It wasn’t Tom Brady’s hand that set conspiracy theorists’ minds racing.
After the Patriots’ come-from-behind, 24-20 triumph over the Jaguars in the AFC Championship on Sunday, an official walked over to the glove-less wonder and patted him on the back to get his attention. He then used the universal nice-job-man pat to the chest, congratulating the 40-year-old on clinching his eighth Super Bowl appearance. It was enough to gain notice of a few NFL players and enough to begin the complaints of every Patriots critic (meaning, every non-Patriots fan).
After a game in which Jacksonville racked up 98 yards on six penalties to New England’s 10 yards on one, it made for a clip that instantly went viral, fodder for all those who think that so many calls go the Patriots’ way in big-time moments. It wasn’t even the first time the tin-foil hats were worn Sunday; after a second-quarter touchdown, another official was seen with a big smile on the outskirts of the team’s end-zone celebration.
This season a number of questionable calls have gone Bill Belichick’s way — catches were made non-catches against the Jets and Steelers — and just last week, officials made a few head-turning calls as the Patriots ran away from the Titans.
Regardless, New England moves on with one last chance this season to deflate its enemies.