Given How the Final Quarter Went, Belichick Made the Right Call

Given How the Final Quarter Went, Belichick Made the Right Call

Ian Logue

Hindsight is always 20/20 and the amount of second-guessing going on following the Patriots 26-20 overtime loss to the Jets on Sunday is par for the course when it comes to losing a frustrating game against a division rival.

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I was driving home yesterday and turned on the local sports talk here in central Texas. It isn't often that the Pats get discussed, so I was initally interested to hear what they had to say.

I didn't listen long as the discussion was about BB's arrogance being the root of a bad decision.

I really hate modern sports media.

Can't agree. We had the momentum on offense in the 4th quarter. We should have taken the ball.

Coach is supposed to be a stats guy and he should have known that the odds are with you if you receive in ot, unless the wind is blowing so fierce that it's hard throwing or kicking in one direction but the weather was good that day. The only other positive that I can see is that if you kick off and they only score a fg you get four downs to go for a score.

PatsDeb said:

Can't agree. We had the momentum on offense in the 4th quarter. We should have taken the ball.

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The Patriots had one Touchdown drive the entire game and the defense shut the Jets down in the 4th quarter, that's a recipe for kicking the ball to them not vice versa.

Angelpats said:

Coach is supposed to be a stats guy and he should have known that the odds are with you if you receive in ot, unless the wind is blowing so fierce that it's hard throwing or kicking in one direction but the weather was good that day. The only other positive that I can see is that if you kick off and they only score a fg you get four downs to go for a score.

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They were two for two kicking off in OT.

Ivan said:

The Patriots had one Touchdown drive the entire game and the defense shut the Jets down in the 4th quarter, that's a recipe for kicking the ball to them not vice versa.

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We'll have to agree to disagree. Brady got it going on that drive in the 4th quarter. Aren't you supposed to put the game in your best player's hands?

You mean the same 4th quarter where the pats matched down and got a TD? Gronk and Brady are the best at their position in the game and yet BB had no faith in them to win the game in OT.

I totally agree with the logic. Too bad it didn't work out. If PATs got the ball first Jets D may well have
got PAT's O off the field in 3 downs and JETs O may have then had a short field to get a field goal.
Some say PATs O was on a roll but remember some spectacular plays needed to keep the drive going.
For the most part PATs O was having a very hard time getting receivers open.

PatsDeb said:

We'll have to agree to disagree. Brady got it going on that drive in the 4th quarter. Aren't you supposed to put the game in your best player's hands?

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You are supposed to make the best decision on the situation and sometimes that means kicking off. They did this twice before, won both times, and not one person questioned it. The Patriots marched down the field when the Jets went prevent, they had no luck moving effectively against their base defense and Brady was pounded all day long. If they let up one sack after receiving the ball then Allen is punting from deep in his territory, the Jets get great field position and a FG wins the game. It was the right decision the defense just let them down.

Belichick has been making counterintuitive decisions for years and most of them pay off, one of them gave them a Lombardi last February. While everyone was screaming for a timeout Belichick let it run, forced Caroll's hand, and got the exact play they had practiced for all week and won the game. He knows what he is doing and why but even then it will never result in the right outcome every time.

ensoul said:

You mean the same 4th quarter where the pats matched down and got a TD? Gronk and Brady are the best at their position in the game and yet BB had no faith in them to win the game in OT.

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Belichick has no faith in Brady. LMAO, that's as ridiculous a statement as they get.

Can someone point me to the criticism the last time Belichick did this?

The defense played better than the offense all game long. Realistically, New England was going to need a stop on defense regardless of who got the ball first. Why not give them only 3 downs to work with?

PatsDeb said:

We'll have to agree to disagree. Brady got it going on that drive in the 4th quarter. Aren't you supposed to put the game in your best player's hands?

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ensoul said:

You mean the same 4th quarter where the pats matched down and got a TD? Gronk and Brady are the best at their position in the game and yet BB had no faith in them to win the game in OT.

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We had zero drives in the entire game where the offense was able to move significantly down the field using three downs. You can blatantly lie to yourself that we "got it going" and "marched down the field" but that drive included conversions on two fourth downs with one being 4th & 9. This is not something to be proud of and if anything its our defense that had all the momentum since they were able to stop the Jets essentially twice on their final drive of regulation.

Ivan said:

They were two for two kicking off in OT.

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I remember the Denver ot game and i agree with kicking off in that game because the wind was fierce. It was a good day on Sunday. I don't remember the other game.

Angelpats said:

I remember the Denver ot game and i agree with kicking off in that game because the wind was fierce. It was a good day on Sunday. I don't remember the other game.

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Minnesota

luuked said:

We had zero drives in the entire game where the offense was able to move significantly down the field using three downs. You can blatantly lie to yourself that we "got it going" and "marched down the field" but that drive included conversions on two fourth downs with one being 4th & 9. This is not something to be proud of and if anything its our defense that had all the momentum since they were able to stop the Jets essentially twice on their final drive of regulation.

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The drive was not pretty but they scored. If the pats received and Brady and the offense failed so be it. At least give him a chance. You defer there is a chance that Brady never gets the ball which is exactly what happened.

luuked said:

We had zero drives in the entire game where the offense was able to move significantly down the field using three downs. You can blatantly lie to yourself that we "got it going" and "marched down the field" but that drive included conversions on two fourth downs with one being 4th & 9. This is not something to be proud of and if anything its our defense that had all the momentum since they were able to stop the Jets essentially twice on their final drive of regulation.

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Yes, the defense played good so what's the harm in letting them come on after the offense has their chance to score. They get a little rest while they wait. Statistically it's not a good idea because if their offense scores a td then our offense doesn't even get on the field.

Ivan said:

Belichick has no faith in Brady. LMAO, that's as ridiculous a statement as they get.

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If he had faith in a brady and the offense he would have received the kick.

Angelpats said:

Yes, the defense played good so what's the harm in letting them come on after the offense has their chance to score. They get a little rest while they wait. Statistically it's not a good idea because if their offense scores a td then our offense doesn't even get on the field.

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Isn't it obvious ? If our offense performs the same as during regulation there is a very good chance that we will not go far, have to punt and give Denver good field position where they only need a FG to win ?

Statistics are totally irrelevant here.

Show me the overtime stats that contain a team with a offense that can't move the ball and a defense that didn't allow 40 yards in the last 4 drives of an opponent. The stats you quote that essentially give you percentages for the average matchup are completely irrelevant and you should use common sense instead.