Wes Welker and Super Bowl XLVI: The One That Got Away

Just by looking at the receiving statistics next to Wes Welker’s name, it would be easy to assume that Super Bowl XLVI was a fairly unspectacular day for New England’s undrafted wide receiver from Texas Tech. He connected with 7 of 8 passes for a total of 60 yards at an average of 8.6 yards per catch.

But what is spectacular about these statistics is how much can be said with so little. Seven of 8 passes. That is what will stick in his mind, and that is what will be dwelled upon as the victory parade winds its way through the streets of New York.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way.

Players who arrive into the NFL as an undrafted free agent are often the hardest working players on their teams—they have a chip on their shoulder and a point to prove, with the ultimate aim being to show all the teams that passed them by that they were wrong. It’s a classic underdog story and one which Welker seemed to be poised to claim as his own going into the Super Bowl.

After being traded to the Patriots by the Miami Dolphins in 2007, Welker came into his own, leading the league in receptions in both 2007 and 2009, as well as holding the top four single season reception totals in franchise history. This season was no different as Welker stormed out of the blocks to connect with a 99-yard pass in Week 1 (equaling the NFL record), inspiring his team to a win over his former employers the Dolphins in the process.

At the end of the regular season he had 122 receptions to his name and averaged 98.5 yards a game–only Calvin Johnson would better him. Even though it wasn’t even necessary by now, Welker had proved that he deserved to be included amongst the elite.

Only one thing remained—the Super Bowl.

In Super Bowl XLII, Welker was the top receiver on either team with 11 receptions for 103 yards. Only fourth quarter heroics from Eli Manning would ruin a perfect season for both Welker and the Pats, with the Giants’ own underdog story becoming the focus of the press in the wake of their victory.

This season’s playoffs had barely gotten underway before there were whispers of a rematch between the Giants and the Patriots. The performance of the Giants improved through each round, and these whispers intensified until they were proved prophetical.

The stage was set—with 4:09 remaining in the fourth, Tom Brady stepped back and launched the ball towards Welker, wide open on the Giants 20-yard line. He rose to catch the ball, complete the first down and continue the Patriots' drive to the end zone with a 9-point lead surely beyond even Eli Manning’s reach as the dream of the Lombardi trophy suddenly became very real.

With 4:02 on the clock, both Welker and the ball were on the ground—but not together. On third down, the Pats again failed to convert and resorted to a punt, which resulted in a Manning-led 88-yard touchdown drive and a repeat result of Super Bowl XLII.

It was supposed to be the final defiance of the teams that said Wes Welker wasn’t good enough. To all those teams, he was supposed to be "The One That Got Away."

But in the end, that turned out to be something very different.