The 2001 New England Patriots: Looking Back

Brady was having a good game, going 12-18 for 115 yards when he suffered a knee injury on a hit by Safety Lee Flowers. 

Entering the game was Drew Bledsoe, who had not played since suffering that brutal injury in week two. However, he drove the team down the field and even gave the fans some concern, scrambling for four yards in a play that looked eerily similar to the Mo Lewis play.

Bledsoe connected with David Patten on an 11 yard touchdown pass with 58 seconds left in the half, giving the Patriots a 14-3 lead going into halftime.

The Patriots had another big special teams play, as a blocked FG attempt was returned for a touchdown by Antwan Harris, who caught a lateral from Troy Brown and took the ball 49 yards for the score.

The Patriots won the game 24-17 and advanced to the Super Bowl for the third time in team history.

The Rams were a tough match up for the Patriots, as their explosive offense made it hard for teams to stop them. Thankfully, the Patriots had already played them earlier in the season and had an idea of what they had to do. 

The Patriots entered the game as a team, and they left as the best team, physically dominating the Rams wide receivers and making big plays at key moments, like the Ty Law interception and Antwan Harris' forced fumble. 

The Patriots sputtered in the second half and watched their lead disappear. It was now 17-17 with 1:30 left in the game.

Tom Brady had been waiting his entire life for this moment. 

While some analysts thought that the Patriots should simply kill the clock and win it in overtime, the Patriots thought differently—even with no timeouts remaining. 

Brady made three key throws to RB J.R. Redmond, a 23 yard pass to Troy Brown, and six yard pass to TE Jermaine Wiggins. 

Spiking the ball with seven seconds left, the season would once again ride on the leg of Adam Vinatieri.

Adam blasted a 48 yard field goal, giving the Patriots their first Super Bowl title in franchise history on the final play of the game.

I called my Dad again, going insane on the phone. 

I could not believe what I had just seen.

This one season single-handedly changed the culture of not only New England football, but New England sports in general. Redefining excellence was what this team was all about.

Without the 2001 Patriots, who knows if there would be two more Lombardi Trophies this decade.

The 2001 Patriots were the ultimate team. One that will never be forgotten in the annals of Boston sports.

Owner Robert Kraft said it best that day, "Today, we are all Patriots." 

We still are, Bob.

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