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NFL: A Roman Collapse

Chase Zayac

In the late 4th century, a powerful and dominating empire collapsed. This was the Roman Empire. Approximately 1,500 years later we witnessed a similar collapse. Something so powerful and majestic that could fall with one incident.

Enter the 2016 Atlanta Falcons. Where Matt Ryan was Julius Caesar and Tom Brady was his assassin. With both teams locked zero-to-zero after the first, Atlanta broke ground in Houston scoring first on a Devonta Freeman 5-yard score. Then again and again, leaving a 21-0 deficit for New England.

In full desperation mode to at least "get something before the half," New England could only muster up 3 points leaving it as a 21-3 defeat in the first half. With everybody thinking Bill Belichick was going to make some adjustment and turn this around, Atlanta scored again, even more stunning the whole nation.

Down 28-3 and 0.3 percent chance of winning their 5th title, New England finally tasted the sweet end zone they had been craving all night. Only to see one of the top kickers in the NFL smack one off the upright to even more cement a "what else can go wrong" kind of night for the Patriots.

However, New England is a completely different breed than any team in the NFL. Brady is a completely different breed than any player, let alone quarterback, in the NFL. His championship drive that's possessed and the will to win, completely overrides a 19-point deficit which is what it was heading into the four quarter. And that's exactly what happened.

With New England creeping back to just trailing 28-20, Ryan threw a ball where it had to be. Julio Jones stuck his two hands out and somehow was inbounds to make a catch that seemed to be the signature unbelievable Super Bowl play against New England. Just like the David Tyree and Mario Manningham catches.

Two years prior to Super Bowl LI, New England came back and won a championship off the Seattle Seahawks deciding not to run the ball at the goal line. Even though it was not his call, Dan Quinn was apart of that Seattle team. But this time it was his call, he had the power to override those questionable pass calls that knocked Atlanta out of field goal range.

Perhaps if George W. Bush was there instead of George H.W. Bush, Quinn could've remembered "you fool me once, shame on you, you fool me, well ... can't get fooled again." But he wasn't there and before you knew it, the ball was in Brady's hands looking for Danny Amendola following a successful 2-point conversion with just under a minute left. Ryan had his chance to do his best Brady impression and win the game in the closing seconds of regulation but he couldn't and we went to overtime.

In the extra period, Brady was not going to lose the Super Bowl. Everybody knew that when they were tied. He was not going to do anything but lead his team down the field and that's exactly what happened with a James White touchdown.

The fairy tale comeback was over and New England clinched their 5th title, capping off a remarkable season in the NFL. Hopefully, next season will have just as much in store for us. With exciting players like Myles Garrett, Mitch Trubisky, Jabrill Peppers, and more, all looking for a home in this upcoming draft, I'm sure the 2017-18 season won't disappoint. My very early prediction for Super Bowl LII champion next season is none other than the New England Patriots because no matter who's in what position, Bill Belichick seems to find a way to win no matter what.


Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated.

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