The Plays that Killed Us

[upstater1]

1. Offensive Pass Interference on Troy Brown
2. Face guarding was called on Ellis Hobbs, but it wasn't called on the guy who held Reche Caldwell.
3. Reche Caldwell's drop
4. Pass interference on the guy guarding Graham at the end wasn't called.
5. Belichick inexplicably calls a run to Heath Evans when Manning is destroying the Patriots defense.
6. 15 yard penalty for a love tap on Manning

 

[Double G]

Say what you want about non calls and penalties, but the defense sucked in the second half, blew a 18 point lead and allowed the Colts to get back into the game.

I'll give you this; the Brown penalty was HUGE as it would have been first down on about the 20; worst case scenario, we get three there, but we got nothing and it was all downhill from there.

BTW, I assume by Reche's drop you mean the second one where there wasn't a Colt defender within fifteen yards of him and if he had gone to the end zone like everyone on the sideline was screaming for him to do, that's a touchdown, but instead, it looked like he froze and then dropped the ball. Did you see his eyes after both drops; talk about a deer in headlights. Maybe now there was a reason he was available. Maroney sucked too, the big stage got to him...............

 

[MoLewisrocks]

The way I saw it the things that cost us were:

Physical -

Our defense was gassed as the half approached. I thought they went prevent just because that's what they tend to do (to piss me off), but I think in this case they had little choice. BB said the SD game and cross country travel took a lot out of them. Our age is showing and while our depth is pretty good those guys don't start for a reason. And I have no doubt Polian frigged with the AC.

Mental -

Errors. 12 men in the huddle killed that last drive. That and the fact that we really haven't been able to run the ball consistently all season and particularly for the last month or so. Dillon is aging rapidly - would be fine for the tough two or three yards but he has lost a step. And Maroney either hit the rookie wall about a month ago or he's dinged up. Not even quick or powerful in the return game of late and dancing behind the LOS more than ever. RTP even as weak as it was. Encroachment inside the 5. Both safeties getting caught looking in the backfield and burned for a huge gain on 3rd down.

Bad calls -

If that wasn't PI on Reche I guess I just don't know what it is after all. Hobbs never laid a hand on Wayne and the ball hit him in the back of the head and they call that? For the most part they let them play, and it must have been driving Polian insane. But they made one weak call and one glaring non call and both of them proved costly for us.

Poor performance -

The two glaring ones are on Caldwell. One cost a TD so that was really a killer. That was the knock on him according to my relatives who are SD fans - he will make some great grabs and then just drop the easy one which will often prove disasterous.

The sad thing is how hard this team fought and how close they got - speaks volumes to just how little they were missing, but they were missing enough legit talent that it's a further testament to the system and the sheer intestinal fortitude of the core of this team that they took it to the final minute of the final 4. I knew they couldn't score a TD in under a minute - FG was doable but just not enough bankable talent beyond Tom on that offense to put it in the EZ.

That said -

Two first round picks. Hopefully Chad Jackson shows up in 2007 too. And it would be great if Ben Watson actually emerges one day. Hopefully Asante is at least worth the franchise tag after tonight whether they use it to trade him or play him, and Hobbs is a keeper - you can see why Belichick loves him. Hope Rodney and Tedy and Junior and Bingo have one more run left in them and we get some real talent to augment the two most important positions in a BB defense - LB and SS. I'm kind of concerned about Seymour, he wasn't on my pro bowl card and with $30M due over the next 3 years he should have been. I know the mantra on double teams but I.m just not feelin' it.

I hope it snows in Miami on February 4th.

 

[denverpatsfan]

I am absolutley disgusted that the Pats lost to the Colts of all teams. I can't express my loathing of that franchise and everything they stand for adequately.

I can't believe they blew this game after dominating for the 1st half. They had a chance to put a dagger in their heart towards the end of the half and couldn't get it done. That was THE key lost opportunity IMO.

