On December 17, 2017, trailing the Patriots by three points with about 30 seconds remaining, Ben Roethlisberger hit Jesse James for a game-winning touchdown…until it wasn’t. When reaching for the end zone, James was ruled to have been going to the ground, so as he fell to the ground, the ball popped loose and the score was overturned. A Steelers win would have likely given them the No. 1 seed in the AFC, which, instead, wound up going to New England. The Patriots ultimately lost the Super Bowl to the Eagles.
From 2013-2018, Antonio Brown was the best WR in the NFL. With a skill set that did not rely on athleticism at all, he looked like a receiver who would age very well, possibly being able to play at a high level deep into his 30s. Instead, at age 31, he had a falling out with the Steelers and left for the Raiders. He wound up never playing a snap for his new team before joining Tom Brady and the Patriots. Brown played one game in New England before that fell apart. He spent two final injury-riddled years in Tampa Bay before famously quitting at halftime of the Bucs’ Week 17 game in the 2021 season. Brown looked like a guy who still had plenty left in the tank, but he never played again.
On January 20, 2019, with the game tied at 20 and 1:49 remaining in the fourth quarter, Rams CB Nickell Robey-Coleman committed clear pass interference on Saints WR Tommylee Lewis on a 3rd-and-10 pass attempt from L.A.’s 13-yard line. Had the PI been correctly called, New Orleans could’ve burned the clock before scoring a touchdown or kicking a field goal. There’s no telling how a Super Bowl between the Saints and the Patriots would have played out, but it probably would have been more exciting than the 13-3 barnburner we would up getting.
With just under five minutes remaining in the NFC Divisional Round Game between the Packers and Cowboys, Tony Romo hit Dez Bryant for a 30-yard completion on 4th and 2, only for it to be overturned in one of the most controversial replay reviews in NFL history. If the catch is upheld, DeMarco Murray likely walks into the end zone shortly thereafter, giving the Cowboys a one or three-point lead (pending the two-point conversion) on the Packers with under 4 minutes to play. Instead, the Packers took over and ran out the clock.
Sep 19, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws the ball against the Atlanta Falcons during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Following the 2019 season, after six Super Bowl victories and two decades of success, Tom Brady left the New England Patriots, choosing to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs won the Super Bowl in Brady’s first year with the team. It’s safe to say that doesn’t happen if Brady stays in New England. The question is does he win another one for the Patriots?
With the 32nd pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens, after trading up, selected Lamar Jackson. At the time, the Patriots employed a 41-year-old Tom Brady. It would have made plenty of sense for them to take their potential QB of the future. Instead, they took RB Sony Michel. Would Jackson have become the elite quarterback he is today if he was drafted by the Patriots?
Apr 29, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Ja'Marr Chase (LSU) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by Cincinnati Bengals as the number five overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft at First Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
It’s hard to imagine Ja’Marr Chase anywhere other than the Bengals. Yet, ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft, there was a heated debate over whether the Bengals should take another WR when they already had Tee Higgins and, at the time, Tyler Boyd, or fix their depleted offensive line. The Bengals still have offensive line issues, but it’s safe to say the Chase pick worked out pretty well. Where might he have wound up had the Bengals not taken him, though?
In Patrick Mahomes’ first year as a starter, he immediately established himself as one of the best QBs in the NFL and the Chiefs as juggernauts. Playing in the AFC Championship Game, Kansas City was leading New England by four points with about one minute remaining. Tom Brady’s pass was tipped and intercepted, essentially ending the game. However, Dee Ford lined up just barely offsides, resulting in the drive continuing, and the Patriots scoring the game winning touchdown. They would go on to win the Super Bowl.
On January 23, 2022, Josh Allen hit Gabe Davis for a go-ahead touchdown with 17 seconds remaining in the AFC Divisional Round against the Chiefs. After the kickoff return, Kansas City had all of 13 seconds to get from their own 25 yard-line into field goal range. Mahomes hit Tyreek Hill for 19 yard and then Travis Kelce for 25 yards, setting up a 49-yard Harrison Butker field goal to force overtime. The Chiefs won the coin toss and the Bills never touched the ball.
A mere weeks before the start of the 2019 season, Colts franchise QB Andrew Luck abruptly retired at the age of 30. Luck was on pace to finish top five all time in passing yards. Following Luck’s retirement, the Colts had a new starting QB each of the next five years. Had Luck not retired, he would almost certainly still be starting for them today.
