Call me crazy is what Belichick said when he decided to try and end the game on 4th and 2 from their own 28 yard line, up by 6 against Peyton Manning and the Colts, with no timeouts and only 2 minutes left in the game.
If the Patriots convert on 4th down, Belichick is a genius, but that is not what happened. A short screen to the right side right at the marker came up short. Somewhat questionable spot, but nonetheless the Patriots could not challenge because they had just wasted two timeouts on that drive, leaving them with none. Even with a challenge, I don’t think that the ball gets moved.
That failed conversion set-up Peyton Manning to go less than 30 yards with 2 minutes- too easy. The Colts ran the clock before hitting Wayne with a slant on the left side leaving the Patriots to have to go 80 yards with 13 seconds. What!?! Why?!? ****?!?! are some of the things NFL fans, especially Patriots fans are thinking right now. You would rather have one of the best closers in NFL history go 30 yards than 70 yards?
Wow, Belichick will never live this call down. It was primetime against their biggest rivals and Belichick slapped his defense in the face by saying he didn’t think they could stop Manning from going 70 yards in 2 minutes. They already picked Manning off twice.
That call may go down as the dumbest coaching move of all-time. Can anyone even think of a call that comes close?