Also with a lead and the ball at the end. A few 1st downs might have finished the job.

The Pats blew it. Last season and now today. These opportunities don't come around very often.

Very disappointing season. It's not enough just to play in a couple playoff games anymore. It used to be, but not after 3 SB victories.

 

[patsfan55]

The way I saw it the things that cost us were:

Physical -

Our defense was gassed as the half approached. I thought they went prevent just because that's what they tend to do (to piss me off), but I think in this case they had little choice. BB said the SD game and cross country travel took a lot out of them. Our age is showing and while our depth is pretty good those guys don't start for a reason. And I have no doubt Polian frigged with the AC.

Mental -

Errors. 12 men in the huddle killed that last drive. That and the fact that we really haven't been able to run the ball consistently all season and particularly for the last month or so. Dillon is aging rapidly - would be fine for the tough two or three yards but he has lost a step. And Maroney either hit the rookie wall about a month ago or he's dinged up. Not even quick or powerful in the return game of late and dancing behind the LOS more than ever. RTP even as weak as it was. Encroachment inside the 5. Both safeties getting caught looking in the backfield and burned for a huge gain on 3rd down.

Bad calls -

If that wasn't PI on Reche I guess I just don't know what it is after all. Hobbs never laid a hand on Wayne and the ball hit him in the back of the head and they call that? For the most part they let them play, and it must have been driving Polian insane. But they made one weak call and one glaring non call and both of them proved costly for us.

Poor performance -

The two glaring ones are on Caldwell. One cost a TD so that was really a killer. That was the knock on him according to my relatives who are SD fans - he will make some great grabs and then just drop the easy one which will often prove disasterous.

The sad thing is how hard this team fought and how close they got - speaks volumes to just how little they were missing, but they were missing enough legit talent that it's a further testament to the system and the sheer intestinal fortitude of the core of this team that they took it to the final minute of the final 4. I knew they couldn't score a TD in under a minute - FG was doable but just not enough bankable talent beyond Tom on that offense to put it in the EZ.

That said -

Two first round picks. Hopefully Chad Jackson shows up in 2007 too. And it would be great if Ben Watson actually emerges one day. Hopefully Asante is at least worth the franchise tag after tonight whether they use it to trade him or play him, and Hobbs is a keeper - you can see why Belichick loves him. Hope Rodney and Tedy and Junior and Bingo have one more run left in them and we get some real talent to augment the two most important positions in a BB defense - LB and SS. I'm kind of concerned about Seymour, he wasn't on my pro bowl card and with $30M due over the next 3 years he should have been. I know the mantra on double teams but I.m just not feelin' it.

I hope it snows in Miami on February 4th.

couldnt have said any of this better myself

honestly, bruschi shouldnt be starting anymore, i love the guy, but hes nearing the end, he just doesnt make plays anymore
and artrell hawkins did awful this postseason
we were so close and i really dont know when ill get over this, its gonna be a llooong time
its just so hard to swallow because both of the last two yrs we seemed so outmatched, hurt, aging or whatever but both times we were so close to winning it all again-especially this yr
God, we shouldve won this game
im so frustrated its just terrible
i had a really weird feeling we were gonna lose the game when troy brown was called for pi and we didnt get anything out of that drive to end the first half, and then when we only got a fg instead of a td when reche had his second drop i knew they would get a td and win the game
i just dont even know what to say anymore
i wanna get up for the sox season, but the pats are my boys, as most of u guys feel in here, i just put so much of my heart into this team and when they lose like this it hurts bad

 

[DaBruinz]

Say what you want about non calls and penalties, but the defense sucked in the second half, blew a 18 point lead and allowed the Colts to get back into the game.

The non-calls and bogus penalties were the DIRECT REASON that the defense blew the 18 point lead.

I'll give you this; the Brown penalty was HUGE as it would have been first down on about the 20; worst case scenario, we get three there, but we got nothing and it was all downhill from there.

