New England Patriots' Troy Brown Upsets St. Louis Rams' Isaac Bruce in The 989 Sports'® Seventh Annual 'Game Before the Game®'
Past Six Winners of the 989 Sports'® NFL GameDay™ 2002 Showdown Have Gone On to Win the Big Game
In one of the most amazing battles yet, Troy Brown of the New England Patriots defeated Isaac Bruce of the St. Louis Rams in the 989 Sports'® Seventh Annual "Game Before the Game®" 21-14. In the previous six years of this event, each player's team who has won the "Game Before the Game" has gone on to win the Super Bowl.
(Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000510/SFW104-a )
In the showdown of Pro Bowl wide receivers the stage was set for the underdog, and Troy Brown proved to be just that as he toppled the heavy favorite in 989 Sports'® NFL GameDay™ 2002 by a score of 21-14 at the Coca-Cola and America Online Present the NFL Experience. With two of the best players in the game competing against one another and Tom Arnold, host of FOX Sports' Best Damn Sports Show Period, providing color commentary for the evening, fans were treated to a great battle for virtual bragging rights.
The game got off to a slow start, with both defenses keeping their opponents scoreless in the first quarter. However, Troy Brown and the New England Patriots got on the board first when Tom Brady connected to Troy Brown on a 44-yard strike taking the Pats to the St. Louis nine-yard line. It was just two plays later when Brady again connected to Brown with a pass deep in the endzone. Vinateri converted the PAT leaving the score 7-0 in favor of the Patriots.
Fortunately for the Rams, Isaac Bruce and the Rams were able to bounce back with Kurt Warner heaving a pass to Isaac Bruce for a 62-yard play all the way to the endzone, bringing the score to 7-7 with just 1:29 left in the first half. Both teams would score again in the second quarter leaving the score tied at halftime 14-14.
The second half brought the fans to their feet as the Patriots got ahead and never looked back. Again, Brady threw as brilliant ball as he recorded his third touchdown pass of the game in a nine-yard shot to Kevin Faulk. At 21-14, the game was where it would stay until the final tick of the clock as fate seems to have been tempted in New Orleans. With the way the "Game Before the Game" has predicted the winner of the Super Bowl in the past, things are looking hopeful for the New England Patriots come Sunday.
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