So why did the Falcons lose?

PoS said:

Even if they couldnt get any runs going, the Falcons were still within FG range on that last series. Just do one running play and kick the FG. That would given them an 11 point lead with 2 minutes left. Even if the Pats scored 8 they would have still won the game by taking a knee afterwards. Either way it looks, they blew it.

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Nothing is for sure. The Pats could have stuffed the run in the backfield. They were in field goal range at the long end of that range. Field goals are not guaranteed especially at range. Thing is everyone keeps saying the Falcons choked, or blew the win. They are wrong. The Falcons based their plays on down and distance and what was working, which to the Pats credit not too much was. On the other hand the plays they did run if they worked would have broke the Patriots back. Don't take anything from the Falcons and give the Pats more credit. They EARNED that win.

PirateMk1 said:

Nothing is for sure. The Pats could have stuffed the run in the backfield. They were in field goal range at the long end of that range. Field goals are not guaranteed especially at range. Thing is everyone keeps saying the Falcons choked, or blew the win. They are wrong. The Falcons based their plays on down and distance and what was working, which to the Pats credit not too much was. On the other hand the plays they did run if they worked would have broke the Patriots back. Don't take anything from the Falcons and give the Pats more credit. They EARNED that win.

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Stuffed running plays dont net -12 yards like what sacks get. The numbers are clear- the Falcons had a 25 point lead and blew it.

MaggieD said:

I have what is probably a dumb theory, but hear me out.

The Falcons were hot-hot-hot in the first half. They were pumped. I think their adrenaline went on overload and finally gave out as they mistakenly thought they had the game in the bag. When the human body is filled with adrenaline, and the "threat" or excitement passes, there's payback. I think that's what happened to the Falcons. They simply ran out of steam.

Did anyone see the owner and his wife on the sidelines when the score was 28-20 and the Pats were driving? They looked devastated. And in the overtime, the camera also panned to them and, if possible, they looked even MORE devastated. They knew they'd lost. I think they knew in their hearts their team was spent.

I was glad the Pats won, but sad the Falcons lost. I missed DPs ongoing analysis...

To what do you equate this devastating loss?

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One of the most important rules in eliminating a threat is to keep up your response until you are SURE the threat is over. The Falcons failed to do that.

PoS said:

Stuffed running plays dont net -12 yards like what sacks get. The numbers are clear- the Falcons had a 25 point lead and blew it.

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Even if that FG was missed, if the Falcons ran 3 running plays instead of passes that stopped the clock, the running plays would have made the Pats use 1 or 2 of their TO's. Giving Brady the ball with 3 mins. left and 3 TO's left is suicide. Him getting a TD then was a given, the only question was if they were going to get the 2 point conversion.

PoS said:

Stuffed running plays dont net -12 yards like what sacks get. The numbers are clear- the Falcons had a 25 point lead and blew it.

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I watched the game a couple of times because I like the nuts and bolts of football. It wasn't a choke, it was an epic stand by the Pats D, and the Pats offence simply wore out the Atlanta D. Their hands were on their hips most of the fourth quarter. The Falcons kicked the crap out of the Pats in the first half and the Pats hammered the Falcons in the second and had the ball last. Like I said classic heavy weight match up.

They couldn't turn that Julio Jones STUNNER of a catch into a FG.


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I think the outcome was a combination...

A masterful 4th quarter by the Pats - who played flawlessly and leveraged all Falcons mental/physical miscue's into points.

Luck - I've never seen anything quite like Julian Edelman's clutch catch. Edelman himself called the catch 70% luck and 30% skill.

The Falcons coaching staff choked - OC Shanahan should have run the ball on 3rd and 1, and run the ball on the next drive to set up a field goal (31-20). HC Quinn should have overruled Shanahan.

I think the Falcons were already sizing their super bowl rings at halftime... Hell,, even I said this game is over....
It was gut wrenching to see the falcons owners face as the 4th quarter evolved...

I don't know if I would call it the greatest superbowl ever..

greatest come back?? Oh yea... Big Pats fan here..

