SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Sony Michel scoring the lone landing in Tremendous Bowl LIII.
Malcolm Mitchell choosing up 4 fourth-quarter first downs in the course of the 28-3 comeback in Tremendous Bowl LI.
And, after all, Malcolm Butler choosing off Russell Wilson on the aim line to win Tremendous Bowl XLIX.
The video games that capped the Patriots’ final three championship seasons — 2014, 2016 and 2018 — all featured pivotal contributions from rookies.
Who would possibly be a part of that listing this Sunday when New England and Seattle sq. off in Tremendous Bowl LX? There’s no scarcity of candidates on this Patriots squad, which is among the youngest in current Tremendous Bowl historical past.
First-year gamers accounted for 18.2% of New England’s total snaps performed this season, in keeping with ESPN, the very best mark by any Tremendous Bowl participant since not less than 2007. The Patriots’ 53-man roster options 13 rookies, 9 of whom noticed motion within the AFC Championship Recreation in opposition to Denver. Three are starters, not counting kicker Andy Borregales and lengthy snapper Julian Ashby.
“A number of playmakers, man,” veteran cornerback Carlton Davis mentioned. “Guys who are available and contribute. I feel that’s how one can fee a rookie class, by what number of of them are contributing to the staff’s success. There’s a number of them. … So a lot of them.”
Which of these children is most certainly to swing Sunday’s recreation at Levi’s Stadium? For a lot of the season, operating again TreVeyon Henderson would have topped that listing.
The second-round draft decide was a big-play machine from October by December, dashing for 911 yards and 9 touchdowns in the course of the common season whereas averaging 5.1 yards per carry. However Henderson hasn’t been the identical impression participant in his first NFL postseason (2.4 yards per rush on 24 makes an attempt with no touchdowns), and he hardly performed in opposition to the Broncos.
His AFC Championship stat line: 4 snaps, three carries, 5 yards.
Ditto for large receiver Kyle Williams. The third-rounder hauled in three lengthy landing passes in the course of the second half of the common season however has caught only one ball within the playoffs — a 7-yard pickup within the wild-card spherical in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers. (Undrafted slot receiver Efton Chism III was inactive in opposition to Denver, pushed out of the gameday lineup by Mack Hollins’ return from injured reserve.)
Nonetheless, Henderson and Williams each have confirmed they will rating from wherever on the sector if given the possibility. The pair mixed for touchdowns of 33, 37, 52, 55, 65, 69 and 72 yards this season.
Up entrance, it is going to be a win for the Patriots if left sort out Will Campbell and left guard Jared Wilson — the primary rookie O-line duo to start out a Tremendous Bowl — spend most of Sunday night time outdoors of the highlight. These playoffs have been an journey for Campbell, particularly, who’s had points defending Drake Maye from a parade of proficient edge rushers. The Seahawks’ protection, whereas not fairly as sack-happy because the Texans’ and Broncos’, is arguably the NFL’s greatest.
“I feel they’re proficient,” head coach Mike Vrabel mentioned of Campbell and Wilson, who each had been Week 1 starters. “I feel they’ve labored. I feel they’ve tried to get higher every week. There are some matchups on this league which can be powerful. They’ve had some actually good performs; they’ve had some performs that they’d wish to have again. However they’re on the market for probably the most half on a regular basis working towards, bettering, working collectively.”
Defensively, undrafted edge rusher Elijah Ponder has three fumble recoveries in his final eight video games, together with one in opposition to the Broncos that ought to have resulted in a Patriots landing (officers initially dominated it a ahead cross and blew the play useless whereas Ponder was sprinting towards the top zone).
Third-round security Craig Woodson, who leads all Patriots rookies in whole snaps performed, additionally has been a difference-maker this postseason. He recorded an interception, a fumble restoration and three passes defended within the divisional spherical in opposition to Houston, then broke up one other cross within the AFC title recreation.
The Patriots’ offense has scored simply 5 touchdowns by three playoff video games,
“We have now a number of help from the employees and our teammates,” Woodson mentioned. “All people’s simply coming in collectively and attempting to only make performs, bro. We’re on the market, we’re assured. We have now a great (rookie) class, and I’m positive we’re going proceed to make performs because the years go on.”
After which there’s Borregales, who already has one game-winning subject aim on his quick NFL resume (Week 5 at Buffalo). Exterior of his two missed kicks within the Denver present, the sixth-round pick of Miami has been a dependable leg for Vrabel’s membership, making 84.4% of his subject objectives and 96.4% of his further factors in the course of the common season.
Borregales additionally transformed all three of his field-goal tries in his playoff debut in opposition to the Chargers —- outscoring New England’s offense by himself in a 16-3 victory — and is 6-for-6 on PATs thus far this postseason.
“We’re right here to provide them confidence and belief in what they’re speculated to be doing, making a connection and attempting to develop them,” Vrabel mentioned. “After which the participant’s job is to go on the market and discover a function and proceed to enhance and assist us win. We’ve had a number of guys like that this season.”
