tajapandu

One potential positive that I haven't seen discussed much is the way this team has responded in the past when Belichick has been under heavy scrutiny. They always seem to get his back when you think they have a good reason to turn against him. In 2003, he cuts Lawyer Milloy, Tom Jackson says "they hate their coach," and the rest is history. And we all know what happened in 2007. This is probably the most he's been criticized outside of those two events. Maybe the team will respond the same way. I sure hope so.

ausbacker

BB has the runs on the board. This is just a gut wrenching loss for the implications it has this season and illustrates the glaring weaknesses this team needs to improve to better itself.

Patspsycho

I think it's what is exactly going to happen.

Both Assarotti and Shanknancy are cutting BB up in the Globe. Assarotti is actually on the front page of the online edition of the Globe.

Like I pointed out in a thread I wrote that nobody read, this is just like '95 with the Cowboys where Switzer did the same thing. He went for it on 4th and a yard on his 29 doing the power left two plays in a ROW against the Eagles. Emmitt Smith gets stuffed and Switzer gets called "Bozo Coach" in the papers the next day. Unlike BB, who only needed a first down to win, Switzer still had another 40 yards to go.

What happens? The team rallies around Switzer and goes "F U world" and wins the rest of their games and win the superbowl.

crypto

A bad call was a bad call. It lost the game and it sucks. But the obvious fact is that this was a damn regular season game. It won't go down in history as anything big. These journalists are just scrambling for the big bucks and unleashing their hatred for the Patriots like any other fan.

In the short term, it might lose the Patriots homefield advantage, but they've locked up the East and judging by last night they sure as hell can kick Indy's ass on the road. If they can't, it's sort of empty anyway.

convertedpatsfan

I was thinking about the Switzer call as well. It did cost them a game, but it sent a message to that team. Seeing Tom defend the decision made me think that this could be a turning point for us as well.

mayoclinic

The early quotes from the Pats players are encouraging. To a man, they believe in Belichick and will support him no matter what. From their point of view, they just didn't execute well enough.

I think BB takes full responsibility for the loss, but the team rallies around him and goes on a "take no prisoners" rampage the way they did after Spygate in 2007.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

Patriot_in_NY

BB makes the same sorts of calls all the time.......... He did in 2001.

Remember, when fat Madden and Co. were all talking about conventional wisdom and crap about taking a knee and going into overtime? BB took one look at his D and said "This D is toast, no way they are stopping Warner again". Why take chances on a coin flip, when we can take chances gunslinging our way to a FG. The rest is history.

Put the ball in the hands of your playmakers and hope they make a play.

This is WHY I LOVE HIM AS A COACH. Last night just did not work out for us. He's still the same guy.

SVN

good analogy. if brady had thrown a pick in2001 BB wouldve been castigated. he did make that call before winning any SB. can someone tweet this to peter king. ?

Satchboogie3

Many people are saying that "Even if Belichick did still have faith in the defense, but thought the Offense was the better choice, the defensive players are going to feel like he doesn't have any confidence in them". They say it like it is a bad thing, but I actually think it is a good thing. If our young players are ever going to have any success in the NFL, they have to be mentally tough and have the will to prove everyone wrong. I hope they feel like Belichick lost confidence in them because I believe it will only make them better. If the defense can't use this as motivation to improve and prove to BB they can be dominant, than I don't think they will ever be dominant.

__________________
This is the year. We put our failures in the past, it's a new year, a new defense. It's time to prove to the league that the Patriots are back and aren't going anywhere and they will be the last ones standing in Feb.
Update: Well that didn't work out as I had planned. Next year baby, next year 19-0 we go. Next year.

crypto

Wagon stops here to let any mofos off.

CHOO CHOO.