Bill Belichick Ignores NFL Fundamentals, Costs The New England Patriots a Win

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The New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts has been one of the most fierce rivalries of the decade, and on Sunday night, we witnessed one of their most intense battles yet. From the moment the schedules were released, November 15 was a date that lingered in the back of many minds, and the Sunday night game slated for that date certainly lived up to the hype.

The Colts struck first midway through the opening quarter, when Peyton Manning found RB Joseph Addai for a 15 yard score. Laurence Maroney tied it up later in the quarter with rush of one yard, and the 1st quarter came to an end with the score 7-7.

The Patriots pulled away in the 2nd quarter, when Tom Brady launched the ball down the field to Randy Moss for a stunning 63 yard touchdown, and at one point the score was 24-7. The Colts could not do anything offensively, and the Patriots were rolling! It looked like a blow-out!

With four minutes to go in the first half, Manning found Reggie Wayne for a 20 yard touchdown, and the Colts went into the locker room with a much more manageable 24-14.

The 3rd quarter was by far the most boring. Both teams dominated defensively and nobody scored.

Brady and Moss connected for another score again early in the 4th, and with the score being 31-14, it looked improbable that the Colts could make up the differance so late in the game.

Not so fast! Barely two minutes went by before Manning capped off the next drive with a 29 yard touchdown completion to rookie sensation Pierre Garcon. The extra point made it 31-21 Patriots.

The game was within reach!

The Patriots added a field goal with 4:12 to go in the game, but Colts quickly responded by getting Addai into the endzone for his second score.

The score was 34-28, and all the Patriots had to do was get a few first downs and the game would be over.

The Colts defense wouldn’t hear of it.

They stopped the Patriots offence in its tracks, and it looked like the Colts would get the ball back at the two minute warning, with a chance to drive down the field for the win.

Well… didn’t quite work out that way. The Colts did get the ball back at the two minute warning, but they were saved the trouble of having to go down the field.

Even though they were in their own territory, Bill Belichick elected to go for it on 4th down, hoping to end the game on his own terms.

It was 4th and 2 with just over two minutes left in the game. Brady takes the snap and delivers a quick pass to Kevin Faulk, who was past the first down marker when he first touched the football. But he didn’t catch it cleanly, and by the time he established possession, he was forced back across the line by Colts DB, Melvin Bullet. (Its hard to capture the suspense of this play with words. Be sure to check out the video link below.)

The Patriots challenged the play, and lost a valuable timeout in the process.

The Colts were able to run out the clock as they marched 30 yards down the field. Peyton Manning delivered the game winning touchdown to Reggie Wayne with 13 seconds left on the clock, and the Patriots went on to start their week of moping.