Belichick's gamble will be widely criticized, but it is defensible.
Call me crazy — but I don’t hate Bill Belichick’s call to go for it on fourth-and-2, on his own 28-yard line, up by six points. The percentages probably add up.
The chances of the New England offense picking up 2 yards on a play, was probably more likely than a wilting defense stopping the Indianapolis offense in two minutes. Two of the three previous drives by the Colts were quick scoring strikes: A five-play, 79-yard drive in 2:04; along with a six-play, 79-yard drive in 1:49.
The possession in between? An interception thanks to miscommunication between Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne. Good luck if you’re counting on that to happen again.
Because Kevin Faulk momentarily bobbled the ball, Belichick looks like a bumbling fool. However, he had the stones to make that call, when nobody else in the league would have considered it — not because it didn’t make sense by the percentages — but because they’d be crucified by the media for going against the “safe” play. I can assure you there’s nothing “safe” about giving Manning the ball with average field position (at worst) with 2 minutes on the clock and I can promise you Belichick doesn’t give a damn what Trent Dilfer and Mark Schlereth think of his decision making. He’s going to do what he thinks gives the Patriots the best opportunity to win. In this case, he lost, by a half yard.
Belichick did mismanage his timeouts, but that gets swept under the rug if the Pats come up with a first down on third or fourth down. The Colts defense stepped up and made plays — that’s what great teams do — it’s the same reason Belichick expected his team to convert on fourth down.
-Tidbit
Side note: Tom Brady actually outplayed Peyton Manning tonight. I’ll still take Manning in my huddle over Brady any day of the week, but it’s a good example of how teams win games — not quarterbacks.
