Curran: Imperfect Patriots finding ways to win

Share

FOXBOROThe last time the Patriots played in the Super Bowl, they were seeking perfection.

This time? They are overcoming imperfection. And in the AFC Championship against the Ravens, the Patriots were less imperfect than the Baltimore Ravens.

How else to term it? That the game ended with Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff snap-hooking a 32-yard field goal that would have sent the game to overtime was, in a way, perfect.

Because this game wasnt about either team taking charge. It was about rebounding from mistakes. And the team that made the last mistake would be the one that lost.

Consider the gaffes just on New Englands side. Tom Brady overthrew a wide-open Rob Gronkowski in the first quarter and New England settled for a field goal. Brady threw a pick on a questionable ball aimed at Julian Edelman and the Ravens turned that into a field goal after Patrick Chung blew a coverage.

A fumbled kickoff by Danny Woodhead turned into three more Ravens points. After a Brandon Spikes interception, Brady went deep into double coverage and got picked by Jimmy Smith on a ricochet.

Why did you throw it, I asked Brady.

I had my mind made up, he said regretfully.

The Ravens made their share too. But the last, worst mistake of the day was Cundiffs.

And it happened so late, there was no overcoming it.

The Patriots of 2007 were Godzilla, crushing buildings and incinerating the populace on the way to Arizona.

The Patriots of 2011 are Rocky. Yes, they have the best quarterback of his generation pulling the levers but they have had to get off the mat and overcome deficits in game after game after game.

It happened Sunday when they fell behind 20-16 late in the third. The Patriots have trailed in seven of the 10 games during their 10-game winning streak.

Resilience. Weve been pointing it out since October. A team with a defense so flawed their secondary was a punch line is going to the Super Bowl. Not because they miraculously fixed everything. They are still semi-broken back there. But they areas a unitresourceful enough to figure a way past their own problems.

And sometimes luck intervenes as it did with Cundiff.

Its been tough, said Vince Wilfork, who played like a superstar on Sunday. Nothings been easy. We had to deal with certain situations, but you know, this team handled it pretty well. They never gave up. Theyre very, very passionate about what they do. They love this game and I can take the field with anybody like that.

Hell be able to take the field with them one more time. Because an imperfect team showed the perfect amount of resolve and resiliency.

Contact Us