Belichick's Decision Makes Strong Statement: No Faith in Defense

Rodney Harrison stated it perfectly in his post-game comments after the Indianapolis Colts stunned the New England Patriots on Sunday night, "...That was the worst decision Coach Belichick has ever made...."

With just over two minutes left to go in the game, and with his team facing a 4th-and-2 at their own 28-yard line, Bill Belichick opted not to punt, and risk giving Peyton Manning an opportunity to manufacture a game-winning drive. Moments later, Kevin Faulk bobbled a ball from Tom Brady, and was tackled short of the first-down marker, leaving Peyton Manning two minutes and a mere 30 yards between himself and victory. Four plays later, Manning found Reggie Wayne in the end-zone for a 1-yard TD pass.

It is easy to criticize Belichick now after his gamble failed and the Patriots have found themselves on the wrong end of a 35-34 score, but even in the moment, few could believe what was happening.

Backed-up at their own 28-yard line the Patriots needed two yards for the first-down and the win, given that the Colts had already burned two of their timeouts. Had Faulk run the route past the first down marker, or had he made a sure-handed catch, the Patriots may have left Indianapolis as victors, but the message sent by coach Belichick would have been no less troubling for a team the intends on making a run at the Super Bowl this season.

The decision not to punt was a clear statement to the league that New England has little faith that its defensive unit can be relied upon in a big situation.

Assuming that the Patriots could have gotten a net punt of 45 yards, the Colts would have been left with less than two minutes on the clock, a single timeout, and 75 yards to conquer. If you want to be an elite team in the NFL, you have to believe that your defense can make that stop, no matter who is under center for your opponents.

The Patriot’s defense was by all accounts up for the task.

The unit had already managed to intercept Peyton Manning twice during the game. Leigh Bodden has done a great job to that point in man-on-man coverage allowing only one catch on the ten balls thrown his way, and yet Belichick still felt more comfortable going for the two yards, knowing that he risked giving Peyton and the Colts a short field and all the time that they would need.

Had the ball been 30-yards further down the field or had the Patriots needed only a few inches for the first down, Belichick's decision would have been understandable—if not condonable—but at his own 28, and needing a full two yards, there is no other way to interpret the decision other than as a complete lack of trust in his defense. Such a decision will have long-term effects on this Patriot team, because even after the taste of defeat washes out of their mouths, there will still be a cloud of doubt/resentment that hangs over this defense, which was disparaged by its coach.

One cannot underestimate the mental component of athletics. For all the strength and conditioning that goes into sports, the players on the field are still people whose performance on any given day can swing on a simple state of mind.

The seeds of doubt that this decision sowed into the psyche of these young players is indelible, and when they are called upon in a crucial spot to make a big play, how can the memory of this game not seep in?

If the Colts were able to drive down the field and score off a New England punt, the Patriot’s defense would have no doubt been dejected, and had its confidence shaken, but far less so than it will be now, after not even being afforded the opportunity to prove itself.

Bill Belichick has earned his legacy as a Canton-worthy coach, and a true mastermind of personnel and strategy. He has demonstrated a knack for handling players on his team, as well as those on the opposing sideline, but last night he made an incredibly poor decision, one that not only cost his team the game, but also one that may prove to have long-term consequences on his football team.

By demonstrating his lack of confidence now at such a crucial juncture in the season, Belichick has all but lost the ability to turn to his defense and infuse them with any sort of confidence come January. Worse yet, he has conceded the fact that when push comes to shove, the New England Patriots are afraid of Peyton Manning.