A Second Chance

Part 5

January 10, 2015. Division playoff game against Baltimore. It was a nail-biter from the first kick-off. Back and forth, Pats would score, then Baltimore. Injuries left and right. Jamie and Alyssa seemed to be on the field every few minutes. Both teams desperately wanted to win, willing to sacfricie everything to get it. 

Halftime finally rolled around. Ravens 21, Patriots 14. Everyone was getting pissed. Belichick was pissed that the offense wasn't scoring, the defense was letting Flacco step all over them, not to mention the penalties. Jamie guessed that the same thing was happening in the Ravens' locker room. 

"Holy shit you can hear him yelling from here. I've been with the Pats for 6 years, and I have never heard him this pissed." Alyssa said, handing Jamie a cup of hot chocolate. 

"Well yeah, I can imagine. Offense needs to step up a bit, we keep dropping passes that a middle-schooler could catch and defense needs to lay off the penalties. A simple change in the way we line up can fix some of those problems. If our safety would move back and to his left a few feet, closer to Aiken, it would take that threat off and give the rest of the defense a better chance. We're stepping off Aiken and just letting him be open is a threat. On the penalties, well we just need to be smarter on that sense. We should not have this many." 

"And for the offense?" Alyssa asked, amused. 

"We're throwing more than running. Even just adding more running plays and some fakes will create some kind of buffer. The Ravens know what we're gonna do out there before Brady can step out. One of the first things you learn playing is to keep the other team on their toes, always keep them having to adjust." 

"I couldn't agree more. That's what I spent the past fifteen minutes yelling at them to do." Belichick said, walking past with the team. "See boys? I'm not crazy. If you're numb to my voice, listen to her."  

"Holy shit." Jamie mumbled, her face as red as the jacket she bundled up in, while Alyssa started laughing. "Why did you let me keep talking when you could see them walk out?"

"It was funny! Besides, the fact that you and Belichick are on the same wave length or some shit about this game is amazing. For someone who never played football, it seems you know more than Patricia and McDaniels. I wouldn't be surprised if you get asked to be the new offensive and defensive coordinator." Alyssa said, grabbing Jamie's arm and leading her back to the tent, making sure to restock on supplies they needed before the second half started. 

"Jesus Garoppolo, how does your girlfriend know all of that?" Brayden Slater asked as the pair walked past. 

"Do you even know her last name dumbass?" Brady said. 

"No...?"

"Hey Baby Watt!!" Gronk yelled, making Jamie turn to look at him before responding, "What?"

"Just making a point." Brady yelled back, smiling. 

"SHE'S JJ'S SISTER?" Slater yelled, "holy fuck!" 

"I cannot believe you passed the first grade," Jimmy responded, patting Slater's back before walking away. 

--- 

The third quarter seemed to be better, with the defense only letting one touchdown pass from Flacco to Justin Forsett around the 10-minute mark, allowing the offense scoring just under the 7-minute mark. It seems that Brady took the "keep the defense on their toes" to heart, with Edelman throwing the next touchdown pass to Amendola at the 4:20- mark. It seemed that everything was coming along perfectly- then came the fourth quarter. 

The Ravens kicked a field goal around the 10-minute mark, another Patriots touchdown around the 5-minute mark. Since halftime, the Patriots put their foot on the gas and didn't let go- until the 2-minute mark. Gronk went up to catch as pass, and was tackled around his legs, landing straight on his right knee, not being able to get up. Jamie and Alyssa immediately ran onto the field, and Alyssa eventually had to radio in that they needed the cart.