The Patriots were behind the Panthers for much of a game where both QBs struggled and both defenses shined. Both Tom Brady and Cam Newton had a ~55% completion rate, and multiple INTs (Brady threw 3 picks, while Newton threw 2 (both to Pats' CB Ras-I Dowling)). Brady was sacked 5 times, and also uncharacteristically, Brady ran for an 8-yard rushing TD. But the Patriots' franchise QB proved resilient, rallying his team from a 13-17 deficit heading into the fourth to win the game.
With less than a minute left in the fourth and down 16-17, Brady threw read single coverage on WR Laurent Robinson's streak route, and in an uncommon move, decided to air out a lofty (41-yard) bomb to Laurent in the endzone (since I do not user-catch, throwing a lob is even more risky). Laurent caught the ball off the Panthers DB who actually touched the ball first but struggled to secure the INT, and the gamble pays off with greatly for NE with a win. The Patriots move to 2-0 on the season. [Eds. note: the game actually froze here when I went to save the instant replay of the bomb, forcing me to restart (and just sim the game) but since the game felt so unusual and epic, I will treat it as canon.]
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