FOXBOROUGH , Mass. — Sometimes, one play can sway or cement a legacy.
The Patriots have been on the wrong side of a couple of those plays at the biggest moments. Plays that, had they gone the Patriots’ way, their franchise would be viewed in a very different light: As in a greatest franchise ever light.
Reverse the results of David Tyree’s Cirque du Soleil helmet grab in 2008 and Mario Manningham’s Fred Astaire sideline tap dance in 2012 and the Patriots are in hot pursuit of their sixth Super Bowl since 2001 right now after Saturday’s scintillating 35-31 Divisional playoff win over the Ravens at Gillette Stadium.
The Ravens will surely wake up Sunday morning feeling the way the way Patriots did after those two Super Bowl losses to the Giants after the Tyree and Manningham game-turning catches.
The game-turning moment Saturday came on a positively exquisite play — one that will be remembered forever in Patriots lore if they get to Glendale, Ariz., for the Super Bowl and win fourth title under coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady.
It came with 4:20 remaining in the third quarter and the Patriots, who twice fell behind the Ravens by 14 points (14-0 and 28-14), trailing 28-21.
Brady took the snap, turned to his left and threw a lateral pass to receiver Julian Edelman. Edelman, a former college quarterback who never had thrown an NFL pass in his six-year career, launched an absolute gem to fellow receiver Danny Amendola streaking alone down the left sideline.
Ravens cornerback Rashaan Melvin bit like a hungry dog on the play, running toward the line of scrimmage while Amendola went whirring past him the other way.
The play — called “double pass’’ and one the Patriots have been working on since training camp without unveiling it in a game — went for 51 yards and tied the game at 28-28.
“At that time of the game, it was a great play call on their part,’’ Melvin said.
“Pretty sweet play,’’ Brady said. “Josh [McDaniels, the offensive coordinator] called it at the perfect time. We actually got the perfect look [from the Baltimore defense]. They bit up off of it, obviously to try and go tackle Jules, Danny slipped behind them and Jules threw a dime. We needed it.’’
Brady said jokingly that Edelman “throws it better than I did’’ on that play and said, “He spun it. It was a perfect spiral right in stride. I’ve got to make some rules that he can’t throw it better than I can.’’
Asked if they ever have executed that play any better in practice than it came off in the heat of Saturday’s game, Edelman said, “I think one time, in training camp. My spiral was better.’’
Amendola, who is in his second year with the Patriots, said jokingly it “was a play me and Julian have been practicing for about five years.’’
“Julian has a great arm and is a great athlete,’’ Amendola said. “He put it on the money.’’
Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis said he watched the play on the stadium scoreboard and said, “It looked pretty.’’
“They made one more play than we did,’’ Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs lamented.
One play to sway a legacy, which is what the Patriots are chasing more than anything these days.
This is how high the Patriots have raised the bar for themselves: They are approaching Tiger Woods status where basic excellence is not good enough.
Woods can win five tournaments in a year and it will not be seemed a true success unless at least one of those wins comes in a major championship.
The Patriots can win 12 games every regular season until Belichick switches his game-day garb from the hoodie to a tank top, but unless they get to the Super Bowl and win the title, the season will be deemed a failure.
Saturday’s win puts the postseason failure on hold for another week in New England, where the “double pass’’ was the first touchdown pass thrown by a Patriots non-quarterback since 2004, which happens to be the last year they won a Super Bowl.
An omen?