Yep. BIG time game changer there.

BTW, I assume by Reche's drop you mean the second one where there wasn't a Colt defender within fifteen yards of him and if he had gone to the end zone like everyone on the sideline was screaming for him to do, that's a touchdown, but instead, it looked like he froze and then dropped the ball. Did you see his eyes after both drops; talk about a deer in headlights. Maybe now there was a reason he was available. Maroney sucked too, the big stage got to him...............

Yes, Reche choked, but wtf are you smoking regarding Maroney? How did he stink? The run blocking wasn't exactly the greatest and the Patriots did NOT stick with the run at all tonight.

There was also some questionable play-calling by Belichick.

 

[patsfan55]

The non-calls and bogus penalties were the DIRECT REASON that the defense blew the 18 point lead.



Yep. BIG time game changer there.



Yes, Reche choked, but wtf are you smoking regarding Maroney? How did he stink? The run blocking wasn't exactly the greatest and the Patriots did NOT stick with the run at all tonight.

There was also some questionable play-calling by Belichick.

i agree that the run blocking was not great, as it wasnt allllll year, but maroney def did a lil too much dancing in the backfield

 

[patsfan13]

The non-calls and bogus penalties were the DIRECT REASON that the defense blew the 18 point lead.



Yep. BIG time game changer there.



Yes, Reche choked, but wtf are you smoking regarding Maroney? How did he stink? The run blocking wasn't exactly the greatest and the Patriots did NOT stick with the run at all tonight.

There was also some questionable play-calling by Belichick.

The playcalling in the 3rd qtr was awful we ran into 9 men in the box on first doen, PA pass anyone? They never a winded D a break.

 

[zarakotas5]

Another play that shouldn't have happened:

The TD toss to Klecko. The Pats made this play what it is, yet nary more than a LOS brush occurred. Klecko was WIDE open.

 

[lobster]

In the end 3 plays cost the Pat's the game: it was 1st and 10 with a little more than 2 minutes left in the 4th. If the Pats get the first down then at minimum it would leave very little time for the Colts to score. Dungy looked like the Colts were probably beat.

Result:
Offensive 12 On-field, 5 yards, enforced at NE 40 - No Play, loss of 5 yards.
T.Brady pass short right to R.Caldwell to NE 42 for 7 yards.
T.Brady pass short left to B.Watson to NE 46 for 4 yards.
T.Brady pass incomplete short right to T.Brown.

 

[primetime]

Too Many Men in the Huddle... just like Too Many Men on the Ice.

 

[chunkypony]

Too Many Men in the Huddle... just like Too Many Men on the Ice.

my sentiments exactly. had that not happened, I feel that the pats would have won.

 

[SoonerPatriot]

There's no way this can be pinned on the officiating. They SHREDDED the defense in the second half and the officiating was not the reason. We got hit with some tough calls, no doubt, but give a little credit to the Colts.

 

[DaBruinz]

There's no way this can be pinned on the officiating. They SHREDDED the defense in the second half and the officiating was not the reason. We got hit with some tough calls, no doubt, but give a little credit to the Colts.

OK. You're right. The officiating didn't call a PHANTOM pass interference call at the end of the game to put the Colts in range for the game winning TD.

The officiating didn't NOT call a BLATANT pass interference by Hayden on Caldwell in the End Zone in the 4th quarter.

The officiating didn't call a BOGUS Offensive Pass interference call that took away a Patriots 1st down and would have put the Pats in position to score AGAIN before the half.

They officiating didn't call a pass interference on Hobbs on a ball that was UNDERTHROWN and hit Hobbs in the back. Had that not been called, its becomes 3rd and 7 from the Pats 19 and the Colts could, very well, have been limited to a Field Goal.

Now, that being said, the Pats also failed to execute because they were tired and being kept on the field from the calls/non-calls.

 

[primetime]

OK. You're right. The officiating didn't call a PHANTOM pass interference call at the end of the game to put the Colts in range for the game winning TD.

