Watching the post-game pressers, I thought, "Is there another coach in the NFL who'd be as pissed off as Bill Belichick obviously was after winning a playoff game 34-16?"
No. The answer is no.
Was Dion Lewis talking about his record setting day after the game? No. Lewis didn't want to talk about being the first in the Super Bowl era to score on a run, a catch and a kick return in a playoff game; he only wanted to talk about his fumbles.
Got to play better.
The only time Belichick smiled during his post-game stand up was when he noted that if nothing else, it was a pretty good night for Rutgers. All three of his widely panned picks from Rutgers - Devin McCourty, Duron Hamon and Logan Ryan - had interceptions in the game. And New England needed its Scarlet Knights to make those plays to bring home this hard fought win. Belichick gave credit to the Texans defense but he also noted the uncharacteristic mistakes, the penalties, the turnovers. It's never about the other team; it's about how the Patriots did or didn't do their job.
Got to play better.
Tom Brady didn't smile once in his post-game appearance. He gave credit to the Texans defense and they deserved it but it was clear he was disappointed in his performance, in the offense's performance. They were out of synch all night. Brady had two interceptions in the game after throwing just two in twelve regular season games. He made some spectacular throws but other than one second half drive, the offense seemed out of joint. They were stoned on the goal line. The running game that was supposed to make the difference this year didn't show up. Romeo Crennel's defense fooled Brady more than once. It seems crazy to say he was lucky to have thrown two interceptions but he could easily have had four interceptions on the night.
Got to play better.
The Patriots just played arguably their worst game of the season and still covered a 16 point line. In the pigskin karma scheme of things, this is incredibly good news. Every mistake, every boneheaded move, the turnovers, the penalties; they're all in the rear view now.
Bullet dodged.
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