New England Patriots 2011 regular season Review: The search for the fourth ring continues – NFL Special Part V
Continued from part IV
At Denver
With Tom Brady on hand, Tebow time stood no chance.
The Patriots completely dominated proceedings from the off and even Tebow’s famous late fourth quarter comebacks were stopped by a fully prepared Patriots defence.
Brady passed for two touchdowns and scored one on the rush as he led New England to victory over the surging Denver Broncos.
New England won the game with a comfortable 41-23 margin and secured their spot in the playoffs while also securing the American Football Conference (AFC) East division Championship.
Against Miami
The Dolphins came to Gillette stadium looking to avenge their early season loss to the Patriots and for half of the game were on the right track to achieving that goal.
Miami took a 17-0 lead at the end of the first half of the game and looked in total control as Brady was subdued by a tight Dolphins defence.
However, they could not keep Brady out of the game for long.
The Patriots quarterback sprang into life in the second half of the game as he passed for a single touchdown while rushing for two more turning the entire game on its head.
New England took a 27-17 lead in the fourth quarter and even though the Dolphins scored a late touchdown, the Patriots still managed to win the game 27-24.
Against Buffalo
The Patriots first defeat of the season came at the hands of division rivals Buffalo Bills and New England wanted to avenge that defeat in the final game of the regular season.
The Bills ran up a 21-0 advantage in the first quarter but Brady would not stand for another defeat at the hands of Buffalo and charged the Patriots forward as they scored 49 unanswered points in the remaining 45-minutes of the game.
New England won once more and became the bookies favourites to take home the Lombardi Trophy.
Against Denver (Post-season)
New England’s 13-3 record secured them the first seed in the AFC Playoffs and a direct spot in the division rounds.
Their opponents were Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos who entered the game on the back of a huge win in the wildcard round over Pittsburgh Steelers.
Tebow’s heroics got Denver the win over Pittsburgh and Ben Roethlisberger however, against the Patriots he struggled once more.
Denver were completely outplayed all over the field and in the season’s easiest win for New England, the Patriots qualified for the AFC Championship game in style with a huge 45-10 win.
Against Baltimore (Post-season)
The Ravens unlike Denver were a much better side and the game for the AFC crown turned into a heart-pounding encounter as both teams played some amazing football.
At the end of the first half New England were ahead 13-10 but it all changed in the third quarter.
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco connected on a 29-yard pass to Torrey Smith to take the lead. Kicker Billy Cundiff’s 39-yard field goal made it 20-16 and the Patriots looked in deep trouble.
It was time for a hero and Tom Brady answered that call as he rushed for a one-yard touchdown into the end-zone that no words can do justice to.
The Patriots had won and reached a sixth Super Bowl in the Bill Belichick era.
New York Giants (SUPER BOWL XLVI)
We all know what happened in this game.
It will be enough to say that Brady’s search for that Holy Grail fourth Super Bowl ring continues still.
To be continued
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