Throwback Comeback for Pats, Brady

I entered Gillette stadium, decked out in Pat Patriot gear, last night knowing the Patriots defense was not up to speed. They lost four veterans starters from last year, Harrison and Bruschi retired. Vrabel and Seymour got shipped out of town. They will need time to gel. I predicted 35-24 Pats.

I got the Bills point total right. However, I didn’t think the offense needed time to mesh. Brady and his weapons needed 3 1/2 quarters to get back their 2007 swagger.

Brady was rusty. Welker and Moss were dropping passes.  And the Buffalo Bills were playing above their talent level. A team that was lifeless in the preseason came to play.

I was sitting in my seat in Section 336 stunned. The Patriots are losing to the Buffalo Bills? The team they have manhandled 11 straight times. You have to be kidding me?!

My heartburn was at DEFCON three. Nuclear critical mass reached.

Gillette was in shock. The only thing you could hear was the giddy laughter of some plastered Buffalo Bills fans. I said, “I can’t wait to see their faces when they lose this game!”

The clock read 5:36 remaining, The Patriots were losing 24-13 to high flying Bills. Alleged fans were filing out of the “Razor” to beat the Monday Night Football traffic.

My friend, Joe and I agreed on one thing. There was a lot of time left. We were giving the lackluster offense one more chance to shine……

And they did.

Tom Brady was playing a lot like, the throwback quarterback, Tom Ramsey(terrible QB in the 90's) for most of the game. However, the rust was coming off.  Brady was getting his swagger back.

What knee? What pick six?

Brady went into the huddle as Captain Comeback. He told his team, “We are going to win this game!”

And he did just that.

Brady was crisp. He was working the two minute offense to perfection. The Bills were in the prevent to win defense.

Brady was back.

Ben Watson, a major underachiever, stepped up and shined. He caught a TD pass from Brady at 2:06 and cut the Bills lead to 24-19(2-pt conversion failed). 

The smell of a comeback was permeating throughout the stadium. Everyone was standing up. The “fans” that made a jailbreak to their cars stopped dead in their tracks and probably kicked themselves for leaving.  The NO RE-ENTRY rule haunting them.

I learned not to leave during a close game. I learned my lesson from the Snow Bowl. Yes I left during the “Tuck” rule game.  My friend and I watched the rest of the game from the parking lot.

Fans I feel your pain. Hope you lived and learned like I did.

The Patriots were down by 5. One missed field goal and two failed 2-pt conversions meant touchdown or go home.

How do they get the ball back?

They kicked the ball deep. They put some faith into their defense. No on-side kick here.

McKelvin takes the ball a few yards deep. He runs the ball into Pierre Woods and Brandon Merriweather. 

The collision and the ball pops out. Loose piggy!

Steven Gostowski, yes the kicker, is at the bottom of the pile. He comes out with the ball. Not just a kicker, but a football player makes a pivotal play in a huge game.

The officials signaled Patriots ball and I jumped up 3 feet into my buddy’s arms. Then jumped out as quickly realizing what I have just done.

I kept saying, “I don’t want to have a long, depressing walk to my car!”

I won’t have any of that and neither did Tom Brady and the Patriots.

Brady has been here before. I believe 29 times in his career. Captain Comeback was poised for another epic performance.

My Dear Watson, please catch the ball and he did just that. The clock read 50 seconds remaining, the Pats were up 25-24, and I had a smile like the Cheshire cat!

After a failed razzle-dazzle play, the Buffalo Bills fans were calling suicide hotlines. They conjured up the evil spirits of lost Super Bowls past. I am not sure if it’s worse being a Bills or Bengals fan after week one.

This was indeed a throwback comeback. This game reminded me of the SD playoff game in 2006. The Pats were done. Brady threw a pick, but Troy Brown did not give up on the ball and stripped it from the defender.

Fitting Troy Brown was in attendance along with the rest of the 50^th Anniversary team. The likes of Bruschi, Harrison, Law, Tippett, Morgan, Haynes, and Nelson definitely rubbed off on this team. The attitude, desire, and passion that these men displayed throughout their career, was honored on the field last night.

Brady, Welker, Moss, Gostkowski, Merriweather, Watson, and Woods were the heroes this day and their fellow Patriots brothers in attendance appreciated it.

A truly throwback night!

Bring on those J-E-T-S!

Joe Gill is a featured blogger for Boston Sports Then and Now and Trufan.com