Page 2 - February 2017

Doing Our Job

By now it might feel like old news to some, but not to a Patriots fan. The New England Patriots won Super Bowl
LI by defeating the Atlanta Falcons, 34-28 in the first EVER overtime in a Super Bowl. No team had ever come
back from more than a 10 point deficit in the history of the Super Bowl. The Patriots were down 28-3 with eight
minutes and 36 seconds left in the third quarter and scored an unanswered 25 points to tie the game and send
it into overtime. The Patriots won the coin toss, received the kick off, and proceeded to drive down the field.
They scored on a short rush by James White, his third of the game, and claimed an amazing comeback victory.
This win, the fifth for Coach Bill Belichik and Quarterback Tom Brady, cemented their place in the annals of NFL
history as the greatest coach and quarterback ever to play the game. No coach or quarterback has EVER won
five Super Bowls.

The Massachusetts State Police support the New England Patriots and are a part of every home game played
at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. The 2016 home game lineup included two preseason games and eight regular
season games. The Patriots incredible season lead to the addition of two playoff games at home before their
winning trip to Super Bowl LI at NRG stadium in Houston Texas. Troopers worked all twelve home games as part
of the efforts of keeping those attending the games safe and ensuring everyone could get to and from the game.

The traffic on Route 1 in the area of Gillette Stadium in Foxboro poses a number of challenges for ingress and
egress on game days. The stadium, which seats 68,756 has been sold out for every game since its construction
was completed in 2002. The Patriots have in fact sold out every game since 1994 at Gillette’s predecessor
Foxboro Stadium. The Gillette Stadium detail for the New England Patriots games is one of the larger events the
Massachusetts State Police are regularly involved in (The 4 of July on the Esplanade, the Boston Marathon and
th
the Head of the Charles Regatta are among some of the others.)

In celebration of the Patriots Super Bowl win, we share with you some of our troopers in action during the AFC
Championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

French·and·Electric·Blue·February·2017·page·2