FOXBORO -- A day after watching his team fail to capitalize on a chance to win or tie a game in its last offensive series, Bill Belichick was asked to defend his choice of plays with the game on the line.
The coach didn't give any ground, however. He says execution, not play-calling, was to blame for the Patriots failing to pick up a first down in the final 1:39 of yesterday's 20-17 loss to the Redskins. One first down would've moved the Pats into field-goal range, but Tom Brady and the offense couldn't get the job done.
"The strategy was to make one first down and ensure us being in field-goal range," Belichick said. "On that particular day, on that particular field, in the direction we were going in, we felt like the secure area was from the 35 yard line and in. We started at the 45 so we needed one first down."
On the first play, a pass to Deion Branch was overthrown at the sideline. Brady then hit Larry Centers on a short pass for five yards underneath coverage over the middle. On third down, Centers gained two yards on a draw play. Facing fourth-and-3 (and a 55-yard field goal), Brady tried to force a pass into tight end Daniel Graham but the ball was knocked away.
"We had four plays," Belichick said. "They could've been better executed. Anytime you're playing a game like that, and you lose it, you have the feeling of, 'Maybe if I called a different play or maybe if we had executed a little bit better.' If we had those plays back, maybe we could do them a little bit better or maybe we could've called different ones. Bottom line is we didn't get it done."
Odds on late FG too long
Adam Vinatieri may be the best kicker in the NFL and he certainly was ready and willing to try a 55-yard field goal with the game on the line. Vinatieri missed a 46-yarder in the third quarter, but Belichick said that wasn't a consideration when he ordered the Pats to go for it on fourth down.
Belichick said he had two thoughts on the play: how far could Vinatieri kick the ball, and judging the percentage of making the kick.
"In that game, our determination was the 35-yard line. On 4th and 3, that was more of a fourth-down offensive situation than a 50-something-yard field-goal situation," he said.
Vinatieri said that the kick would've had to be a strong one. "On that kick, I don't know what the percentages were. You get up to the mid-50's, I don't know. I would have to get a good kick on it," he said.
Givens has productive game
Patriots fans who attended training camp workouts witnessed the improving skills of David Givens. The wide receiver missed some time at the start of the season with injuries, but he's back in the mix now and enjoyed his most productive game as a pro with four catches and his second career TD catch.
Belichick noted that Givens's size, 6-feet, 215 pounds, ("he's easily our biggest receiver") gives him a leg up for two reasons. "David has made plays both in the running game as a blocker and in the passing game," the coach said.
'Go, Sox,' says Bruschi
Linebacker Tedy Bruschi was born in San Francisco and attended the University of Arizona, but he insists he's not a West Coast baseball fan. Not this week, anyways.
"Red Sox all the way," he said. "They're on a roll and I hope they ride it. It's Sox fever around here and I'm fired up for them."
Asked to judge the Sox ability to celebrate after clinching the wild card last week, Bruschi said, "that was great. I saw them party the other night and I'd say just continue the party."
Noi major injuries
Belichick said he had nothing substantial to report on injuries in the game. He said some players were injured, but returned to action. Kevin Faulk did not return after a leg injury in the third quarter and his status should be watched. . . . Centers had three catches in the game and moved past Steve Largent (819) on the NFL's all-time reception list. Centers, who has 821, is seventh in NFL history and needs 31 catches to pass Irving Fryar and move into sixth place. . . . Troy Brown has made a catch in 61 consecutive games. . . . Fox Sports New England will televise "The Making of the New England Patriots Cheerleaders Calendar" today at 2 p.m.
