On Belichick's Decision

by John B on Nov 17, 2009 8:11 AM EST

A lot of the headlines this week leading up to the game will be about Bill Belichick's decision to go for it on fourth down rather than punt it late in the fourth quarter Sunday night against the Colts. The decision obviously did not work out. He's defending the call.

''The same thing I said after the game,'' Belichick said at his regular Monday news conference. ''I thought it was our best chance to win. I thought we needed to make that one play and then we could basically run out the clock. We weren't able to make it.''

Imagine if Rex Ryan had made that decision some of the comments we'd see here and in the media. Honestly, I thought it was a good call. The way Manning was moving the ball, he was probably putting the ball in the end zone no matter what part of the field he started on. Calls like this are part of the reason the Pats win so much. They aren't afraid to take risks to win.

What do you think?

Poll

What do you think of Belichick's decision?

Good call

169 votes

Bad call

123 votes

292 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

If it was the playoffs I'd think differently...

then yeah, let Peyton shit the bed. But Peyton doesn’t lose regular season games anymore. It was totally the right call because the moment Peyton got the ball back there was no way he wasn’t gonna get the Colts a TD.

by Exystence on Nov 17, 2009 9:41 AM EST reply actions

Didn't they do the same thing against Atlanta and make it?

Some times these things go for you and sometimes they go against you, the corner made an excellent play, and this time it didn’t work out. I don’t think it mattered whether the Colts got the ball at the Patriots 30, the Indy 30 or the Indy goal line, Peyton had found his stroke and it was only going one way from there. It was a brave call that this time didn’t come off, I doubt BB will hesitate to make the same call again down the stretch if needed, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they make it. It happens, but right call.

(Accidentally voted bad call in the poll, so you can subtract one vote from that, wasn’t paying attention)

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Gang Green Nation
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by David_Wyatt on Nov 17, 2009 12:20 PM EST reply actions

good call

seeing as where the receiver landed.

it was really the good play of the defense that won indy that game.
if the receiver did bauble that, game over for the colts.

and the home of the... JETS!!!

Go, Pac, Go!!! Manny Pacquiao!!!

by dvdvil on Nov 17, 2009 12:46 PM EST reply actions

It's been way overblown

The media is going way overboard. It didn’t work, so it has to be the worst call in history. It was a ballsy call. It’s not a great comparison, but if I’m playing Madden I make the same call. How many times has Manning scored on 2 minute drills? He’s borderline unstoppable in those situations. You weigh that against gaining 2 yards when the Pats were averaging about 6 yards per play. And teams convert on 4th and 2s at over a 60% clip. The odds of Manning marching down the field and scoring are probably higher than that. So the math is in his favor.

Punting is an antiquated idea, one that football traditionalists can’t can’t get past. NFL coaches punt way way too much when they could go for it. Look at Mangini last night. With 4 minutes left, down 16, he punts because he’s at his own thirty. Yeah, you may not win, but at that point you Have To go for it. If you don’t, it’s because you are trying to limit how many points you lose by. That’s cowardly.

Going for it was fine, the problem for the Pats was leaving no margin for error on the pass play. I’d have tried getting it to Welker, and at least throw a couple of yards past the sticks.

by Mackey Sasser on Nov 17, 2009 2:24 PM EST reply actions

nice post

but do we really need that big picture of the guy?

and the home of the... JETS!!!

Go, Pac, Go!!! Manny Pacquiao!!!

by dvdvil on Nov 17, 2009 3:15 PM EST reply actions

Of course Jets fans think it was a great call...

by Bro Namath on Nov 17, 2009 3:38 PM EST reply actions

ultimate yes

and the home of the... JETS!!!

Go, Pac, Go!!! Manny Pacquiao!!!

by dvdvil on Nov 17, 2009 3:42 PM EST up reply actions

ultimately, yes

and the home of the... JETS!!!

Go, Pac, Go!!! Manny Pacquiao!!!

by dvdvil on Nov 17, 2009 3:42 PM EST up reply actions

Hey... wheres the Rex Cryin write-up?????

As a Jet fan, I am embarassed.

by Crackback on Nov 17, 2009 6:30 PM EST reply actions

Agree with Jerrad

It was more tension than anything I would of though, a release of frustration. He loves this team, he believes they are better than they are showing and it just got to him in a private meeting, nothing wrong with that IMO.

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Gang Green Nation
www.ganggreennation.com

by David_Wyatt on Nov 18, 2009 1:14 AM EST up reply actions

I'm not...

I know crying is considered to be a weakness,but I always thought of it as weakness leaving the body, him crying shows me how much the team means to me. Hey I’ve cried during football during High School state football game why can’t he cry?

by Jerrad p on Nov 17, 2009 6:41 PM EST reply actions

I mean...

Why give Peyton Manning the ball back when his team is down? His call makes sense to me.

2009 Dallas Cowboys: 10-6
2009 New York Jets: 11-5?
2009-2010 Dallas Mavericks: 57-25

by Grady90 on Nov 17, 2009 8:51 PM EST reply actions

Slap in the face to his defense— put them on the field and let them earn their paychecks.

Peyton Manning is a god, truth.

But no matter who it is at the helm, you have to show your defense that you have faith that they can get a stop.

by JetsMatt85 on Nov 17, 2009 10:22 PM EST reply actions

people keep saying this, but i feel like Rex would do something like this on the assumption that his defense could stop the opposing team on his own 28.

i understand the Pats are a different animal, but still I could see it as I trust the D enough to put them in a tough spot and have them respond.

by JetsFan1991 on Nov 17, 2009 11:12 PM EST up reply actions

How has going for it on 4th down suddenly become an indictment of the defense?

It used to be considered a vote of confidence. It’s like saying, “I’m going to take this chance to ice the game right here by converting, and the only reason I’m willing to take that chance is because I believe that if we fail to convert then you fellows on the defense will be able to keep the Colts out of the end zone!” Punting on the last possession of a game is the indictment. The media reaction to the call has been ludicrous. It was a calculated risk against a Colts’ defense, but to hear the talking heads in the broadcast booth you’d have thought the call was to run an end around from the end zone against a Steelers’ or Ravens’ Defense.

by Philip .W on Nov 18, 2009 11:08 AM EST reply actions