Patriots played themselves out of Super Bowl berth

By Matt Metcalf
Posted 1/26/16

It’s hard to believe that the Patriots weren’t ready for the big stage, but they weren’t.

For a team that was just a year removed from winning a Super Bowl, New England looked rattled …

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Patriots played themselves out of Super Bowl berth

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It’s hard to believe that the Patriots weren’t ready for the big stage, but they weren’t.

For a team that was just a year removed from winning a Super Bowl, New England looked rattled against an inferior Denver team on Sunday in the AFC Championship game, making mental and physical mistakes that led to the pitiful outcome – a 20-18 Broncos’ victory.

After head coach Bill Belichick made some questionable decisions down the stretch in the regular season to secure the Patriots a trip to Denver for the AFC title game, he made some more within the game itself on Sunday.

Maybe the most critical mistake of all was not kicking a field goal on at least one of two occasions deep in Denver territory in the fourth quarter, turning the ball over on downs twice while coming away with no points. Had the Patriots kicked at least one field goal, the touchdown from Tom Brady to Rob Gronkowski in the final minute would’ve won the game outright.

Speaking of kicking, how about Stephen Gostkowski’s extra point miss in the first quarter? That sure would’ve been nice to have in the final minute. Gostkowski, of course, held the streak for most consecutive extra points made with 523 entering the game.

Not going without notice was New England’s dreadful offensive line play, putting Brady under siege from start to finish.

Brady had his share of poor decisions, as well, tossing two interceptions on questionable throws, but overall, I think most of the blame can be appointed to the offensive line for the offensive struggles.

Defensively, the Patriots played a poor first half.

It was no secret that New England was going try to make Peyton Manning beat it with throws to the outside. At least, that’s what I thought the gameplan would be.

Just seven minutes, 28 seconds into the game, Denver struck first with a touchdown on a breakdown in coverage, as Manning hit Owen Daniels with a 21-yard, uncontested pitch and catch right down the middle of the field.

And after Denver’s second touchdown in the second quarter, the Patriots’ offense, led by the timid play-calling of Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels, struggled to play catch up.

New England’s defense played well in the second half, limiting Denver to just three points, but the Patriots couldn’t convert on multiple trips into Denver territory down the stretch.

More than anything, this proves that backing into the playoffs isn’t the way to go.

New England got comfortable with its regular-season cushion, dropping games to Philadelphia, Miami and the Jets.

Let’s remember, the game on Sunday should’ve been played at Gillette, and the reason why it wasn’t was because of poor decisions Belichick made down the stretch.

For a coach that has dared to take risks and take an unconventional approach for so many years, Belichick coached the final games scared, afraid of his players getting hurt.

Ultimately, it cost his team a trip to the Super Bowl.

And Patriots’ fans should feel that a prime opportunity to win another title was washed down the drain.

Brady, although showing no signs of declining in ability, isn’t getting any younger.

It would’ve been nice to see the Patriots go all in with a quarterback who is still the best in the game.

But New England didn’t – it took its foot off the gas pedal for a series of games and it cost them this time.

Now, the Patriots will have to watch an inferior team play in the Super Bowl, and they have no one to blame but themselves.

What an opportunity lost.

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