Oh, at the time, I think they were both correct. And the 2nd one was only the right call because the first one failed. Had the first one been a FG, then to be correct the second one would have switched to a FG also.Bradley Bogdan wrote:The late game 4th down call was totally the right one. The offense hadn't been great, if you kick a FG you still need a TD anyway, it was the best odds call for success.Glenn E. wrote:Makes you wonder, doesn't it? What if they'd kicked FGs on both of those 4th downs...Moses Botbol wrote:or one of the best 4th down conversion teams missing two in a row?
With 20/20 hindsight... if they'd both been FGs... NE wins with a FG on that last drive instead of needing a 2-pt (missed) and then an onside.
The interesting thing about both calls is that you can pretty much just say +3 points for each and nothing else changes if they'd kicked FGs. A FG also results in a change of possession, and in both of these cases that change of possession would have likely resulted in roughly the same field position if not worse. It's pretty rare to see "what if" scenarios that are so easily parsed. Pretty clearly, those two play calls by Belichick cost the Patriots 6 points in what was ultimately an 8-pt game.
Some wacko Patriots fans are going off on Gostkowski for missing the extra point, but their ire is misdirected. Belichick cost them the game.
