But it wasn’t terribly original. The teams that give the Patriots trouble - the Jets, Ravens, and the Cowboys and Browns with Rob Ryan - have done the same thing.
It’s just the Patriots usually have two things that help them win out in the end: a dangerous Rob Gronkowski and excellent execution. The offense had neither down the stretch in what looked to be a cavalcade of errors that should have just about everyone kicking themselves during the offseason.
Even the coaching staff didn’t appear immune. It was stunning to see that on the biggest play of the season - third and 11 at the Giants 44-yard line with 4:00 to play - the personnel for Brady to throw to was running back Danny Woodhead, tackle/third tight end Nate Solder, and receivers Wes Welker, Deion Branch, and Chad Ochocinco.
In a season defined by the two-headed tight end monster of Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, neither was on the field with a Super Bowl in the balance.
Wow.
That was just one questionable play in the final 21:37 for an offense that experienced two sacks, six quarterback hurries, three quarterback knockdowns, three drops, two stuffed runs, and an interception - among other miscues - in its 28 snaps.
A rundown of some of the miscues:
Patriots 17, Giants 12, 6:37 left, third quarter First and 10, New England 17: The Patriots went back to the same outside sweep that had picked up 17 yards earlier in the game. It’s a play they hardly ever ran during the regular season. They knew they had a good game-plan-specific play, and went back to it. Instead of staying outside, BenJarvus Green-Ellis cut it back when he saw a hole but was swallowed up after a 2-yard gain by Jason Pierre-Paul (who had beaten Brian Waters) and linebacker Chase Blackburn. If Green-Ellis stayed outside, the play was set up again. But he didn’t.
Second and 8, NE 19: Brady didn’t have anything open but a dump-off to fullback Lousaka Polite, as the Giants dropped eight into coverage, so he threw it away after 6.62 seconds.
