2016 NFL season thread

[Pies4shaw]

And there's the ball-game. Alford - who recovered Blount's fumble to start the first Atlanta scoring possession just intercepted Brady and ran it 82 yards for the TD.

Atlanta 21. New England 0.

New England simply cannot win this, now.

Alford should be the MVP - he's turned the game on its head, twice - both times as New England looked about to score. He also has 5 times as many rushing yards on New England possessions as New England does.

And so we move to the draft in April....

[Pies4shaw]

New England powering on, now. They only trail by 18 at the half.

Maybe listening to Lady Gaga will make Matt Ryan choke on his own vomit and the Pats will get a chance to get back into the game that way.

[Pies4shaw]

Atlanta leads 28:12, with about 10 minutes remaining. They have the ball - the Pats need to hold Atlanta to nothing and score two TDs each with a 2-point conversion to keep this thing alive. They won't do it, of course - but that's the task, anyway.

[Pies4shaw]

And, yet - here we go. Ryan has been fumble sacked at his own 25. Brady now has a first and 10 at the Atlanta 14, with 7 minutes to play.

[Pies4shaw]

Just like that, it is 28:20, with the first of the two required 8-point TDs. Falcons to get the ball back with about 6 minutes to play.

We have the close one.

[Pies4shaw]

However (sighs disappointedly, since the contest is again being ruined), Atlanta have gone 68 yards on 3 plays and are about to make this a 15 or 16 point game again.

[Pies4shaw]

2nd and 11, Falcons with the ball, still. The Pats badly need a turnover, right now.

[Pies4shaw]

Well, they didn't get it (yet) - but they have forced Atlanta back for a 3rd and 23.

The ball game will turn on the next play.

[Pies4shaw]

Or the play after that - with another penalty against Atlanta, it's now 3rd and 33 and they are probably out of field-goal range.

[Pies4shaw]

Ryan's pass attempt fails and it's 4th and 33 at the New England 45. The Falcons will have to punt. And Brady will get one last chance.

[Pies4shaw]

New England has a 1st and 10 at the Atlanta 21, with 2 minutes and 2 seconds to go. I can hear my own teeth chattering, as nerves get the better of me. This one is going right down to the wire (or the next interception, whichever comes first).

[Pies4shaw]

WOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

TD and another two-point conversion ties it up at 28-all. 57 seconds left to play.

Atlanta has the ball back at its own 11 and with a 12 yard and 4 yard pass, Ryan has 2nd and 6 at his own 27. 32 seconds to go.

This, right here, is where Atlanta wishes it could sell Ryan for a bunch of magic beans and Aaron Rodgers.

[Pies4shaw]

But, instead of the game-winning Hail Mary, Atlanta will have to punt on 4th and 6.

[Pies4shaw]

And Bosher chokes on his punt and gives it back to New England at their 35. 3 seconds to go. Can Brady do it????

[Pies4shaw]

No, he can't. He isn't Rodgers, either.

We'll have overtime.