New England Patriots: 5 Unlikely Heroes of Super Bowl LI

Tarringo Basile-vaughan

Jan 31, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; General overall view of New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons helmets at NRG Stadium prior to Super Bowl LI on Feb 5, 2017. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

If the New England Patriots defeat the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI, it will take a great effort. Which unlikely player will rise up and have the game of their life?

Two years ago, an undrafted rookie out of West Alabama stepped up to make the play of his life. Two years late, New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler is one of the top cornerbacks in the game.

If it wasn’t for the team’s trust in him and Butler’s readiness for the moment, a fourth Super Bowl victory may have been another heartbreaking defeat. Oh how fans remember the moment Butler intercepted the ball at the end zone to turn the palpitations of Patriots Nation into a frenzy of victory.

"Pass is INTERCEPTED!!!"

Brady loses it.
Sherman loses it.
Twitter breaks in two.
One of craziest finishes EVER. http://t.co/GazYbK6Lsz
— NFL (@NFL) February 2, 2015

However, if that play wasn’t made and the Seattle Seahawks scored the game-winning touchdown, an unknown wide receiver named Chris Matthews would’ve been in consideration for the game’s MVP. If was his production that led to Butler getting his chance to play in the first place.

So which unlikely Patriots player will step up to make the play of their life or have the game of their life to help New England hoist a fifth Vince Lombardi Super Bowl trophy? Here are five players who will have an opportunity.

Matt Lengel

There seems to be always a practice squad type player who comes up big in the Super Bowl. While no one is expecting New England Patriots tight end Matt Lengel to have much of a role in the passing attack, he just may have his number called.

Without Rob Gronkowski, the Falcons will focus in on Julian Edelman and primary tight end Martellus Bennett. That may just cause Tom Brady to look at his second tight end to make some plays. If Lengel is up for the task, he may just get a chance to make a name for himself. He does have just two catches, one of which happened to go for a touchdown, but with his 6-foot-7 and 266-pound frame, he could be a target in the red zone.

See Christian Fauria and Mike Vrabel in previous Patriots Super Bowls.

Signed off the Cincinnati Bengals ‘practice squad late in the season, Lengel is grateful and pumped up for the opportunity to play in the big game.

"“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Lengel told WKYT. “I can’t let the moment get too big.”"

Matt Lengel has primarily played on special teams in the team’s two playoff games. While a big play may also come there, it would not be a shock for the Patriots to call some plays to put the former Eastern Kentucky University tight end in position to make an impactful play.

Duron Harmon

The Patriots have a trio of ex-Rutgers players who have significant roles on defense. While much of the attention goes to safety Devin McCourty and cornerback Logan Ryan, safety Duron Harmon has quietly put together a couple of solid seasons for the Patriots.

In fact, Harmon’s play is what allows McCourty to make the plays he makes. In the final year of his contract, Harmon has prior Super Bowl experience and will likely be in position to make a big play in Super Bowl LI.

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With a deep threat player like Julio Jones challenging the defense, Harmon is expected to provide safety help for whichever cornerback lines up across from the dynamic wide receiver. While Duron Harmon is not a flashy player, he is a player who does the job assigned to him. He has 92 tacklers and seven interceptions in his career and credits Patriots head coach Bill Belichick for believing in his ability to play the game.

"“I feel like I would have been an NFL player, but I would say just being under coach Belichick, he has made me a much better football player because I’ll say I’ve never been challenged the way that he’s challenged me,” Harmon said via Chron.com. “I’ve never been coached the way he has coached me. He just expects excellence. Having that on you all the time it can either break you or it can make you a better player. I really feel like it’s continuing to just help me be a better player, so I know the player I am has a lot to do with coach Belichick.”"

Harmon will have an opportunity to make an interception or make a key down-the-field tackle in this game.

Danny Amendola

As a player who has a Super Bowl victory under his belt, Patriots receiver Danny Amendola is hoping to make an impact in Houston. Not only will it be a homecoming for Amendola, it could possibly be his last game in a Patriots uniform.

Considering the fact that he was signed as a possible replacement for the great Wes Welker, the product of Texas Tech has morphed more into a reliable role player in the Patriots’ offense. He has developed some chemistry with Tom Brady, but with the emergence of both Chris Hogan and Malcolm Mitchell in the passing game, Amendola has seen his snaps decrease.

The 31-year-old wide receiver have his chances to impact the game as a punt-returner, but also expect him to get some plays called his way in the short passing game. The Falcons defense will focus in on Julian Edelman, Hogan and Bennett, which will leave Amendola as an outlet for Brady.

If this is the end

Above all, the veteran receiver hopes to go out on top if this is his last game with the Patriots or even in the NFL.

"“I’m prepared and I feel really well. I feel strong and fast,” Amendola said via the Providence Journal. “I’m going to use everything I have this weekend and let it all go. Then have a lot of time to rehab and get better, get strong and have a good offseason when the time comes. I’m focused on one thing, and that’s the game.”"

Expect a key punt return from Danny Amendola and at least two key catches in this game.

Kyle Van Noy

In theory, there is no replacing a talented freak-of-nature linebacker like Jamie Collins. However, Bill Belichick was able to find a player in Kyle Van Noy willing to make the plays necessary to put his team in position to win games.

Acquired in a trade from the Detroit Lions in October, Van Noy spent his first three weeks with the Patriots studying the playbook. When he finally got his chance to play, he had a key sack and since then has been a reason why the Patriots’ defense has emerged and is the No. 1-ranked scoring defense towards the end of the season.

Eric Rowe

To expose the New England Patriots secondary and have success, a team will probably focus on the third cornerback. In this case Eric Rowe might just be the most important defensive player on the field on Sunday. Whatever his role will be, Matt Ryan will target him and the former second-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles will have to made some plays to limit the exposing passing game of the Falcons.

As the tallest of the Patriots cornerbacks, Rowe could get the assignment of covering Julio Jones with safety help. While this would scare most Patriots fans, it may just make the most sense. By taking away the deep threat ability of Jones, the Patriots could use Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan to limit Mohamed Sanu and Taylor Gabriel.

Plus, there’s a feeling you get when a player is talked about in the span of two weeks as much as Rowe has been discussed. While much of the discussion has not been popular, it would be poetic if the Houston native played the game of his life to help his team win.

As far as covering a player like Jones, Rowe knows what he would be up against.

"“He can do it all,” Rowe said via CSNPhilly. “The short routes, the intermediate routes, the deep routes. He can run. He’s got long strides. Great route running skills. Great hands. Strong. I mean, you pick it. I’ve seen it all from him on film. We just gotta slow him down.”"

Next: Boston Celtics Hardwood News: Brad Stevens to Coach East All-Stars

Rowe has had experience going up against big wide receivers like Brandon Marshall, Demaryius Thomas and A.J. Green. While talented, none of them are the beast Julio Jones is. Still, Eric Rowe may perform better than expected.

Tarringo Basile-vaughan

Site Expert @ NFL Mocks.com, Tarringo T. Basile Vaughan has been a Site Expert for NFL Mocks since 2023. Born a diehard Boston Sports fan, Tarringo begin with Fansided in 2016 as a Site Expert for Chowder & Champions covering the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins and other Boston sports teams. As a published poet and creative writer, Tarringo blends his expertise of sports in a style that best relates to the reader as sports fans. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts - Amherst prides himself as a flexible writer who can cover different genres, which he has done as a contract writer since 2010.