We're reading a lot into last night's Super Bowl but what struck me was how the game turned in almost a mirror image of the Giants victory over the Pats in 2011.
In the 4th quarter, Brady throws a terrific ball into triple coverage and Gronkowski makes a superb catch near the goal line.
Later in the quarter, Goff makes a beautiful throw to a double covered Brandin Cooks. Cooks is hit as it arrives but I thought it was a manageable catch. I turned to my son after the play and exclaimed& lt; "it's the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl - you make that catch no matter what."
Both QBs rifled in beautiful passes. Gronk makes the catch; Cook doesn't; Pats win.
Then dial it back to 2011. It's a beautiful parallel. Brady heaves that pass to Wes Welker and he drops it, to Gisele's chagrin. Then Eli makes that wonderful sideline throw to Manningham. Giants win.
In each game, a split second seemed to determine the result. Flip the catches and another team probably carries the trophy. Anybody else struck by the parallel?
Yup, he was the #1 reason why the Pats lost last year too. He's just not a guy I want to go to in crunch time.
Then again, Goff threw him a floater when he as wide open in the end zone, giving the Pats DB enough time to come all the way over from his position and break it up.
If Goff fires that one in there it's a gimme TD as Cooks was wide open down the middle with his arm up calling for the ball. All he could do was wait for it to get to him in the back of the end zone but by the time it did, it was too late.
This game was on the Rams OL and Goff pretty much overmatched from the combination of pressure and trying to understand the schemes that Belichick was throwing at him. The Rams offense looked unprepared.
I think Little Bill went back and looked at the Chicago game tape when Goff went 20-44, 180 yards and 4 picks to go along with 3 sacks. Goff wilted badly when he was under duress.
The Rams were a typical front runner offense in 2018, that can roll a team when it's all clicking with fast tempo/highlight TDs. And their offense was built on the running game. For whatever reason, Gurley was not himself and didn't play well. When the Pats took away the run, and forced Goff to make decisions under pressure, he consistently made bad ones.
But I am not going to isolate Cooks, the entire play would not have been close if Goff had released it earlier and put more on the ball.
This game was on the Rams OL and Goff pretty much overmatched from the combination of pressure and trying to understand the schemes that Belichick was throwing at him. The Rams offense looked unprepared.
I think Little Bill went back and looked at the Chicago game tape when Goff went 20-44, 180 yards and 4 picks to go along with 3 sacks. Goff wilted badly when he was under duress.
The Rams were a typical front runner offense in 2018, that can roll a team when it's all clicking with fast tempo/highlight TDs. And their offense was built on the running game. For whatever reason, Gurley was not himself and didn't play well. When the Pats took away the run, and forced Goff to make decisions under pressure, he consistently made bad ones.
This is a very good post about the Rams, couldn't have said it better myself.
The Chiefs are sorta that way too, but it appears that Mahomes mobility can get him a few extra opportunities that Goff cannot do.
Teams like the Saints that may not have the flash they used to have are the types of offenses that IMHO fare better in postseason play. Strong run/pass diversity and a more vet QB is what tends to do better in postseason play.
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kid doesn't make big plays when the lights shine. Reason why a kid with his talent is on his 3rd team.
Yup, he was the #1 reason why the Pats lost last year too. He's just not a guy I want to go to in crunch time.
I don’t understand this?
He caught a 30 yard pass early in the game and got hurt and never came back in the game.
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In comment 14286933 Jim in Forest Hills said:
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kid doesn't make big plays when the lights shine. Reason why a kid with his talent is on his 3rd team.
Yup, he was the #1 reason why the Pats lost last year too. He's just not a guy I want to go to in crunch time.
I don’t understand this?
He caught a 30 yard pass early in the game and got hurt and never came back in the game.
Yeah..he left with a concussion.
How about the Pats defense?
The offense continued to hum along at 600 yards of offense........c'mon already.
To win a Super Bowl, absolutely. The ball was there.
I hate cooks as a player and have since he played in New England. His numbers may have looked good but he killed the rams last night. Even the INT was on him, not on Goff. Guy throws a pass into single coverage and it’s an easy INT? That’s on cooks. Fuck him.
On the catch he should have made - he was able to get only one hand on the ball. The other arm was being held, and he's a little guy, he's not going to overpower the defender and get his arm free. I'm not complaining about holding, I'm all for letting the players play the darn game.
And on the interception, that was a crappy throw. Goff has to know that he is throwing to Cooks, who is a little guy and isn't going to out muscle anyone. That throw needs to be to the back end of the end zone, where maybe by some miracle and great speed Cooks beats the defender to the spot and makes the catch. Throwing a ball up where there is a thought that somehow Cooks is going to out muscle or out physical a defender and make the grab, that's never going to happen. He's not that guy.
I don't mean to praise Cooks, he's extremely limited, and I would not want to seem him on the Giants. He's like Donte Deayon, but at WR, sort of.
The touchdown that should have been - shitty throw by Goff.
The interception that should never have been - shitty throw by Goff.
Credit NE for taking away Woods and winning the LOS battle against the Rams OL. But still, Goff came up really small. Put the blame where it belongs (Goff) rather than where it doesn't belong (Cooks).
2011 and 2007 are now religious events, IMO. Do not Blaspheme Mario Manningham and Eli Manning!
Who was the fool that offered it?
That's a lousy contract for a team, a great contract for the small, weak player!
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kid doesn't make big plays when the lights shine. Reason why a kid with his talent is on his 3rd team.
I hate cooks as a player and have since he played in New England. His numbers may have looked good but he killed the rams last night. Even the INT was on him, not on Goff. Guy throws a pass into single coverage and it’s an easy INT? That’s on cooks. Fuck him.
That INT was on him? Goff throws a terrible 50/50 ball to a small receiver out of frustration and its on Cooks? Did the guy fuck your wife or something
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kid doesn't make big plays when the lights shine. Reason why a kid with his talent is on his 3rd team.
I hate cooks as a player and have since he played in New England. His numbers may have looked good but he killed the rams last night. Even the INT was on him, not on Goff. Guy throws a pass into single coverage and it’s an easy INT? That’s on cooks. Fuck him.
I think it was an easy INT because Gilmore was literally waiting for it while Cooks was running where the ball should have been.
Horrid throw by Goff - considering the coverage - the back wasn't running with the WR. He was literally waiting for it.
Pick is on Goff, plain and simple.
However, play before......Cooks needs to have that throw.
Goff also missed Cooks early, and threw late on the other near TD......again, not Cooks' fault IMO.