In the final moments of Super Bowl XXXVI, it was unknown if the Patriots would play for the win or try to beat the St. Louis Rams in overtime.
When Tom Brady came back on the field with 1:30 left in the fourth quarter, Fox color commentator John Madden argued the Patriots should take a knee to send the championship game into OT.
Instead, the young quarterback helped lead the Patriots to an improbable Super Bowl championship. This moment was rehashed in episode three of the Apple TV+ show titled, ‘The Dynasty: New England Patriots.’
What people didn’t know is that before opting to go for it, Belichick checked in with Ernie Adams to see what he thought. At the time, the Patriots director of football research argued the team wouldn’t be able to beat the Rams if St. Louis got the ball in overtime.
“We could have knelt on it and gone into sudden death overtime,” Adams said. “But then Bill came on the headset and said, ‘OK, Ernie, what do you want to do?’ I said, ‘Bill, we’re a little bit out of gas. If they get the ball again, I’m not really sure we can stop them. I mean, this drive is do or die. We need to try to go get Adam Vinatieri a shot to win it for us in regulation.’”
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It was an interesting revelation as Adams’ job was largely a secret over his two decades in New England. As it turns out, he played a big role in the Patriots dynasty. That started with their first Super Bowl championship.
This episode also brought to life that Drew Bledsoe told Brady to defy Belichick’s orders in that final game-winning drive. At the time, Belichick told Brady to play conservatively and the young quarterback needed to just not turn the ball over.
Bledsoe disagreed and told Brady to let it rip.
“I went up to Coach Belichick and he says, ‘We’re going,” and he says, “Just take care of the ball,’” Brady said. “Drew was kind of standing next to me and he kind of just shuffled in front of that and says, (expletive) that.’”
Bledsoe added: “I remember somebody saying to Tom, ‘Hey, be careful.’ Like, no. We’re big underdogs in this game. Nobody expected you to be here. Nobody expected us to be here. (expletive) it, man. Go!”
The end was history with the Patriots first Super Bowl title. Little did anyone know, Adams and Bledsoe played a part in that final game-winning drive.
