mgteich

There really were few lucky plays. We simply had a 17 point lead in the fourth and couldn't finish. Belichick may be the best coach in the history of the game, but he can't be HC, OC, DC, GM and QB coach.

DEFENSE
The prevent defense prevents wins, pure and simple. Manning was given time and receivers were given lots of room after we were ahead 17 points. Belichick said that this didn't happen, but the eyes have it. We talk all about the execution failures late, and we should, but players do much better if they are playing better schemes.

OFFENSE
The offense was 17 points ahead and simply stopped, trying to nurse a lead. We DO NOT have the team for that. We needed to continue with the same offense, taking the same chances deep late in the game as we had thus far. And the circus of the last drive was just that. Brady had to call a time out to start the drive and then call another to discuss playcalling with Belichick. WHO IS IN CHARGE OF PLAYCALLING, and why should it take two time outs to be on the same page at the start of a drive?

mayoclinic

I totally agree. We got conservative on both offense and defense after dominating the game. We played not to lose in the 4th quarter, instead of to win.

Things that mystified me:

- Going to the shotgun and abandoning play action and the run
- Going to a prevent defense
- Not being more aggressive going for the TD after Wilhite's INT
- Clock management and poor use of timeouts before the 2 minute warning
- Calling a 2 yard pass play when we needed 2 yards
- Not allowing the Colts to score quickly so we could get the ball back with enough time for a FG

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jbb9s

the timeouts were huge. obviously it prevented BB from the challenge....

Why was the Faulk catch not reviewed in the booth. When the play ended, the clock read 1:57?

mayoclinic

Because the play started at 2:08, so technically it came before the 2 minute warning. Automatic review doesn't apply to plays that start before the 2 minute warning, even if they end inside of 2 minutes. Pats didn't have a timeout to challenge.

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dhamz

Any play that starts before the 2 minute warning is a coaches challenge.

Running out of timeouts is not something you expect of a BB coached team but it mattered little from a challenge perspective. There was a 0% chance that any ref is overruling that play in the Polian/Manning dome.

JSn

Hard to disagree, though I'm sure someone will.

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Jimke

I don't think you can absolve BB from any blame. Last year BB did
an amazing coach job. This year not so hot.

With regard to the other coaches, the Patriots have an economy coaching staff. They have coordinators who come cheap and assistant coaches who
were coaching assistants for the most part.

everlong

Defensively they need to change their philosophy against high powered offenses. The bend but don't break works until the team is gassed. I'd rather see them take more chances and have more left at the end. 03, 06, & 09 are proof of this especially in the dome.

Offensively the red zone play calling was again suspect but the call that absolutely killed me was first and ten on the last drive you call a draw. That was fooling nobody. They should have gone play action or fake the draw and go down the field 10-15 yards with the Colts covering everything short. Being super conservative on downs 1-3 caused the need for 4th down.

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What's the difference between Brady and Manning?

Brady has a 14-3 career playoff record. Manning goes 14-3 every year.

mayoclinic

I would have liked to see the Pats run play action and take a shot down the field in the 4th quarter. Indy was crowding the line and keying on the short stuff. We killed them going deep with play action in the first half.

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jbb9s

Thanks. thats what i kind of figured but i have been too upset to look into it.

The time out we burned coming out for that drive is idiotic. I have never seen anything like that. I think O'brien may be over his head.