Voting for the Elite 8 of Pats Madness is now open!

The Sweet 16 is over, and there are only 8 teams left in our Pats Madness bracket! Before we get into this round’s matchups, it’s interesting to note that there were no close battles last week. We had two matchups in the first round that were decided by around 10 total votes but every winner from last round had at least 60% of the votes, even the one upset. Speaking of that upset, we had the first of the Super Bowls go down when The Tuck Rule beat out Super Bowl 39.

Onto the matchups. Remember to vote on the games you think should win, and share your votes with us. We’re down to the best 8 games in the Belichick/Brady era, and this round decides the Final 4. Let’s make sure to get more votes than ever this week! Here we go:

#1 vs #2 - Super Bowl 51 vs 2014 Divisional Round vs Baltimore

I’m not going to break down this matchup, because, honestly, there’s nothing to talk about here. Instead, I’m going to tell you a story about my experience during that game against Baltimore.

I have season tickets, so I went to the game, and left my pregnant wife at home with my two kids. One of my children had been sick during the week, and was just starting to feel better. My wife told me she wasn’t feeling great, but that I should go anyway. Half way through the second quarter, I got the call from my wife. She was throwing up, so I needed to come home and take care of the kids. My mom came and picked me up at halftime, and I shut my phone off and fed the kids dinner and put them to bed. I ended up watching the game with my wife in bed, and I still can’t believe that I missed the second half. Gillette was ROCKING when Julian Edelman threw that pass to Danny Amendola, but I was just following Bill Belichick, and the Patriots’ motto from that year: do your job. My job was to take care of the family, and that’s what I did. Still, it would’ve been awesome to be there.

#1 vs #3 - Super Bowl 49 vs The Tuck Rule

Another tough matchup here. The Tuck Rule is such an important game, because if the Patriots lose it, who knows what happens to them. Yes, you can say that about the other two playoff games in 2001 as well, but the Patriots would’ve finished the year without a playoff win if they had lost to Oakland. I still get chills every time I hear “In the Air Tonight,” by Phil Collins, the song that was playing as they reviewed the Tom Brady “fumble.”

Last round, The Tuck Rule knocked out a Super Bowl win, taking down Super Bowl 39 versus the Eagles. Can it do it again? Maybe, but you’re talking about an amazing Super Bowl. The biggest comeback in Super Bowl history (at the time), and quite possibly the greatest play in NFL history. It’s awfully tough to vote against that. I’m not sure if I can, but I know there are people who will. I think this matchup will be a close one.

#1 vs #2 - Super 36 vs 2018 AFCCG at Kansas City

An epic matchup of two great games. I think that this year’s AFC Championship Game would have a chance against almost any contest on this list. The problem is, Super Bowl 36 isn’t just any game. Put aside the fact that it was the biggest upset since Super Bowl 3, and the fact that it was the start of this amazing run, it was also a fantastic game. Remember how the Patriots had the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history in SB 49? The Rams were down 14 at the start of the fourth and came all the way back to tie the game.

If the Patriots had listened to John Madden, that game goes to overtime, and the Patriots might lose. Then the Rams, instead of being on the losing end of one of the greatest upsets in NFL history, complete the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. That final drive might be the biggest drive in the history of the Patriots organization. That drive puts this game over the top, not only this week, but maybe moving forward as well.

#1 vs #2 - Super Bowl 38 vs Super Bowl 53

Two Super Bowls facing off in the Elite 8. Think about how ridiculous that is! Belichick and Brady have won enough Super Bowls that two are guaranteed not to make the Final 4.

This matchup is a tough call. 38 was probably a better game, with the Patriots and Panthers going back and forth on the scoreboard in the second and fourth quarters. Every time it looked like one team was going to pull away, the other team came storming back. And then, of course, there’s the final drive and game winning kick by Adam Vinatieri to win New England two out of three title games.

Then, this year, it was one of the greatest defensive performances in the history of the Super Bowl. Two high powered offenses, both unable to get much going all day. The Patriots’ offensive execution in the fourth quarter, especially after being shut down all game, was just amazing. The rarely-used formation leading to a few monster plays, and then just carving the Rams up with eigth straight runs, ending with a field to go up by 10.

So which game is the choice here? I’m not tipping my hand, so I’ll let you decide. All I know is I’m glad you’re the ones making the decision and not me.

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