Pats Pulpit
The New England Patriots will play hosts to the Carolina Panthers this weekend, in a rematch of one of the best Super Bowls ever played. Super Bowl XXXVIII, the final game of the NFL’s 2003 season, is one for the ages — even though it tends to get overlooked because of some of the title games that followed since, including multiple that featured the Patriots as well.
That bring us to this week’s Pats Pulpit Debates question:
First some picks from our staff, and then it’s up to the comment section for your picks.
Bernd Buchmasser: Some games you just have to watch live to believe. New England’s Super Bowl against the Falcons in February 2017 is one of those. Was it the best game ever played by a Patriots team? No. Was it the best game played by that season’s Patriots team? Probably also not. Fact is, you don’t find yourself in a 28-3 hole in the late third quarter if you play a clean game.
But, the old saying about it being not about how you start but how you finish never rang truer than that day. And in just 20 minutes, the game went from, “This is a full-on disaster” to “Well, at least it won’t be that big of a blowout” to “This is getting interesting” to “They really might pull this off.” Tom Brady and company suddenly starting pushing all the right buttons, and by the time they fielded the opening kickoff of overtime the outcome seemed predetermined.
While Super Bowl XLIX against the Seahawks is a strong contender as well, the script written two years later is unparalleled.
Slot Machine Player: Best? In what manner?
Titans in the snow was FUN, and zero pressure or worry. Backups to the backups were getting 10 yards per play.
Seattle Super Bowl was the biggest RELIEF. Can’t win one after Spygate, my Aunt Fanny!
Brady dissecting the the Falcons the same year he was suspended was poetic. They finally started using the term GOAT.
Actually, I’m going Buttfumble game, because it’s the gift that keeps on giving. Can’t help butt laugh every time.
Pat Lane: Three of the best games ever played at Gillette I missed, which is funny, because I’m at so many. 2009 opener against the Bills on Monday night I was getting my Master’s degree, so I had class that night. They came back from down against the Bills, and Ben Watson had two touchdown catches in the fourth quarter. The Bills fumbled the kickoff after the first one.
The Saints game in 2013 with Kenbrell Thompkins, “Unicorns, show ponies, where’s the beef?!” I was at a wedding and my friend’s dad pulled his car around to the back of the venue and we listened to the final drive on the radio.
The 2014 AFC divisional game against the Ravens I left at halftime to take care of my 4 and 2 year olds because...
