New England Patriots
When the Patriots take the sector Sunday evening towards the Seahawks, it is going to mark the twelfth Tremendous Bowl look in franchise historical past and the tenth this century.
SAN FRANCISCO — A humorous factor occurs when a soccer franchise makes a behavior over a technology or two of showing in Tremendous Bowls: It’s virtually inevitable that historical past will repeat itself in a technique or one other.
When the Patriots take the sector Sunday evening towards the Seahawks, it is going to mark the twelfth Super Bowl look in franchise historical past and the tenth this century.
It’s inconceivable in the mean time to mission how the sport would possibly play out. But it surely’s a near-certainty that some pivotal plot twist will remind us of one thing that has occurred within the franchise’s six Tremendous Bowl victories or, sure, their 5 losses.
With that in thoughts, let’s take a look again on the Patriots’ earlier Tremendous Bowls, and think about which sparkles of historical past could recur . . .
Tremendous Bowl XX: Bears 46, Patriots 10. Richard Dent is within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame partially attributable to his dominating efficiency (two pressured fumbles, 1.5 quarterback sacks, a deflected move, roughly 95 quarterback hurries) within the greatest rout in Tremendous Bowl historical past to that time. The Seahawks don’t have a singular pass-rushing menace like Dent, however they’re loaded within the inside of their defensive position, deep in edge rushers, and are certain to check rookie left sort out Will Campbell.
Super Bowl XXXI: Packers 35, Patriots 21. The Patriots might have gained their first Tremendous Bowl throughout the 1996 season, regardless of Invoice Parcells all however carrying a Jets jacket on the sideline. A Curtis Martin 18-yard landing run reduce the Packers result in 27-21 within the third quarter. However Desmond Howard blew by the center of the Patriots’ kick protection crew for a 99-yard return TD on the following kickoff. Warning: Seahawks trade-deadline pickup Rashid Shaheed is a Howard-caliber return man.
Super Bowl XXXVI: Patriots 20, Rams 17. “And it’s proper down the pipe. [Pause.] Adam Vinatieri, no time on the clock. And the Patriots have gained Tremendous Bowl 36.” Pat Summerall’s spare name of Vinatieri’s profitable 48-yard discipline purpose was good. Surprise what Mike Tirico will say if Andy Borregales finds himself in an identical spot Sunday evening.
Super Bowl XXXVIII: Patriots 32, Panthers 29. Can’t clarify it and I’m not going to aim to, however I’ve had an odd feeling over the previous few days that Tremendous Bowl LX could effectively play out like this. The groups engaged in a rock battle for 3 quarters — the Patriots led, 14-10, getting into the fourth — earlier than it out of the blue became an Enviornment League matchup, with 37 whole factors scored within the remaining 12 minutes. Drake Maye is nearly definitely going to must hit on a number of massive performs for the Patriots to prevail. And he’s typically his sharpest late in video games.
Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots 24, Eagles 21. I don’t imagine there’s a loudmouth receiver on these Seahawks who’s about to get his comeuppance like Freddie Mitchell did on this one. However it’s greater than believable {that a} Patriots receiver — Stefon Diggs, or maybe the nationally unsung Kayshon Boutte — might find yourself having an affect like Deion Department (11 catches, 133 yards) did in profitable Tremendous Bowl MVP honors.
Super Bowl XLII: Giants 17, Patriots 14; Super Bowl XLVI: Giants 21, Patriots 17. We’ll pair the 2 Giants losses, to spare you an excessive amount of revisiting these heartbreaks, but additionally to notice a typical thread apart from … effectively, these heartbreaks. The Patriots had a big harm concern getting into each — Tom Brady’s ankle in XLII, and Rob Gronkowski’s even worse ankle harm in XLVI. Brady was hindered, whereas the Giants shortly discovered that Gronk was unable to do something however act as a decoy. I imagine Maye’s shoulder is ok. But when it’s not, the Seahawks will know instantly.
Super Bowl XLIX: Patriots 28, Seahawks 24. Malcolm Butler is the best relatively-anonymous-to-hero-for-all-time story in Patriots lore. Will somebody whose identify isn’t atop the Patriots depth chart emerge as an instantaneous legend once more? How about rookie edge Elijah Ponder, who has a knack for being across the soccer?
Super Bowl LI: Patriots 34, Falcons 28. You already know, I don’t suppose anybody will probably be getting back from a 28-3 deficit on this one. However how about one other extra time sport, simply the third in Tremendous Bowl historical past? Higher determine a method to sneak James White on the roster simply in case.
Super Bowl LII: Eagles 41, Patriots 33. Can’t consider something from this one which I count on to see once more, however I do know one thing that I don’t need to see. Please, Josh McDaniels, no trickeration move performs the place Maye finally ends up because the receiver.
Super Bowl LIII: Patriots 13, Rams 3. Tom Brady’s 29-yard move to a triple-covered Rob Gronkowski, which arrange the one landing of the sport, was top-of-the-line throws of his unparalleled profession. Probably the most satisfying method for the Patriots to win come Sunday evening might be if Maye can muster an instantly unforgettable throw of his personal in a vital scenario, simply as his personal profession ascends.
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