Learning From Experience

The game flashed before my eyes on Sunday when Seattle quarterback Seneca Wallace ran by Patriots rookie CB Jonathan Wilhite. It shouldn't had happened. Wilhite let up, thinking was going to run out of bounds. Instead Wallace turned upfield for a 23-yard gain and a first down. I immediately feared it was the 1997 Divisional loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers all over again.

In that game LB Ted Johnson had a chance to blast a running Kordell Stewart along the sideline, but he let up. Stewart ran right by Johnson and scored a touchdown on a 40-yard run. Offensively New England kicked two field goals and lost by one.

With more than two minutes left and just 43 yards away from the endzone, I feared the worst. I started having flashbacks. There was Deion Branch's catch and run for 63 yards. That was followed by his one-handed touchdown catch. I saw FB Leonard Weaver and RB Maurice Morris breaking for a big gains. My heart rate picked up recalling Tedy Bruchi and Mike Vrabel lying hurt on the ground. And TE John Carlson catching pass after pass underneath the coverage for first downs. The only vision left would be the Seahawks crossing the goal line.

Fortunately S Brandon Merriweather saved the day with a strip sack of Seneca and DE Richard Seymour secured the win by pouncing on top of the loose ball. What a sigh of relief!

That will be a lesson Wilhite won't forget. As quickly as he was inserted into the starting lineup, he could be back on the sideline even quicker by failing to finish the play.

One last note. I will refrain from using player names in jokes about injuries. On Saturday I said in jest unfortunate accidents would happen to Bruschi and Vrabel that would end their seasons. Well both were injured on Sunday and Bruschi's season could be over. It was funny at the time, but I learned my lesson as well.