Get up it's game day! Our NEWS CENTER Maine team geared up bright and early to head to Foxboro. Myself, Jessica Gagne, Chris Costa, digital producer Liam Nee, producer Chelsea Bard, and photog extraordinaire Derek Thayer caravanned down to Gillette Stadium. Fueld by coffee and donuts. (thanks Liam!)
Now, going down to a Patriots game is exciting. Who doesn't love NFL football? But for our team, this is work. We had a lot to do prior to kickoff, and it started as soon as we hit the road. Jessica was putting together some stories to air during our pregame special, Chris was promoting our coverage over a Facebook live, and I was putting some things on our website. And that was only the beginning.
Two hours later around 10:30 a.m. we arrived to Gillette. The tailgates were well underway. Someone was even rocking out on the guitar! And the weather? Perfect. We ran into a lot of Mainers who made the same trip, to see if the hype really is true about TB12's hand. And of course to watch some playoff football too.
(Also Jay, if you're reading this, let me know where you got the suit. Amazing.)
From the parking lot we picked up the media shuttle and headed inside. Had to grab our spot on the sideline for our special pregame report! Setting up the equipment, hauling our bags, going over our own game plan - a lot of preparation goes into Championship Sunday but it's nothing if it isn't executed properly.
Alright - take moment to soak it all in. This is Gillette Stadium. The Pats' seventh straight AFC Title Game. It's special - but again, a lot to do. Jess and I went up to the press box to finish putting our show together for the Facebook live. Video editing, writing, graphics building, and coordinating with our producers.
Derek set up shop on the sideline and Liam, Chelsea and Chris were working on gathering video and building some more content for the Facebook Live Pregame special. Chris even ran into the Sanford Police Department Color Guard rehearsing before the game!
Two hours of prep and we were ready to go. Was it stressful? Yes. But we knew what we had to do. Preparation and execution. Plus the playoff atmosphere makes things seem lighter!
AND NOW, I GIVE TO YOU, our really great Facebook Live that you should definitely watch. Great stories about great Mainers and all of their Patriot ties. We have been working on it all week! Not just during the game. What a way to get ready to take on the Jaguars.
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'"I gotta really big team.' - Drake" - Emily Milliron
Seriously, these people are the best!
Alright game time. Game faces. Our team split up - Derek, Liam, and Chelsea headed to the photog work room and Jess, Chris, and I headed to the press box. Gotta eat and get ready to watch the game, while still pumping out social media content. Work does not stop.
Brady throws 31 yard completion, hand still intact #MarchtoMinnesota
In the press box you are not allowed to cheer. People comment on plays, but it is no where near what the atmosphere is like in the stands.
The press box is an office. Everyone has work to do - it just happens to revolved around a championship football game.
Fournette scores on a 4-yd run. 14-3 #Jaguars -- how are Patriots fans feeling?
As I am writing this, its about 4:00 p.m., almost two minutes left in the first half, and the Pats are trailing 14-3.
Pats D handling Fournette up the gut. It's the pass to the flat that's been tough for them to defend so far.
A little bit of nervous energy in the press box, but everyone knew this first half would be a tough one.
There's a person in there somewhere…#MarchToMinnesota #Patriots #JAXvsNE pic.twitter.com/qzridn4bFj
Lotttaaaaa penalties on the Jags. And the Patriots capitalize! James White with a one yard touchdown with just :55 left in the first half and trail the Jaguars 14-10. I smell some second half Belichick magic.
Pats TD! James White runs it in from a yard out-- #Patriots trail #Jaguars 14-10 with a minute left in the half #MarchtoMinnesota
OK. Second half. Feelings? Well so far the Jaguars still look good, wasting now time to knock through a field goal. They lead 17-10. I'm excited to see what the Pats do - right now they are driving from their own 47 yard line.
This is the part of covering a game that I find to be the most challenging. Updating a blog, live tweeting, and producing engaging content while still knowing what is going on. But because there is a team of us here, there is a little less pressure.
Lambo boots it 54 yards for the field goal, #Jaguars now lead 17-10 in the third #MarchtoMinnesota
Another missed 3rd conversion for the Pats.
4:10 left in the third quarter. Holy moly - this Jaguars defense is no joke. I'm really, really impressed with how the whole team has been playing so far. Also Leonard Fournette has been very good. For a team that gave up 42 points against the Steelers last week, they look a lot stronger against Tom Brady and his offense.
This game is flying by. It feels like the Patriots are down a lot more than 10 points (Jacksonville is leading 20-10 with 10:49 left in the game). Gronk left the game a bit earlier with a head injury - big loss for the Pats.
OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH touchdown Patriots. Interesting. Amendola hauls in a nine yard pass in the fourth quarter. 20-17, Jacksonville leads. This crowd is back into it, and Jon Bon Jovi is leading them in a rendition of "Livin on a Prayer".
Alright, so as I am posting this the game is OVER! What an ending. Patriots come from behind to win 24-20 over the Jaguars. But with a resume like the Patriots, it was something I expected.
The end of a game like this is incredibly chaotic. Three of us ran to the podium and locker room and the other three of us ran to the field to do a post game Facebook live. Everyone has separate jobs, but you work together as a team.
It is chaotic and a lot of work. The whole post game process takes almost two hours. We interview players, record and edit pieces for our later shows, plaster social media with quotes and analysis, but when you're team wins, it's worth it.
The Pats are not done. Super Bowl XLII against the Eagles is just around the corner, and the March to Minnesota is on.
