap rush up the gut. 28-20.
Falcons drive down the field and stall. Questionable play calls end the drive with a punt to the Pats.
Lucky catches finally make their way in helping instead of hurting the Pats fate. Julian Edelman reels in a tipped pass around the two-minute mark to setup what would lead to a scoring drive. A TD run up the middle by White followed by a screen pass for two to Amendola, tie ballgame.
The first overtime Super Bowl ever. Coin toss. Pats ball. At this point, was there any doubt?
2nd and goal from the one. Brady tosses the ball back to White. White cuts outside, bangs into a couple of Falcons defenders, dives for the endzone and brakes the plane, almost levitating as he sails into the paint. 34-28. Patriots pull off the greatest Super Bowl comeback ever.
So what made this possible? Of course, the MVP of the game (Brady) turned around what looked to be his worst professional outing ever. Edelman and Hightower made probably the two biggest plays of the game. But who else made a difference?
1. James White
Go back and watch the highlights. This NFL entry is about 20 minutes long but it really abridges the game nicely.
Every single time the Pats were backed against the wall, who bailed them out? James White.
Not only did he break a record with his 14 catches, tallying 110 receiving yards, he also added two rushing scores (including the game winner), caught the Pats first TD of the game, and Kevin Faulked into the endzone for the pivotal two-point conversion that made this a one possession game.
Brady felt like White was the MVP, as did Blount. Maybe he'll get Brady's MVP truck, like Malcolm Butler did two years ago.
2. Danny Amendola
Dola was another big player when it mattered. He caught the TD that prefaced the Faulk-like direct snap 2PAT that brought this to a one score game.
He caught the two-point attempt that tied the game (even though it would've been a free play since Atlanta jumped offsides).
Probably his biggest contribution, and one that gets overlooked, is the 4th down catch he hauled in to extend the Pats first TD drive. If he drops that, Falcons take over on New England's 40, up 28-3 with about 23 minutes left to play. Game over in all likelihood.
Don't forget about his big catch in OT either. It was more about the throw by Tom, but it was important nonetheless.
3. Trey Flowers
The preseason is just the preseason, but ever since August, defensive end Trey Flowers has been impressing everyone who's kept a close eye on the Pats.
His 2.5 sacks led the team for the game, momentum he began developing throughout the entire postseason.
No play was bigger than his 2nd down sack of Matt Ryan late in the fourth quarter, which led the domino effect of knocking Atlanta out of game-clinching field goal range.
You'd have to think Flowers becomes a mainstay on the team with Jabaal Sheard's impending free agency upon us.
4. Malcolm Mitchell
The young guys really came to play in the big game.
While the stats aren't awe-inspiring (6 catches, 70 yards), rookie wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell was a rock when the team needed him most.
In the 4th quarter, Mitchell's trusty hands were called upon often by Brady. In the game-tying drive, Mitchell even catches a pass after he fell to the floor!
What makes this even better is Mitchell's background. He's written a children's book, was a 4th round pick in this year's draft, and somehow only missed a month of gametime after a nasty dislocated elbow in a meaningless preseason game.
5. Grady Jarrett
I didn't want to snub the Falcons entirely here. In all honesty, they outplayed the Pats and were maybe the better team.
There are too many players to give credit to, but none more than defensive lineman Grady Jarrett.
Jarrett came into the game with 4.5 career sacks and added 3 in the big game alone. His interior pressure on Brady brought many Pats fans nightmare flashbacks to Super Bowls past.
Had Jarrett not been in Brady's face all game, this is likely a blowout the other way.