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Post-game chatter
We'll plan on passing along more detailed reaction from both teams after filing our stories for the newspaper.
In the Redskins' locker room, there was mixed opinion on the Patriots' approach in this game. Some players felt the Patriots did what they had to do in the second half. Others felt the Patriots were running up the score.
DL Phillip Daniels was in the latter category, citing going for it on fourth down in the second half as the wrong approach. The Patriots were in Redskins territory both times.
"That's running up the score, there isn't any other way to look at that," Daniels said. "C'mon, man, you're going for it on fourth down and you're up by 38 points. You're throwing the ball late in the game. Most teams just run the clock out to get the win. They don't think like that, but I guess it's our job to stop them. You can't do anything about it, just go out and play defense and try to stop them."
Daniels was asked if he puts that in the back of his mind for the future.
"You do. I'll never forget that. I've never had a team do that to me," he said.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick, in his post-game press conference, was asked about his approach in the second half, specifically going for it on fourth down with leads of 38-0 and 45-0.
"What else do you want us to do, kick a field goal?" Belichick asked. "It's 38-0. It's fourth down. Just out there playing. Just out there playing."
Belichick had previously noted the Patriots did not want to be in three-wide sets at the end of the game, but said that was all the team could do. Belichick did not cite the reason why, although it's possible that tight end Kyle Brady -- one of just two tight ends dressed for the game -- was injured and unavailable. Brady did not play in the second half.
More a bit later in the night.
Your comments
(5)Thanks Bill, I think you have cured me of an almost lifetime addiction; pro football. After watching you pour it on Dallas last week and Washington today, I will find better uses for my Sunday afternoons. And of course we in Minnesota don't have a real team anyway. Maybe Wilf will relieve our misery and move the Vikings somewhere.
"That's running up the score, there isn't any other way to look at that," Daniels said. "C'mon, man, you're going for it on fourth down and you're up by 38 points. Most teams just run the clock out to get the win.
And how are you supposed to run out the clock when the other team has the ball? Give it back to the Redskins and the clock stops on the change of possession and then they're just going to have to throw a bunch of passes. Pick up the 1st and you can give your third-string RB a bunch more carries up the middle.
It's not called running up the score, it's called getting the game over with as fast as possible.
Why is every talking about how the Patriots ran up the score? Isn't Washington's defense supposed to be a "stout" defense? Weren't they considered to be a top 5 defense in the league?
The Patriots put up a lot of points. That should come to no surprise to anybody. No one is talking about how poorly the Redskin's defense was in that game. They didn't do anything to disrupt Tom Brady an Co!
This is the NFL. Not Pop Warner football. If the Redskins didn't want the Patriots to score again, then they should've done something to stop them.
John D- Agreed totally. If this was kids ball or high school or whatever, sportsmanship is the first priority. This is the NFL, those guys get paid whether they score 52 or give up 52.
The bottom line is, they ran plays that the Redskins could have stopped as opposed to taking the easy points. Easy points = running up the score.
The problem is one of perception. Enough players and coaches perceive that the patriots are running up the score, whether true or not. And someone is going to get hurt, namely Brady or Moss. Charles Barkley today said it may not be a cheap shot, but it will happen, and do some damage, and rightly so. I agree. The coach of the patriots can prevent injury to his QB or receiver if he chooses, and puts the second stringers in at 38-0.