On 2nd and 11 from the Giants 44, Quarterback Tom Brady released the football and there was not a doubt in the world that the Patriots were going to pick up a key first down and make the Giants’ hope of winning Super Bowl XLVI slimmer than ever. The Giants had done an inexcusable thing, blowing coverage on the best wide receiver in the game with four minutes left. If Wes Welker caught the ball, the Patriots would be in field goal range with the clock still moving, while the Giants would have only one time out left, down 17-15.
Neither linebacker Antrel Rolle, nor safety Kenny Phillips covered Welker. Brady, a three time Super Bowl champion, was second in the league in passing and had thrown for 5235 yards in the regular season. He simply did not miss these kinds of throws.
But this time, during the most crucial moment of the Super Bowl, Brady did miss him. The ball was not thrown directly to the wide open Welker. It was over his opposite shoulder. Still, Welker rarely drops passes. He only dropped five passes in all of the games leading up to the Super Bowl. However, when Welker extended his arms to reel the ball in, it deflected off his hands and hit the turf.
Incomplete.
“When it comes to the biggest moment in my life and I don’t come up with it, it’s discouraging,” Welker said after the game. The sad truth of the matter is that Welker’s 122 receptions for 1, 569 yards may be well forgotten because of the drop. But, as many know, it was a tough play to make on an uncharacteristically poor thrown ball by Tom Brady. Welker should not get the complete blame for the missed opportunity; however, it’s a play that Welker usually makes.
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