There's always one or two big plays that could change the outcome of NFL games had they gone a little differently. One of those plays in Super Bowl XLVI was a dropped pass from Tom Brady to wide receiver Wes Welker.
On a second-and-11 play in the fourth quarter when the Patriots were still leading the Giants by a score of 17-15, Brady threw a pass to a wide open Welker that would have given them a first down. Unfortunately for the Patriots, Welker dropped the pass that commentator Cris Collinsworth believes he would have caught 100 out of 100 times.
On the very next play, Brady was unable to complete a pass to Deion Branch and the Patriots were forced to punt. The Giants scored the game winner on an Ahmad Bradshaw touchdown on the very next drive.
Boston Globe writer Greg Bedard caught up with Welker after the game and the league's second leading receiver in the 2011 regular season had to fight back the tears when he talked about it.
@GregABedard
Greg A. BedardWes Welker really broken up about the missed big play. "it's one I'll have to live with," he said, fighting back tears.
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This single play will be one of those plays that gets played over and over again as Patriots fans, and fans from every team, wonder if things would have been different had Welker caught an extremely catchable pass.
For more on the Patriots and their Super Bowl run, check out SB Nation's Patriots blog,Pats Pulpit as well as SB Nation Boston. For more on the Giants and their Super Bowl appearance, visit Giants blog Big Blue View and SB Nation New York. For all news and information regarding Super Bowl XLVI, please stay tuned to SB Nation's dedicated Super Bowl hub.