Lets face it,, only the 4th quarter was exciting

Half time was pretty good,, I am no gaga fan by any means,, but I enjoyed the show..

As far a Brady being the best ever.. Sure ,, in his era.. football was a lot rougher 20 - 30 years ago, He would have taken some more vicious hits..

whats really scary,, They very possibly may win another ( or even 2 more ) superbowls.. they have the perfect team right now.. ( even with Gronk on the bench)

djl

MaggieD said:

I have what is probably a dumb theory, but hear me out.

The Falcons were hot-hot-hot in the first half. They were pumped. I think their adrenaline went on overload and finally gave out as they mistakenly thought they had the game in the bag. When the human body is filled with adrenaline, and the "threat" or excitement passes, there's payback. I think that's what happened to the Falcons. They simply ran out of steam.

Did anyone see the owner and his wife on the sidelines when the score was 28-20 and the Pats were driving? They looked devastated. And in the overtime, the camera also panned to them and, if possible, they looked even MORE devastated. They knew they'd lost. I think they knew in their hearts their team was spent.

I was glad the Pats won, but sad the Falcons lost. I missed DPs ongoing analysis...

To what do you equate this devastating loss?

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Actually, I think you nailed it.

The coaching staff in situations like that needs to put a flame thrower on the team during halftime. I would have bet each of them $$$ they couldn't beat their 1st half individual stats.

I found myself wanting the Falcons to win, just because the Pats have so many titles already. Underdog time. They DID rule the first half...

MaggieD said:

I have what is probably a dumb theory, but hear me out.

The Falcons were hot-hot-hot in the first half. They were pumped. I think their adrenaline went on overload and finally gave out as they mistakenly thought they had the game in the bag. When the human body is filled with adrenaline, and the "threat" or excitement passes, there's payback. I think that's what happened to the Falcons. They simply ran out of steam.

Did anyone see the owner and his wife on the sidelines when the score was 28-20 and the Pats were driving? They looked devastated. And in the overtime, the camera also panned to them and, if possible, they looked even MORE devastated. They knew they'd lost. I think they knew in their hearts their team was spent.

I was glad the Pats won, but sad the Falcons lost. I missed DPs ongoing analysis...

To what do you equate this devastating loss?

Click to expand...

The defense was on the field for way too long, this drained their power so badly that when push came to shove, they no longer had the energy to shove. And when Brady drives, he drives, he can go fast without giving the defense enough times to change out players (if they have enough quality to change out the players on the field).

And their offense was on the field so sparingly, getting up to speed/in the groove was maybe not possible because unlike the Falcons defense, the Patriots defense was well rested. That may not have been such an issue when the adrenaline fueled offense was hot to trot, fresh on the field and running as you said on adrenaline. But if you sit out so long while the Patriots are on the field for long stretches of time, that energy (call it adrenaline) will start to drop and when that drops the brain starts working on a different level IMHO, rational thoughts come back into play, nerves start playing up, etc. etc. etc.

All those things (together with maybe questionable offensive decisions) added up to a tired defense, a shaky offense at the same moment when the Patriots defense started running wild and their offense started finding their groove.

That is at least how I see it.

After a certain point, it all boils down to luck.

MaggieD said:

I have what is probably a dumb theory, but hear me out.

The Falcons were hot-hot-hot in the first half. They were pumped. I think their adrenaline went on overload and finally gave out as they mistakenly thought they had the game in the bag. When the human body is filled with adrenaline, and the "threat" or excitement passes, there's payback. I think that's what happened to the Falcons. They simply ran out of steam.

Did anyone see the owner and his wife on the sidelines when the score was 28-20 and the Pats were driving? They looked devastated. And in the overtime, the camera also panned to them and, if possible, they looked even MORE devastated. They knew they'd lost. I think they knew in their hearts their team was spent.

I was glad the Pats won, but sad the Falcons lost. I missed DPs ongoing analysis...

To what do you equate this devastating loss?

Click to expand...

to not running the ball....keep that clock running, and odds are you don't leave enough time for the final drive to tie