This one isn't going to sit well with Patriots fans. The loss, the turnovers in the end zone, the decision to go on fourth down. But it's not the end of the world. When players on both sides said, "It's a regular season game, not the Super Bowl," they were right.
Instead of screaming and wanting to tear a hole in your wall, take the positives from this game. For example, New England dominated the Colts for much of the night, and Brady looking in great form. Randy Moss looked in great form, and Kevin Faulk was his valuable self. Even before he looked like he was carrying a greased pig, Laurence Maroney ran hard and well.
Until he got things going late - when the Pats defense couldn't stop a middle school football team from scoring - Peyton Manning looked confused at times. He tossed two picks (one was a quacker of a throw and one was a miscommunication), but he's a great quarterback and made the plays when he had to. And New England afforded him that opportunity.
Personally, and I think I'm in the minority, I'm with Belichick and his decision to go on fourth down. Like I said, the dog-tired defense couldn't stop anyone from scoring at that point, and one of the best offenses in the world needed to go six feet for a first down.
Either way, it didn't work and the Patriots lost. Not a big deal. Got the Jets coming in next week. Well, that's my view. Some people feel differently. Associated Press sports columnist Jim Litke put all the blame on Belichick, claiming, "Heck, Manning might be a better coach tham Belichick already."
Knee meet jerk.
The bottom line is that this is a loss, just like the other two this season and the many Belichick has suffered in his tenure as coach. Sure it stings more, but it carries the same weight in the long run.
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3 comments:
Great coach/terrible call. Whether the play succeeded or not, you just cant go for it on 4th down on your own 28 yard line with a 6 point lead this late in the game. Make the Colts go 80 yards to beat you.
I have to disagree...I think it was the right call.
Bill made an offensive decision...a decision to keep the ball (and therefore control of the game) in THEIR hands and would have given them the ability to run out the clock.
Bill saw the Colts had momentum on their side and kicking it would have simply given the Colts the ball and put the Pats in the difficult position of trying pul out a defensive victory.
Bill showed faith in his offense to get the two yards, and faith in his defense to hold the line in the event they did not get the 1st down. He also showed respect for the other team's ability to score...be it from 80 yards or 30.
The Pat players not being able to pull it off is the only factor that came between this being a great coaching call (or more likely a call that went unnoticed) and it becoming a bad one.
Great point, Jeff. Like in the Super Bowl against the Rams, Bill could clearly see that his team had lost momentum, so instead of sitting on the ball and playing for OT, he marched down the field ... against the solid advice of John Madden.
The more I think about it, the more I love this decision. I want my coach to have some cahones, and not put his tail between his legs, waiting on a slow death.
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