Many are talking about the fourth and goal play near the end of the first half, when the ball was snapped to the running back, who tossed it to a flanker, who threw a touchdown pass to the quarterback. It was certainly an exciting play.
But for me the play of the game was this tackle, with the Patriots third and two at the Eagles’ nine yard line. The New England runner went airborne, intending to leap over the Philadelphia tackler. The tackler foiled that plan by keeping his head up and his eyes open, a practice that defensive players are taught but which they all too seldom actually do, and met the runner in mid air. He not only made the tackle, he stopped the runner dead in his tracks, preventing the first down and leading to a missed field goal.
A football body slam, yeah that was a good one. Kind of a reverse of the one in the playoff game where a defender went in for a tackle just a bit short of where the receiver actually was. Key play in that game, and I don't remember who/what it was.
ReplyDeleteOh, and the one where Brady got sacked and the ball stripped. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.