What was Belichick thinking?
The question lingers still, three days after the humiliation in Indianapolis.
For those who missed the sports disaster that visited New England late Sunday night, causing a restless, agitated night of sleep for many, here's the synopsis: Patriots coach Bill Belichick was just two minutes away from ending the Colts' dream of an undefeated season. His team had the ball on its own 28-yard line, but it was fourth down and the Patriots needed to gain two yards in order to hold onto the ball.
But rather than go the conventional route by kicking the ball away and hoping his defense could hold on for two minutes, Belichick decided to take a monumental risk by going for first down.
The strategy backfired. Aided by a generous spot from the officials, the Colts took over on downs and stunned New England Patriots fans watched as the Colts scored the final touchdown, edging the Patriots by a single point.
The normally calm and cool Belichick took off his headphones and ran his hands through his hair in a look of shock and disbelief.
Belichick, the NFL's reigning genius, had made a grand mistake. And all of New England seemed to take it personally, as if a chosen son had betrayed us.
Monday Belichick gave his usual monotone answer when the issue came up at his press conference: "It's the same thing I said after the game: 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. And, we weren't able to make it."
Belichick may owe his defense an apology for the lack of faith he displayed in them at game's end; but not the fans to whom he's delivered three Super Bowl titles and a competitive effort every year including in 2008 when the team was without quarterback Tom Brady.
Our mad genius of football may concoct unsavory formulas once in awhile, but they are shuffled in among the many brilliant ones. Indeed, another few inches and nobody would be asking today why Belichick failed to punt on fourth down.
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