The 10 best Patriots games of the 2010s decade: Nos. 10-7
Honorable Mentions
Garoppolo Shines Under the Lights
47. 21. 32. Final. 23
- September 11th, 2016
- Week 1
- University of Phoenix Stadium
- Phoenix, Arizona
Jimmy Garoppolo’s first career NFL start brought this thriller between the two conference championship runner-ups from the previous year. While Tom Brady sat out due to a four-game suspension as a result of the Deflategate scandal, Garoppolo posted a very respectable stat-line with 234 yards and a touchdown on 24/33 passing.
A Chandler Catanzaro 47-yarder that sailed left marked the end of this one, as the Patriots managed to start the 2016 season off right with a win.
The Cleveland Comeback
53. 27. 47. Final. 26
- December 8th, 2013
- Week 14
- Gillette Stadium
- Foxborough, Massachusetts
The fact that this game is in the Honorable Mentions section is a testament to just how many incredible matchups we saw this decade from the Pats.
This one started ugly, with Cleveland scoring the only points of the first half off a pair of Billy Cundiff field goals. The third quarter saw the scoring open up, with Browns QB Jason Campbell unleashing a 40-yard bomb to Gary Barnidge and then an 80-yarder to Josh Gordon.
Down by 12 with 2:39 to play, Tom Brady somehow worked his magic. An 11-play drive capped off with a two-yard Julian Edelman touchdown reception led to a successful onside kick from Stephen Gostkowski, the first of such by the Patriots in 19 years.
Even still, New England was down by five with exactly a minute to play and no timeouts. Somehow, the drive resulted in a one-yard touchdown pass from Brady to Danny Amendola to give the Patriots a 27-26 lead with 35 seconds to play.
Cleveland put up a valiant effort on the final drive that covered 40 yards, but Cundiff’s 58-yard field goal attempt was just short as time expired, and the Patriots escaped with the win.
The Catch That Wasn’t
26. 31. Final. 27. 47
- November 15th, 2015
- Week 10
- MetLife Stadium
- East Rutherford, New Jersey
The Patriots entered this game sitting at 8-0 on the season in 2015. They were able to continue their unbeaten season, but not without the Giants putting up one incredible fight.
Despite getting free on New York’s first possession for an 87-yard touchdown, star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was held in check for the most part, as Malcolm Butler limited him to just three receptions for 17 yards following the first drive. It was Beckham’s supposed touchdown late in the game, however, that sparked the most conversation around this game.
Down by one and on New England’s five-yard line, Eli Manning threw up a prayer that it seemed OBJ initially caught in the front left corner of the end zone. The catch was later overturned though, as Beckham never had full possession of the football.
The Giants would have to settle for a field goal, which then led to Tom Brady driving the New England offense down the field to set up a 54-yard field goal from Stephen Gostkowski as time expired, ultimately giving the Patriots their ninth victory of the season.