Belichick defends controversial decision during Monday's press conference
12:27 PM Mon, Nov 16, 2009 | Permalink
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FOXBORO -- Bill Belichick said that he made the right decision to go for a first down on 4th-and-2 at the Patriots' own 28 with just over two minutes left in New England's 35-34 loss to Indianapolis during his Monday morning press conference. Belichick said that the Patriots knew that they were going to go for it if they failed to get a first down on third down, and the punt team running out on the field when they didn't get it was a mistake. "We had a little miscommunication on that as to whether we were going to go or punt it and once some of the guys on the punt team started out, then the guys on offense, they started to come off [the field]," Belichick said. "That wasn't cleanly handled. I'll take responsibility for that." Like he has done so many other times in the past, Belichick put the game in the hands of his All-Pro quarterback, Tom Brady, who shredded the Colts defense all game, completing 29-of-42 passes for 375 yards and 3 touchdowns with 1 interception. Belichick knew that if Brady could complete the pass and get a first down, the Patriots would survive the Colts' furious fourth quarter rally. He did not want to put the game in the hands of Indianapolis star quarterback Peyton Manning, who guided the Colts on two touchdown scoring drives of 79 yards in the fourth quarter. Both drives took less than 2:05 to complete. "It's an explosive offense," Belichick said of the Colts. "They can do it in one play...We know how explosive they are. Anytime they have the ball they're capable of scoring." Working out of a spread-formation, Brady hit Kevin Faulk near the first-down line. Colts safety Melvin Bullitt tackled him as soon as he caught the ball. The officials spotted the ball inches short from the first-down sticks. "We felt good about that play," Belichick said. "That's why we called it. I think he had the first down when the ball hit his hands [before where] it was finally marked. It was a little bit short. He was across the 30-yard-line when the ball touched him." The Colts took over with 1:57 remaining and four plays later Manning hit trusted receiver Reggie Wayne on a slant for a one-yard touchdown catch to complete a 17-point fourth-quarter rally and stun Patriots Nation. "We had a chance to stop them and didn't stop them," Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas told reporters after the game. The game never should have come down to Belichick's controversial call. The Patriots had several chances to closeout the Colts in the second half but couldn't. Leading by 10, the Patriots turned the ball over twice in the third quarter in Indianapolis territory. Had they scored on one of those occasions, the game likely would have never come down to Manning's fourth-quarter heroics. "We had some opportunities and we just collectively weren't able to [capitalize] on [as many] of them as they were," Belichick said. "It's disappointing to come up short in a game like that and I think we all feel it, as we should, because we put a whole lot into it. We left a lot of plays [out there] in that game." -- Belichick also noted that linebacker Brandon McGowan did a solid job in pass-coverage against Indianapolis start tight end Dallas Clark (four catches for 65 yards) and that defensive back Jonathan Wilhite played well against Colts' star receiver Reggie Wayne (10 catches, 126 yards, 2 TDs) but Wayne just made some phenomenal catches in good coverage. 
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Brady would have gotten that first down in the PG (pre Gisele) era. Face it, the premier quarterback in the NFL, that inspires fear in opponent, is Peyton Manning. This game define that assertion.
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it would not have mattered whether or not Belicheat punted or went for it. Peyton is the best 2 minute quarterback (maybe in history) of football. Yes he threw 2 interceptions but they were wounded ducks. The colts played for 60 minutes whereas the Patriots ,especially Belicheat only played and coached for 58. Put the game in the hands of the defense and make Manning go 70-something yards for the win, not 28. Looks like the road to Miami is coming through indy.
Go colts!
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The superbowl will go thru Indy but it will not matter. Sammy Morris will be in the backfieled and Brady and Bellicheck will not be put in that position the next time. Kudo's to Manning comming back after that 4th qrt miserable interception; he displayed great resiliency. Another classic Pat v. Indy. This was great for both teams and the NFL.
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This game was just fantastic. So exciting, it lived up to the hype.
The 4th and 2 call was definitely all or nothing, I don't mind the call Belichick made. I don't think it was lack of confidence in his defense as much as more confidence in his offense. And it is Peyton, he would've went 65 yards as easy as he went the 30 or so.
Hope they meet again in the playoffs.
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He surely has a lot of explaining to do. Anyways, this has been the most exciting game ever for the season. Indeed, one team's victory is a just the fans' reward. Thanks for sharing.
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