The exchange between Blakeman, Slater:

Danny said:

Because the Patriots won the toss and chose to kick. The Jets then get to choose which end of the field they get.

What Slater meant to do was choose which end to defend.

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Not sure if OT rules are the same as Kickoff rules.

If that player calls the toss correctly, his team gets to choose one of three privileges:

• Which team receives the kickoff: Generally, teams want to start the game on offense and have the opportunity to score as early as possible, so the team who wins the toss usually opts to receive. They’re known as the receiving team. The referee, swinging his leg in a kicking motion, then points to the other team’s captains as the kicking team.
  
  
• Which goal his team will defend: Instead of receiving the kickoff, the captain may elect to kick off and choose a goal to defend. Captains sometimes take this option if they believe that weather will be a factor in the outcome of the game. For example, in choosing which goal to defend, the player believes that his team will have the wind at its back for the second quarter and the crucial final quarter of the game.
  
  
• When to decide: The team that wins the coin flip can defer,giving it the right to choose between kicking and receiving the second-half kickoff.

Belichick did not give any argument to it ... so it is what it is ... spilled milk ... on to Miami.

Danger Zone said:

Not sure if OT rules are the same as Kickoff rules.

If that player calls the toss correctly, his team gets to choose one of three privileges:

• Which team receives the kickoff: Generally, teams want to start the game on offense and have the opportunity to score as early as possible, so the team who wins the toss usually opts to receive. They’re known as the receiving team. The referee, swinging his leg in a kicking motion, then points to the other team’s captains as the kicking team.
  
  
• Which goal his team will defend: Instead of receiving the kickoff, the captain may elect to kick off and choose a goal to defend. Captains sometimes take this option if they believe that weather will be a factor in the outcome of the game. For example, in choosing which goal to defend, the player believes that his team will have the wind at its back for the second quarter and the crucial final quarter of the game.
  
  
• When to decide: The team that wins the coin flip can defer,giving it the right to choose between kicking and receiving the second-half kickoff.

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It's the same and Slater clearly wants to take the wind but Clete being the dumbass he is likely stopped listening after hearing kick. Slater was deferring the choice.

Ben Volin ✔ @BenVolin
Belichick on the coin toss: “Thought it was the best thing to do.” Don’t think we’re going to get an explanation out of him

I.M. Fletcher said:

He was trying to choose the direction.

This is not a scandal.

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Yep, seems to me like Clete knew the Patriots were going to kick so he asked the question "Do you want to kick?", Slater maybe misheard as "Which side do you want to kick to?" and Slater responded with the direction, Clete misinterpreted the intention as a choice to kick rather than selecting a direction, and Slater was upset that the Jets got to pick the direction. If that's the case, then it's unlikely the misunderstanding had a big effect on who won the game, because that's more important for kickoffs (we got a touchback) and field goals (they got a touchdown).

Ref: do you want to kick?

correct answer

Slater: NOOOO!

There is no trick here.

No this was compete BS. We won the toss and should have received the ball. This wasn't Manning in the wind at Foxboro. This was Brady who just sliced them up to tie the game converting two fourth downs. We should have received the ball and had a chance to win the game.

It was an unorthodox decision, which tends to flummox the masses when something doesn't work. The Pats scored one offensive TD all day, and it was highly doubtful they'd go the length of the field there. The choice was to kick. If the defense prevents a TD, it's all beneficial then to the Pats:

--If it's a three and out, a fg wins, and the Pats have good field position. If it's any stop at all, fg wins.

--If the Jets kick a fg, the Pats can use all 4 downs repeatedly, knowing they need to score.

--If the defense gives up a td, pats lose. That's what happened. Risk reward.

Belichick wanted to kick ... pay attention .... so he owns the decision ... on to Miami.

Was it really windy out there? Why would they kick off?

mosi said:

The Pats have received in OT before, the 2013 game against Denver. The Pats played the wind. What is odd, is that they should have been able to choose which side to kick to - as they did in 2013.

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In 2013 the Pats won the coin toss and chose to defend. The Broncos then had a choice to kick or receive (and they obviously chose the latter). Here's the video:

New England Patriots defer coin toss - NFL Videos

As Danger Zone posted you get three different options when you win the toss. Kick/receive, defend, or defer.

DaBruinz said:

Ben Volin [emoji818] @BenVolin
Belichick on the coin toss: “Thought it was the best thing to do.” Don’t think we’re going to get an explanation out of him

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Volin you fat fcuk just use your undersized brain for a change and think about why BB might like to kick in a game where our offense had issues moving the ball but our D was playing pretty well towards the end.

What a moron.

DaBruinz said:

Sorry, but Slater and the coaches disagree with you>


Mike Reiss ✔ @MikeReiss
Matthew Slater says coach instructed Patriots to kick off at start of overtime. The only confusion was which direction they were kicking.

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Ok thanks for the clarification

mosi said:

The Pats have received in OT before, the 2013 game against Denver. The Pats played the wind. What is odd, is that they should have been able to choose which side to kick to - as they did in 2013.

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I had forgotten that. Thanks.

Froob said:

Was it really windy out there? Why would they kick off?

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Because our the coaching staff had higher confidence in our D than in the O. Stop the Jets, shorten the field and go home with a kicked fg.

IcyPatriot said:

Belichick wanted to kick ... pay attention .... so he owns the decision ... on to Miami.

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This might end up working out better as bad as it feels, even though Steelers lost to a crap team....I'd still rather take on the Jets again with a healthy offense. Better root on the Broncos hard tomorrow. They need a break vs the Fins.

DaBruinz said:

Ben Volin ✔ @BenVolin
Belichick on the coin toss: “Thought it was the best thing to do.” Don’t think we’re going to get an explanation out of him

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I think it could have made a little sense if our defense was full strength and playing great. But our secondary was weak and hobbled. It was very risky and we paid dearly for it.

Oh well. Time to move on. There is no reason to lose to Miami...and if we see the Jets again in Foxboro I say 'bring it'. Saw a tweet that Jets players were laughing and mocking the Patriots stupidity in the locker room after the game. We'll see how much they're smiling when we kick their ass in January.

Very strange that Blakeman asked if he wanted to kick off. Even then, all Slater had to say was "no" if the Pats didn't want to kick. If they did, it's a very strange decision. The Jets defense was gassed and on the ropes. They should have elected to receive.

luuked said:

Because our the coaching staff had higher confidence in our D than in the O. Stop the Jets, shorten the field and go home with a kicked fg.

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That's kind of stupid considering the Jets punting was killing it today. Whatever though....Bengals probably don't win tomorrow.

Froob said:

Was it really windy out there? Why would they kick off?

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Yep, wind direction. I think they weren't feeling confident about getting the TD and were focusing on field position and preventing a long field goal from ending the game. Decision backfired, and I strongly disagreed with it both at the time and in hindsight now, but it definitely had a rational basis.