By Matt McCarthy, 985TheSportsHub.com
All this week at 985thesportshub.com, we’re taking a look back at the most memorable divisional round playoff games the Patriots have played in the last two decades.
To kick off our series, we remember the Patriots 35-31 victory over the Ravens in the 2014 playoffs.
If you polled Patriots fans, this game would likely rank high on the list of the greatest games in the Belichick-Brady era. The Ravens took a 14-point lead twice, but the Patriots pulled out all the stops to spark one of the best comebacks in team history.
Key plays:
The Patriots got their offense going by unveiling their “Baltimore” package, a series of trick plays where they disguised an eligible receiver as an offensive tackle and an ineligible receiver as a running back or a wide receiver. But no play was more memorable or more important than arguably the most successful trick play in team history:
Julian Edelman’s double pass to Danny Amendola tied the game 28-28 in the third quarter.
That play set up Tom Brady’s game-winning touchdown pass to Brandon LaFell with 5:13 to play in the fourth quarter.
That pass has to be one of the best throws of Brady’s storied career. What a beauty.
Forgotten plays:
The Patriots defense couldn’t stop the Ravens all night long, until Devin McCourty intercepted Joe Flacco on the drive immediately following Edelman’s double pass.
That play changed the complexion of the game, and the Patriots only allowed three points after that moment.
But it could have been more than just three points, had Patrick Chung not broken up a would-be touchdown pass intended for Owen Daniels in the fourth quarter.
That forced the Ravens to kick a field goal to take a 31-28 lead, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Final stats:
Patriots:
Tom Brady: 33/50, 350 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception.
Julian Edelman: 1/1, 51 yards passing, 1 touchdown. 8 catches, 74 yards receiving.
Danny Amendola: 5 catches, 82 yards, 2 touchdowns.
Rob Gronkowski: 7 catches, 102 yards, 1 touchdown.
Brandon LaFell: 5 catches, 6 yards, 1 touchdown.
Michael Hoomanawanui: 4 catches, 43 yards.
Patriots team rushing: 13 carries, 14 yards.
Ravens:
Joe Flacco: 28/45, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions.
Justin Forsett: 24 carries, 129 yards.
You can hear Matt McCarthy on various 98.5 The Sports Hub programs. Follow him on Twitter @MattMcCarthy985.