Patriots' gameplan revealed after stunning Super Bowl comeback
HOUSTON — In a vacated, trash-strewn locker room at NRG Stadium, the New England Patriots left behind evidence of what had taken place before, during and after their 34-28 overtime victory against the Atlanta Falcons Sunday in Super Bowl LI.
Five empty bottles of Andre extra dry champagne, a few empty cans of Bud Light and an empty bottle of Battle Cry American Single Malt Whiskey.
Two half-full syringes sitting next to empty bottles of Lidocaine and Marcaine, injectible numbing agents.
A large, standing dry erase board that appeared to be blank. Turning it around revealed something else: what looked like a mini-playbook.
There were names of plays (“Hollywood//Broadway” for the two-minute drill, “Panther I Rat” for third down, “Mug Meteor’’ for early downs ) and names of players in red, black, green and blue marker — presumably the work of Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and his staff.
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Their game strategy was evident. On the right side of the board read "MUSTS," and underneath the following list (USA TODAY Sports commentary in italics):
1. Start Fast & Do Your Job Well (That didn’t work out quite so well for the Patriots, who fell behind 28-3.)
2. Stop The Run (The Falcons had 104 yards rushing, only slightly below their average of 120.5 yards per game.)
3. Go After #2 > Attack The Spot (Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who wears jersey No. 2, was sacked five times and coughed up a critical fumble when he got hit by Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower.)
4. Eliminate #11 & No Big Plays (Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones, who wears jersey No. 11, had four catches for 87 yards, including a mind-bending, 27-yard grab in the fourth quarter.)
5. Win the Turnover Battle = Win Game (The Patriots had two turnovers, an interception and fumble, and the Falcons had one, a fumble.)
6. Tackling Is The Game
7. Situational Football
8. Play Smart & Aware
9. Most Physical Team!
10. It’s All About US!!!
Below that in red marker: DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!
Well, Coach Belichick, try telling that to about than 100 million people who watched Tom Brady throw for 466 yards and two touchdowns on 43-of-62 passing.
In the Patriots’ locker room, there was still no sign of Brady’s game jersey that he said he suspected was stolen. But he was largely responsible for something else left behind.
It was a banner that read: “Super Bowl LI Champions.’’
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