Going for it on 4th and 13

Personally, I think Belichick's arrogance clouded his judgment on that play. He probably thought, "Well, if we don't convert, we'll have no trouble making up for it by scoring several touchdowns later in the game."

I believe you should always send your kicker out in that situation. A field goal would have made it a 7 point game. If the kicker was hurt, then I would say, "Don't go into the super bowl without a healthy kicker."

I would say it was ther MO going for it on 4th and less than 6 in opponent's territory most of this year, but I don't ever recall seeing them go for it on 4th and 13, especially in FG range. I was equally shocked when Belichick chose to punt earlier in that drive on 4th and 2 from the Giants 44, only to be given a reprieve when the Giants had too many men on the field. Bottom line, Coughlin and his brain trust outcoached Belichick and his staff. You NEVER go on 4th and 13 in FG range at that point in a game. You just don't do it.

Footnote: for those saying that Gostkowski was hurt, it was reported that he was hitting from 52 during pre-game warm-ups. He started the game kicking off 2 yards deep in the end zone, and even his last kickoff was fielded at the 3 yard line, forcing Eli into a long drive to win the game. I would say that's enough evidence that his leg was fine.

Yeah I'm not sure where this BS over him being hurt is coming from. Chris Myers followed up on that during the game and said he was fine.

I can understand going for it on 4th and 3 when it would be a 49 yarder. But going for it on 4th and 13 with a healthy kicker and a sputtering offense doesn't make much sense. Perplexing to say the least.

He was just trying to avoid overtime. :P

Yeah I'm not sure where this BS over him being hurt is coming from. Chris Myers followed up on that during the game and said he was fine.

I thought I heard the announcers make some mention of it after the failed attempt. Either way, it was an arrogant mistake to go for it.

In his short career, Gostkowski is 6-10 on FGs 40 yards or longer. His longest this year was 45 yards. However, given that they were up 7-3 at the time, BB should have sent his kicker out there to attempt the 49 yarder. At least then, you have a chance of points on the board, whereas going for it, the only thing you save is 7 yards if Gostkowski happens to miss it...

The more telling story was the last Patriots drive. 3 timeouts left, and not trying to use the middle of the field to their advantage? 3rd and 4th down, running the exact same play into the exact same coverage, when they needed a FG to tie. Moss ran the same seam route twice in a row, and both times it fell incomplete. The fact that Brady even mentioned himself that his worry was throwing a deep ball 65 yards and having it go only 55 (because of his ankle) tells me that they were arrogant enough to think it would work. That killed them more than not sending out Gostkowski when they were up 7-3.

Hah; What the hell were they thinking. They had 3 time outs. Just get into field goal range and send it into over time.
but I'm glad they did what they did, as bone headed as it was.

I would have punted and pinned them deep, but Belichick coached that game like he was playing Madden on Rookie, with the 4th and 13 and the deep bombs at the end, when they had 3 timeouts and could have easily gotten into field goal range, well, at least historically thats what the Patriots would have done. But nevertheless, I'm happy for the G-Men and laughing my a s s off at Tiki.

I just read in one of the Boston papers that Gostkowski didn't make a kick longer than 45 yards this season, and that his longest attempt was 48. If Belicheat hadn't been so intent on running up scores early in the year by going for it on 4th down (especially against us), then perhaps Gostkowski would have had several attempts in the 50-54 yard range this season. He was in uncharted territory facing a 49 yarder in the biggest game, which probably cloulded Belichick's judgement. I call that Karma biting him in the ass for running up scores the first half of the season.

How dare all of you question a decision by the "genius".

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAA...

Very dumb decision. A classic example of Belichick's arrogance. Nice to see it blow up in his face for once.


that was the best part apart of the whole superbowl. Watching Belichump's arrongance blow up in his face.