Bad Super Bowl Call Evokes Memories of Earlier Game

I missed out on this year's Super Bowl between Seattle and New England, partially because I had to go to work that evening...and partially because, even though I liked the Seahawks, I still didn't want to watch the Patriots collect any hint of glory by being in it.  Of course, at my workplace,  one of the Patriots fans had to whoop and holler when she found out the game's ultimate outcome: a squeaker New England win after the Seattle coach Pete Carroll (who I still think is a good coach) made an idiotic call at the Patriots' goal line by passing up on giving the ball to their star running back Marshawn Lynch and instead calling for a short goal line pass, which was intercepted by the Patriots and ended the game in their favor.  This boner of a play call brought back bitter memories of another game involving New England, this one against "my" team, the Miami Dolphins...

It was the last day of the regular season in 2002 for Miami, which was shooting for their sixth straight playoff appearance.  The week before, at 9-5 all they had to do was to win one of their last two games to lock up a spot.  But they blew the first of the two to weak Minnesota, setting up the final showdown in New England against the Patriots.  That team had won their first Super Bowl in dramatic fashion in their comeback game against St. Louis the year before and Tom Brady had become very, very famous.  But the Patriots found themselves struggling for just a simple playoff spot, for which they needed to win their last game as well as get some "help" from other games.  The Dolphins, under their mediocre coach Dave Wannstedt, who was enjoying the fruits of a team that had been built up and coached previously by proven Super Bowl winners Don Shula and Jimmie Johnson, were still 9-6 and assured of a playoff position should they beat New England.  And they were winning the game late, 24-13.  But the Patriots, in typical Tom Brady fashion, caught fire late and narrowed it to 24-21. Miami had the ball deep in their own territory with about two minutes to go.  They had their then-star running back Rickie Williams, who that day had a career performance with already more than 180 yards rushing.  All Miami had to do was give the ball to Rickie and run out the clock...and then prepare for the playoffs.  Instead, Wannstedt the Genius had Miami throw three consecutive passes...all incomplete clock-stoppers...and they then short-punted the ball back to the Patriots, who sent the game into overtime (during which they scored and won) with a long field goal.  That game was a heartbreaker for me as a Dolphins fan, and it destroyed any confidence I had in their coach...

In spite of similar stupidity on the part of Pete Carroll, I have to remind folks that he did give the Seahawks two straight Super Bowl appearances and a championship last year.  He is worth supporting...and besides, everyone screws up every now and then.  I remember a game against the Colts a few years ago in which, late in the game with a fourth down situation, Patriots coach Bill Belichick opted to go for a first down deep in his own territory while defending a short lead...and failing, giving Indianapolis the chance to get the ball back and win it, which they did...