It's hard to question a coach that has had the kind of success that Belichik has had over the last decade. However, for anyone that saw/read/heard what happened last night, what was he thinking?
The Pats faced a fourth-and-2 situation from their own 28-yard line with 2 minutes, 8 seconds to play. They were ahead of the Indianapolis Colts by six points.
Belichick called a timeout to shoo his punt unit off the field. He sent his offense back to the field. Surely, Belichick ordered Tom Brady to induce the Colts to jump offside with a hard count and some wild hand gesticulations.
There was no way the Patriots were going to snap it, right?
Then the ball soared between center Dan Koppen's knees. The play was live. This was it, do or die. Brady threw to his right to running back Kevin Faulk, who bobbled the ball but corralled it as he went to the turf -- short of the first down by six inches or so.
Anybody who watched the play unfold was stunned.
Manning got the short field and ended up throwing the game winning TD to Reggie Wayne with 13 ticks left on the clock.
Crazy call but the interesting thing is how closely knit this Patriot team is and how vocal players were in defending their coach. The Pats have been probably the best run NFL franchise over the last decade and they are like a family and they all stick together. It's not like they do that because they have to but because they want to. The players that defended their coach didn't just sound like it was PR spin but that they genuinely meant it and that they would do whatever the coach said because they believe in him. Again, with all of his success, Belichick does deserve credit and has built up a fair amount of trust.
I still don't like the call but by last count Belichick has won a lot more Super Bowls than I have and gets paid the big bucks to make those kinds of calls. I'm sure Belichick and the Pats will have their opportunity at revenge when they face the Colts in the playoffs.
5 comments:
He was thinking with his dipstick Jimmy!
Thinking with his "dipstick Jimmy!"?
So you are saying he got gay for Tom Brady and his offense and had to go for it?
I don't disagree with Belichick's decision. The odds of not getting two yards with Tom Brady at QB and then giving up 29 yards and a TD are just as likely as giving up 70 yards and a TD when you have to give the ball to Manning. The Patrionots' D was running on fumes at that point and it made sense to try to get the 1st down and continue to run out the clock.
He'll be 2nd guessed forever on this call, but I don't have a problem with being aggressive when you have the horses to get it done.
I would have punted. No question about it. Manning was not having a particularly great night although he had started to heat up.
I would have left it to my D. I don't think it was the worst decision ever, but I do think it was a bad decision.
No question you punt in that situation. It was weird once that ball was snapped. I was just surprised that they went for it.
As good as Manning is, I still have to make it as difficult as possible for him. Also, they needed a TD and time was running out. I would trust my defense to preserve that win.
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