The officiating didn't NOT call a BLATANT pass interference by Hayden on Caldwell in the End Zone in the 4th quarter.

The officiating didn't call a BOGUS Offensive Pass interference call that took away a Patriots 1st down and would have put the Pats in position to score AGAIN before the half.

They officiating didn't call a pass interference on Hobbs on a ball that was UNDERTHROWN and hit Hobbs in the back. Had that not been called, its becomes 3rd and 7 from the Pats 19 and the Colts could, very well, have been limited to a Field Goal.

Now, that being said, the Pats also failed to execute because they were tired and being kept on the field from the calls/non-calls.

Actually, aside from the non-call on the interference on Caldwell, those were all good calls. The other call I'd say was questionable was the hand to Manning's head which was little more than a lovetap, but they would've called that had it been against Brady too. That's more of a problem with the whole roughing the passer concept rather than a bad call by the officials. No, this game was not lost because of officiating.

 

[patsfan13]

Actually, aside from the non-call on the interference on Caldwell, those were all good calls. The other call I'd say was questionable was the hand to Manning's head which was little more than a lovetap, but they would've called that had it been against Brady too. That's more of a problem with the whole roughing the passer concept rather than a bad call by the officials. No, this game was not lost because of officiating.

How bout when Graham was held on the second to last drive?

Isn't that the sort of thing Polian had been whining about as ruining the game for the past 3 years, do you think if Harrison was grabbed in the end zone the way Calwell was he'd have gotten the call?

 

[DaBruinz]

Actually, aside from the non-call on the interference on Caldwell, those were all good calls. The other call I'd say was questionable was the hand to Manning's head which was little more than a lovetap, but they would've called that had it been against Brady too. That's more of a problem with the whole roughing the passer concept rather than a bad call by the officials. No, this game was not lost because of officiating.

I guess you are entitled to your opinion.

But, the call on Brown was BS. 1st off, the Defender covering Brown impeded BROWN and forced him into the defender covering. Brown shouldn't have been called for that.

And, sorry, if a pass is UNDERTHROWN, how can you call pass interference when the covering WR doesn't contact the receiver and the ball actually hits the CB in the BACK? How is that the CBs fault?

 

[#54]

You know what ... we played one hell of a football game away against a team the blew us away ealier on this year.

In the end, Brady threw a chance pass that ended up being a pick with no time left.

Let's have some class and just admit, that over 60 minutes on jan. 21st 2007, the Colts beat us. Nothing weird, nothing bad ... they just won it.

I was watching from Orlando, Florida, in a mixed crowd of Pats, Colts, Saints and Bears fans, and all agreed that this was one heck of a game.

It was tight, it was clutch, we lost it! It's too bad, but we were there, bringing it to them, and nobody can point their fingers at us.

Of course, we would have loved going to the big game, but this time, it wasn't ours to have.

Good luck to the Colts and the Bears. It's big game time - show us your best!

 

[PatsFan24]

when indy moved down the field and ate the clock at the end of the half, then came back to start the 3rd and ate the clock again and got a TD, it seemed at that point the patriots could be in trouble.

 

[#54]

Excuse me?? They didnt "blow us away", they beat us 27-20.

And, in that game we were behind by only three points, 17-14 at the half, and had run the ball for 100 yards in the first half.

But Josh McDaniels decided to abandon the run as Maroney only had 4 touches in the 2nd half, and it was McDaniels ignorcne that cost us that one, too.

Colts adjusted, McDaniels didnt, in that game and in this one, too. He is out of his league.

Well ... apparently you have already decided on who to decapitate.

Personally, I'm not too big on the blame game, but whatever.

I still hold my head high. I think we played great. We just lost - it happens - let's not whinge and cry, Chargers style.

Another season is coming. I don't think we need to 'rebuild' anything. We got what it takes. Bring on 2007.