Sunday, November 15, 2009

Bill Belichik Cost Patriots Game



The New England Patriots were up 34-28 with a little over two minutes remaining and faced a 4th and 2, and we're in prime position to take the win.

Instead of punting, Belichik decided to go for it.

Tom Brady dropped back, and hit Kevin Faulk, but he was hit immeadiately and was marked short of the first down marker, giving Peyton Manning and the Colts offense a short field against a Patriots defense that they scored 17 straight points on prior to this upcoming drive.

Peyton Manning took only a few plays before he found Reggie Wayne in the endzone to take a 35-34 lead with 13 seconds left. A last second hook and latter didn't work for the Patriots and the Colts were victorious.

Now, we've seen Belichik do this same type of call before, and he was labeled as a genius, and such a smart coach for going for it.

It was stupid then, and it was stupid now.

As the old saying goes, "He's a genius if it works, and idiot if it doesn't." Well, that's complete lunacy.

No matter whether it is successful or not, going for it on your own 30 yard line with two minutes left on the clock, and potentially giving the best quarterback in the NFL, and possibly all-time a short field, is a stupid decision.

The correct call is to put your punt team on the field, and count on your defense to step up and earn their paychecks. All Mr. Belichik did was send a loud and clear message that he doens't have an ounce of confidence in his defensive unit, and they're listening.

He should've been criticized earlier in the year when it worked, and he should be criticized now. Sooner or later it was going to come back to bite him and lose his team a game. Well, Bill, that time has come and now you have to deal with the heat.




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