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The debilitating effect of pigskin kryptonite
Cold, Hard Football Facts for January 15, 2006
It doesn't take long for history to come unglued in the NFL postseason. Consider how history has changed since Denver's 27-13 win over New England last night:
- Bill Belichick no longer has the best postseason record in history – he's now 11-2 (.846) and will have to win eight straight playoff games to recapture the title from Vince Lombardi (9-1, .900).
- Tom Brady is no longer unbeaten in the playoffs – that history-making aura of invincibility will never return.
- New England is no longer a threat to become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls – we see now why nobody's done it. It seems virtually impossible to play at such a high level and have everything go your way for so long.
"It was like watching a superhero die," said a Patriots fan named Frank in an e-mail to us last night.
Well, the Patriots certainly aren't superheroes and emotions always fail to register on our lard-encrusted souls. But New England did succumb to the debilitating effects of pigskin kryptonite: turnovers.
In its 10-game postseason win streak that led to three Super Bowl championships in four years, New England was virtually flawless handling the ball: The Patriots coughed up the ball just six times in 10 games and had a +21 turnover margin, while Brady boasted the lowest interception rate in postseason history. They're truly eye-popping figures that made New England appear virtually unbeatable against the best the NFL could throw its way.
But last night New England was first wobbled then toppled by a heavy dose of this gridiron kryptonite.
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Last 10 playoff games |
Last night |
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Turnovers |
6 |
5 |
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Takeaways |
27 |
1 |
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Differential |
+21 |
-4 |
New England seemed to do everything it needed to do to win. It mimimalized the vaunted Denver running game (32 carries for 96 yards, 3.0 YPC). Brady carried the offense with 341 passing yards despite constant pressure and no threat of a running game. Jake Plummer passed for a mere 197 yards. New England picked up 420 yards of offense. Denver gained 286. New England averaged an impressive 7.4 yards per play but scored just 13 points. Denver gained a mere 4.8 yards per play but generated 27 points.
Twenty-four of Denver's 27 points came off of turnovers.
The turning-point turnover occurred in the third quarter. New England trailed 10-6 but was driving for a go-ahead score when Brady was picked off in the end zone by Champ Bailey, who returned it 100 yards all the way to the New England 1. Mike Anderson scored on the next play. A likely 13-10 New England lead was quickly turned into a definite 17-6 Denver lead
The debilitating effect of pigskin kryptonite quickly infected every aspect of the team:
- Brady, normally flawless in the postseason with 3 INTs in 10 games, tossed 2 INTs in one game.
- Troy Brown, normally as sure-handed as any player in football, muffed a punt return and the ball was recovered by Denver.
- Adam Vinatieri, normally the most clutch kicker in football, missed a fourth-quarter field goal.
- Willie McGinest, normally a big-game postseason leader, was seen shoving teammate Larry Izzo on the sideline.
Yes, even New England's famed "team-first" philosophy fell apart as New England wobbled and hobbled under the crushing weight of five turnovers.
New England fans can play the "we would have won if" game, but that doesn't cut it under the scrutiny of the Cold, Hard Football Facts. For years, New England fans said the superior turnover margin in the playoffs was not luck but a sign that the Patriots were a better team. Well, you can't have it both ways.
The better team does not commit five turnovers. The better team forces five turnovers. The better team does not give up 24 points off turnovers. The better team scores 24 points off turnovers.
For 10 straight postseason games, New England was the better team. Last night, Denver was the better team.
Just as it had been from the start of the season.
The pigskin kryptonite the Broncos carried onto the field last night merely served to prove the point.
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