Welker Sets Patriots Record With 99-Yard Touchdown
BOSTON (CBS) -Wes Welker now owns a New England Patriots record that is nearly impossible to break.
After stopping the Miami Dolphins on the one-foot line in Monday night's season opener, the Patriots had 99+ yards ahead of them.
Tom Brady and Welker took care of that with one play.
Lined up in the shotgun with five receivers, Brady stepped back into his own end zone and delivered a perfect pass to Welker, who had slipped behind Miami defender Benny Sapp.
Welker caught the ball at the 30-yard line and was off. A smooth stiff-arm and 70 yards later he was in the end zone, and the record books.
"I wouldn't say that I knew that I would (take it all the way)," said Welker. "When I saw the coverage as we lined up in our empty set, I knew there was a strong possibility I would get the ball. I just wanted to make the most of the opportunity."
"Wes ran a great route, I threw it and he made a hell of a catch and a hell of a run after the catch," said Brady, who threw for 517 yards in the 38-24 win. "I only threw it 25 yards; it wasn't like I threw it 99 yards. Wes did all the work, I just had to put it out there for him."
It's the longest pass play in Patriots history, and ties an NFL record. Welker is now one of 12 NFL players to take a play 99-yards from the line of scrimmage.
"That was pretty awesome," said Brady. "Coach never lets us run that route in practice. He's like 'I'm sick of Welker running seam routes, I don't want to see that.' that's all we heard. Hopefully we don't have to hear that again."
Welker said throughout training camp he felt better than ever. He had no offseason last year, rehabbing from a torn ACL and MCL suffered in the 2009 regular season finale. It was an up and down offseason this year with the NFL lockout, but not spending the spring on the mend has made a huge difference.
"I feel great, it's been great being able to train and not rehab in the offseason," said Welker. "Hopefully we just keep it going. It's just one game right now, we have a tough one against San Diego next week. We have to push through and keep grinding."
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Welker is not far from another Patriots milestone. He now has 62 straight games in a Pats uniform with at least one reception, just two shy of surpassing Ben Coates' record of 63. His 160 yards Monday night gives him 4,669 with New England, putting him sixth on the all-time list.
And for all those who see him as just a possession receiver?
"I'll definitely remind them of that play," he said of Monday night's touchdown.
