ATLANTA -- Welcome to first and 10, a roundup of all the (mostly) Patriots-related news you need to start your Monday. Grab your coffee and let’s get to it.
Hey there, Lane Johnson. How was your weekend?
All right, so that was sort of a cheap shot. But what the hell. It's been a short night and I'm operating on next to no sleep, so we're going to have some fun. Here are a few quickie thoughts on the game while we wait on our flight back to Boston and I wonder about the wisdom of chasing a 5-hour energy shot with an espresso...
--If that was Brian Flores' swan song, the guy killed it. The Patriots' preach complementary football, and the fact the defense gave up ONE first-half touchdown in three postseason games (keeping in mind two of those games were against the Chiefs and Rams) made things a lot easier on the offense all the way through. You combine that with a great performance in punting and punt coverage, and you have a recipe for success. (I had two people from Miami text me excitedly during the game.)
--Great scene in the locker room. Tried to capture some of it on my Twitter timeline, but I'm afraid I didn't do it justice. Tom Brady came in and was hugging everyone, they were passing the Lombardi Trophy around, and Robert Kraft was handing out cigars. He went from player to player before the locker room availability ended -- at one point, he told the McCourty Twins, "You guys aren't retiring."
--Rob Gronkowski said he's going to take some time before he decides on his future. "Tonight, it’s about celebrating with my teammates," he said after the game. "And that decision will be made in a week or two down the future, because that’s what it’s about, celebrating with my teammates, and that’s what I’m worried about tonight." My gut says he comes back for at least one more year, but we shall see.
--The Rams are going to undergo some growing pains, but if they stay healthy, they should be back in the mix in 2019. I know there's some concern about their championship window, but if they can keep the bulk of the group together and Jared Goff can take his game to another level, they're going to be around for awhile.
--Atlanta did a terrific job. Great stadium (with a soft serve ice cream machine in the press box), nice people, game went off without a hitch. I'd expect them to get another Super Bowl relatively soon.
--Parade is Tuesday morning. Should kick off an interesting offseason -- free agency starts next month, and the draft is only two-plus months away.
Now, on with the links...
1. Greg looks back at another epic Super Bowl win for the Patriots, a game where Bill Belichick brought it full circle with a win over the Rams.
2. I have to admit I'm really going to miss Cordarrelle Patterson if he leaves this offseason for several reasons, not the least of which is the fact he is one of the best quotes on the team. Asked after the game where Julian Edelman stacks up against the rest of the NFL receivers, Patterson laid it all on the line for me: “Nobody can (expletive) with Jules in the slot, man. Nobody. He gets so much separation and control. The things he can do, it’s just different. For real.”
3. The win was sweet validation for Stephon Gilmore, who has come a long way since the start of the 2017 season.
4. I talked to three guys who were part of the first Patriots' dynasty, and they say this group is every bit the equal of theirs. “With three in five years, this group has every right to be thought of the same way our teams were viewed. In a lot of ways, you might even argue that what they’ve done is more impressive. There are times when I look back and say there were times when we snuck up on people, especially in that first year,” said Ted Johnson. “With these guys, they have a bullseye on their back all the time.”
5. Gilmore gets the #StayCovered Defensive Play of the Game award for his fourth-quarter pick of Jared Goff. (We also gave some love to Jason McCourty's second-half PBU on Brandin Cooks.)
6. So much amazing postgame video - Jonathan Kraft, Trey Flowers, Sony Michel, Tom Brady, Kyle Van Noy, Andrew Whitworth and Devin McCourty.
7. I had Live Coverage humming all night long.
8. Our photog Adam Richins delivers his top shots from Sunday's contest.
9. Stephen Gostkowski was kicking Sunday night with a heavy heart -- his grandfather, William Klick, passed away Saturday night. Gostkowski wanted to dedicate his last kick to him. “He was the kindest, funniest man I knew,” he said.
10. Overreaction Monday, the post-Super Bowl edition, is going to be epic. Get your questions in now.
Extra Point:
They’re having some fun in the #Patriots locker room. @BostonSportsBSJ pic.twitter.com/nsOQG14USt
— Christopher Price (@cpriceNFL) February 4, 2019