Nov 16, 2009 3:11 pm US/Eastern
Belichick Stands By 4th Quarter Gamble
FOXBORO (WBZ) ―
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Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots speaks to head coach Bill Belichick in the fourth quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 15, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Bill Belichick stands by his decision to go for it on fourth down rather than punt to the Indianapolis Colts.
In his news conference Monday, New England's coach says he thinks that strategy gave his team its best chance to win Sunday night. The gamble failed to produce a first down, however, and Indianapolis took over at the Patriots 29-yard line with two minutes left. Peyton Manning then threw a touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne, and the Colts won 35-34.
"I thought it was our best chance to win," Belichick said Monday. "I thought we needed to make that one play and then we could run out the clock, and we weren't able to make it."
"We all gotta do a better job, starting with me," Belichick said.
The Colts' comeback win improved their record to 9-0. The Patriots dropped to 6-3.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said after the game that he took the play call as a compliment and saw it as a show of faith in the offense.
"Coach is being aggressive, and I love that about him," Brady said. "He gave us a chance to make the play, and we just came up a little short."
Needing a first down to seal the game, Belichick decided to go for it from his own 28 with 2:08 to go. The Patriots called their second timeout of the drive, leaving them with none, to set up the play: A short pass from Brady to Kevin Faulk.
Faulk made a juggling catch, but safety Melvin Bullitt drove the Patriots running back into the ground a half-yard short of a first down.
Faulk said the Patriots should have made Belichick's choice look good.
"He is the head coach and makes all the decisions," he said. "It's our job to execute -- or try to."
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