There’s something about the New England Patriots’ second-year quarterback and a playoff game in the snow.
During the 2001 season, Tom Brady and New England were trailing the Oakland Raiders in his first playoff divisional round game when an apparent fumble was wiped out by the then-little-known and since-defunct “Tucker Rule.”
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Brady took advantage of his second chance to get the Patriots into field goal position, set up Adam Vinatieri to tie the game, and then led New England to the game-winning field goal in overtime to ignite the team’s hopes of a first Super Bowl title.
In Sunday’s AFC Championship Game, it was 23-year-old Derek Meyer’s turn to play. He scored the Patriots’ only touchdown with a 6-yard rush in heavy snow conditions, helping the Patriots defeat the Denver Broncos 10-7. This is the first time the Patriots have returned to the championship game since the 2018 season.
Next up, we head to Santa Clara, California for Super Bowl 49 against the Seattle Seahawks and a chance to prepare for their incredible one-year comeback in head coach Mike Vrabel’s first season. The Patriots (17-3) are the sixth team to reach the Super Bowl after winning five or fewer games last season (4-13).
“I think that’s why you really do it. You have to believe in things, sometimes before you can see them,” Vrabel said.
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It will be a familiar venue for Meyer, a North Carolina native who attended Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara as a spectator with his father. Meyer’s cheers didn’t lead to a victory for Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers that day.
But a decade later, he would return with his own chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
“It’s cool to be back here after 10 years and I think it’s a special moment for the whole team,” Meyer said.
Meyer called Sunday’s win “gritty” and continued to praise his teammates after the MVP candidate completed just 10 of 21 passes for a season-low 86 yards. But he was backed up by a defense that held Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham scoreless on 10 consecutive drives in the first quarter.
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It helped New England earn its first playoff win in Denver after failing on four previous attempts.
“The history and everything that goes with it, this is a new team, it’s a new era,” Meyer said. “I respect and appreciate what the Patriots dynasty has done, and it’s unfortunate that they didn’t get some wins here, but we change that narrative and look forward to bringing our best football to Santa Clara. That’s going to be very special.”
what’s working
New England continues to thrive on the road, going 9-0 on the road against Massachusetts this season.
What help do you need?
The inclement weather certainly played a role in the Patriots’ low scoring performance on Sunday. But in the Super Bowl, facing a Seahawks team that averaged 36 points per game in the playoffs, averaging 10 points and 3.2 yards per game was not enough.
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“It’s hard to find a way to win, especially in the playoffs,” wide receiver Stefon Diggs said. “It never looks good. This week’s game ended 10-7. The goal of the game is to score more points than the opponent.”
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Patriots defense. The Patriots have allowed 26 points in the playoffs this season, the fewest in three postseason games since the Ravens allowed 23 points during their Super Bowl victory in 2000.
New England is holding opponents to 209.7 yards per game while allowing 12 sacks and forcing 12 turnovers.
Inventory decline
Offensive line. Meyer was sacked five times against the Broncos, bringing his total to 15 sacks in three postseason games. That’s more than any other quarterback in the postseason.
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Injuried
Linebacker Robert Spillane left the game in the first quarter with an ankle issue.
key number
1 — Meyer is the first quarterback in NFL history to win three playoff games in a single playoff game against teams ranked in the top five in total defense (Chargers fifth, Texas first, Broncos second).
Next
The Patriots will seek their seventh Super Bowl title, which would tie them with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most titles in NFL history.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL