Postgame thoughts on Super Bowl LI

[Rupert Patrick]

That game was much like Sunday's game, since San Diego had jumped out to a huge 24-0 lead and looked to be in the process of blowing out Miami. I imagine there's a fair amount of people who weren't around at that time who think that it was some back-and-forth contest throughout instead of just the second half and OT.

But there wasn't any back and forth in the Super Bowl. The back-and-forth in the 2nd half and OT of the Chargers-Dolphins game was unreal. You thought the game was over at several different points...but then Franklin fumbles the ball, Winslow blocks Von Schamann's FG at the end of regulation, Benirschke misses a 29-yard FG, Von Schamann has a second FG blocked. The ups and downs of emotion were memorable.

It was 24-0 after the first period, and Don Strock came in off the bench and threw for over 400 yards. Then you had the hook and lateral play to end the first half, and Miami tied the game four minutes into the third quarter, and after San Diego retook the lead, Miami tied it and then took the lead at 38-31 ten seconds into the fourth quarter. San Diego tied the game with less than a minute to play in regulation and then the blocked FG by Winslow and then the miss and block in OT. Kellen Winslow had one of the ten greatest single-game performances of any player in pro football history in that game in my opinion. I think it was the greatest pro football game ever played. Greatest regular season game, I have to go with Washington vs. Dallas 1979 Week 16 double comeback game.

[sluggermatt15]

Exciting, thrilling comeback by New England to win. You have to give them that whether you like the franchise or not. Brady is the best QB of the 21st Century, that is a definite. GOAT? IMO, no, it's still Joe Montana. Montana played in an era where the quarterback was not nearly as protected as they are today and defenses were much, much more dominant. In 30+ years, the game and rules have changed drastically. I don't think Brady survives in Montana's era because he hates being hit, hurried, and sacked. Brady may have had more injuries and his numbers not as stellar. Whereas, if you place Montana in today's game, I don't think there is a doubt he rips it up like Brady does. Maybe he wins 5 or 6 SBs.