The morning after a heartbreaking loss to the Colts, coach Bill Belichick revisited his risky decision to go for it on fourth down while also detailing the Patriots' uncharacteristic struggles in burning valuable timeouts.
Belichick repeated what he said Sunday night, saying that he felt the decision to go for it on fourth-and-2 from the Patriots' 28-yard line, with 2:08 remaining, gave the team the best chance to win.
Would he do it again?
"You only get one chance," Belichick said, avoiding the question.
The explosive Colts offense was surely a factor in the decision, as they had covered 79 yards on six plays, in 1:49, on their previous drive. Earlier in the fourth quarter, they had another 79-yard touchdown drive, in just 2:04. Belichick lauded the Colts' Reggie Wayne, who scored the game-winning touchdown, the best receiver we cover every year."
As for the Patriots' late-game breakdown, Belichick explained the struggles with wasting timeouts, which for a team that prides itself on acing those situations were uncharacteristic mistakes.
I will say that when he first made the call I was in shock. I thought it was a horrible call. But as I have read about it all week, I am, at the very least, thinking it is not as much a slam dunk to kick it as I had been thinking. I can understand why it was such a big decision, and why the conventional decision might not have been the right one to go with.
After watching the 4th quarter, did you really think that the Pats defense would have been able to stop Manning if they had punted it? Just wondering.
I'm a Pats fan, and I didn't think it was likely.
I mean, there is a chance that Peyton might have thrown into an interception.... but I think there was more of a chance, if you went for it, that you might get the two yards.
Max
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We play. Thats what we do! We don't talk. We play! You come to Foxboro, its gonna be snowing! Its gonna be cold! Come on in here! You want to say all you want. You want to change the rules. Change them! We still play, and we win! Thats what we do!
I think that he should have made the Colts earn it. They may very well have been able to score anyways but you at least give your team a chance to stop them.
He did make them earn it. But let me ask you this. If you have a choice of making Indy's offense earn it, or of making Indy's defense earn it, which one do you choose? Consider that you have Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and Wes Welker playing against that defense, and you have a defense that has not been very successful getting at QBs, and to boot lost their main pass rusher at the beginning of that game going up against arguably the best QB in the league, as well as arguably the best offense in the league...
Well, Belichick chose to make their defense earn it. I don't honestly agree with that choice, because the Pats defense would have had more plays to stop Peyton Manning... and Manning had thrown into one interception that quarter, so it is not like he had been perfect.
Another words I pretty much agree with you, but at the same time, I understand why Belichick made the decision he made, and don't believe it was as bad a decision as the media made it out to be.
Max
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We play. Thats what we do! We don't talk. We play! You come to Foxboro, its gonna be snowing! Its gonna be cold! Come on in here! You want to say all you want. You want to change the rules. Change them! We still play, and we win! Thats what we do!
No you give your team the best chance to win. I know Belichick said that he did it because of the statistical data, but you had to be more than a number cruncher. The momentum of the game was in the Colts favor and then the Patriots were confused just on who was supposed to be on the field. I had no doubt in my mind that they wouldn't convert. That is why I didn't understand his decision. There was also no doubt that Manning would score a TD only 28 yards out. So he should have punted and made it harder for the Colts to win. Not just make an all or nothing play.
So you and I would have both kicked it... along with 90% of football fans... and 89% of those football fans have no rings. Belichick has always been the type of coach who isn't afraid to take gambles if he thinks it is better for the team. It has burnt him over the last few years... it has also won him 3 Championships... and kept him in the mix for a championship over the last decade.
Really, I'm not sure why you would have no doubt in your mind that they wouldn't get a 4th in 2. They have a pretty high percentage of getting the first downs in that situation (I don't remember the exact numbers). They also have one of the best offenses in the league... and that offense had been walking all over the Colts defense most of the game. I'll say this. Welker was getting things done even in that game... I don't know why they wouldn't design a play to throw it to Welker in that situation. That guy is clutch. Faulk has always been pretty clutch too, but I think he has lost a step or two this season (due to age). I was saying it last week, and after Welker's performance yesterday, I find myself thinking about it again. They really should have given it to Welker. I am almost sure he would have found a way to get the first down... but that is all in te past now.
No, I wasn't so sure they wouldn't get the first down. Yes, I was sure that Indy would score from 28 yards out, but to be perfectly honest, I was pretty much just as sure that Indy would have scored if they had kicked it. I think I honestly believe that what Belichick did was their best chance of winning. That being said, kicking it would have been more chances to force Peyton into a mistake. That would have been what I would have done. But that is more because I wouldn't have been willing to take the all or nothing gamble, rather than because I don't think it is the best chance they would have had...
Max
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We play. Thats what we do! We don't talk. We play! You come to Foxboro, its gonna be snowing! Its gonna be cold! Come on in here! You want to say all you want. You want to change the rules. Change them! We still play, and we win! Thats what we do!
Leading by 6 with 2 minutes left you PUNT from your own 28 on 4th and 2.
This is why I say Belichick threw the game. A man of his intelligence/experience definitly knows better.
__________________ Bears always have and always will need a quarterback!! But not a MLB.
10-7-07 Bears 27,Packers 20
12-23-07 Bears 35, Packers 7
Then Brett Favre became a Jet...
Bah. He is a coach that has always gone by the stats. He is not a coach that makes decisions just because most other coaches would have made that decision. And he is certainly not a coach that 'throws' games. Doesn't have the record he has over the last 8 years if he was throwing games. Wouldn't earn the respect he does from his players if he threw games.
Max
__________________
Quote:
We play. Thats what we do! We don't talk. We play! You come to Foxboro, its gonna be snowing! Its gonna be cold! Come on in here! You want to say all you want. You want to change the rules. Change them! We still play, and we win! Thats what we do!
Belichick Defends Decision
Belichick Defends Decision
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