I’m not sure what’s better about winning a Super Bowl – the happy, glowing feeling I’ve had all week, or being able to watch all the extensive Super Bowl coverage after the game.
The last two Super Bowls I went into a football hibernation immediately as the games ended, and have never watched Inside the NFL, Sound FX or Turning Point from either of those debacles.
All that changed this week, with each of those three programs giving great behind the scenes sites and sounds. Plus all were at least an hour long and just filled with Patriots goodness.
Here are some thing that stuck out to me in getting these revealing looks behind the game.
– Julian Edelman steals the show. We know Edelman has put together two years that have elevated him to being one of the best receivers in the game (note I didn’t give him the dreaded “slot receiver” qualifier), but this game should put Edelman up there as a Patriots’ legend. He went toe to toe with Richard Sherman and was a leader on the field, picking his teammates up throughout the game. His catch on third-and-14 will never be forgotten and was the spark that started the comeback. I was just blown away by how much heart Edelman plays with, something you can see in any game, but it’s even more magnified when you can hear what he’s saying all game long.
– It’s funny how Belichick literally uses “Do Your Job” constantly. Now that it’s been turned into a team slogan and is all over hats and t-shirts (I’d like to think I helped blaze that trail), it remains a main coaching point for BB. Getting a chance to hear him coaching up the team on both side of the ball is always a treat. I especially liked him telling Brady in the fourth quarter how Seattle was reeling on defense and would struggle to put together three good plays. The gist of the message? Just no negative plays.
– Brady’s pregame speech about being honored for winning this game got things a little misty in the Ministry of PatsPropaganda. Brady seemed locked in all game long, but it was good seeing Josh McDaniels telling Brady to let his first interception go.
– I gave Richard Sherman some credit yesterday for going to shake Brady’s hand immediately as the game ended, but Sherman also went to shake Brady’s hand after the first Seattle interception. I don’t like to celebrate a Super Bowl win at anyone’s expense, but it really feels good to shut up Sherman as far as we’re concerned for the foreseeable future.
– The Patriots short passing attack was as deadly as it’s ever been in this one, surgically picking apart the Seahawks defense. Take away Brady’s two interceptions and I’m not sure this one isn’t a Patriots blow out. The entire game plan just illustrates how well-coached and prepared the Patriots were. The Seahawks had no answers on defense. Still, some won’t give the Pats any credit for this kind of attack for whatever reason, but it’s an offense in complete harmony and it’s something special to watch.
– Found it strange how much the Seahawks were telling each other they were “the best” on the sidelines". I guess it’s a confidence thing.
– There were just as many Patriots telling each other that the loved each other. Maybe that is telling.
– The credit goes to Belichick and the Patriots coaches for the final play. This has been lost in the “should they have called timeout” or Pete Carroll’s playcalling debate. The Patriots were prepared for that play and did not flinch, even on their one-yard line. They earned this Super Bowl win and deserve more credit than they’ll probably get.
Now we just have to wait for the fourth installment of Three Games to Glory!