Belichick post-game press conference
Comments from Bill Belichick's post-game press conference, as transcribed by the Patriots' media relations staff (click full entry to complete press conference):
(Opening statement)
I would say it was a tough loss. I thought our players fought hard. We made a lot of plays, the Jets made a lot of plays. In the end they made a couple more than we did. Give them credit. We’re close, just not quite good enough tonight.
Q: Do you feel like it took a lot for the team to come back from such a big deficit?
BB: Yeah, well we dug ourselves a hole and we made some plays to get back in there. We missed some good opportunities in the third quarter to really close the gap. But that is the way it goes.
Q: It seemed like on the last drive, the game winner from the Jets, Dustin Keller was a killer?
BB: Yeah, he converted a couple plays for them. He hurt us tonight.
Q: Was it missed coverage?
BB: A couple times we hit him [Dustin Keller] right there when he caught it and a couple times he was open. We have to do a better job on him.
Q: (On the Jets special teams and Leon Washington’s 92-yard kick return for a touchdown)
BB: Yeah, that was a big play. We didn’t cover it. They are a good return team we know that but we have to… That was a big play. We didn’t play it very well.
Q: What were some of the adjustments you made - you seemed to slow them down in the second half?
BB: We pretty much did what we did the whole game we just tried to do it a little bit better there. Like I said, it was better in the third quarter [but] we missed some opportunities offensively. They converted some third downs on that last drive, got the holding penalty on their last touchdown – that was a big play. Like I said, they made a few more plays than we did tonight. Not many but enough.
Q: Can you remember a game with that many ups and downs?
BB: There have been a few of them. The championship game two years ago. Every game is different. Some games go like that and some games go differently. They are all different.
Q: What were they doing in terms of coverage?
BB: They were overloading their coverage a lot to [Randy] Moss and [Wes] Welker at times. So, that pushed the ball back to the other side of the field at times.
Q: (On adjustments made on defense)
BB: No. We pretty much did the same thing, we mixed it up some. Some plays were better than others but it wasn’t a big adjustment game.
Q: Did you see any positives from your team?
BB: Yes. I thought we made a lot of plays tonight. They made a few more than we did. I thought there were a lot of good things out there but not enough to win.
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Pats---WHO CARES! Go Sox, sign D Lowe!
The Pats lost the game when they didn't go for the two point conversion at the end of regulation time. Instead of having the game's outcome in their own hands they left it to the fate of a coin flip. When you don't accept the responsibility for your own fate, you deserve to lose!
Hey, Jake, KC took your advice on Sunday and look where it got them.
Jake,
Nobody goes for the two point conversion. Herm Edwards did and lost and people know hes an idiot.
Not the reason they lost this game.
Jake...good point. I thought of that too. I think Herm Edwards was right in going for the win this past weekend. I mean, you've got control...win or lose right there, but you've got the upper hand. I wouldn't leave it to a coin flip either, but hindsight is 20/20.
How is tying the game and playing defense "leaving it up to a coin flip?" Play some defense and stop someone on 3rd and 15!
jake, saying they had 2 fieldgoals they should have taken instead of going for it on 4th down is a better argument than going for 2 at the end of the game, but still not a good one.
run the stats people... the recent trend on 2 point conversions over the past few years is about 50%. Our offense totally has the momentum and their defense is tired and dejected. The chances at that moment were better than 50/50 of scoring. The chances historically are about 50/50 of scoring 2 and winning.
The chances of winning in overtime are 50/50 generally. Our offense had shown they could drive at will. Their offense had just shown the same. At that moment, either offense had an equal chance of gaining enough yards for a field goal against the opponent defense. You go for a tie, you turn the game into a coin flip. You go for the win, you put the balls in the hand of the best player of the night to win it for you.
If I offer you the football, 3 yards, and a coin and give you the choice - flip the coin and call it right for the win, or give the ball to Cassel and crew to gain 3 yards on one play for the win, what would you pick?
It's not sour grapes, i've been saying for years that in overtime each team must get the ball once. it may change stratagy.... do you kick or recieve? team fumbles overtime kickoff, thats your one possession. Pats lost because Jets made more plays.
The thougth crossed my mind to go for two, but why risk losing? If you go to OT you have a better chance than letting it all come down to one play.
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