Did Belicheat Throw the Jets Game?

[Tank 92]

I've never seen a team defer and not take the ball first in OT.  After seeing that the Ravens beat the steelers, did billy intentionally tank to try to avoid the pburgers in the playoffs? Wouldn't think this about anyone else but him, and it does seem strange that he gave up the ball in OT. 

[GrimCoconut]

I highly doubt it. Why would he want to avoid them? It's not like he had much to fear

[Inqui]

For a conspiracy theory like that you have to assume a few things:

 

1) Belicheat knew we'd beat the Steelers (when not even Ravens fans saw that coming). Had the Steelers won, they'd have been risking an awful lot for pretty much no gain.

2) He expected his defence would fold.

3) He was happy to risk the Bengals winning this week and put HFA up in the air for week 17 as opposed to trying to wrap it up.

4) He feared the Steelers substantially more than any other side in the playoff race, even though he's had the wood over them for a while and the Jets are more familiar with the Cheetahs.

5) He aimed to throw the game and decided to take it to OT when they had multiple opportunities to simply lay down in regulation and make it all simpler (bear in mind they were trailing for most of the game).

 

With the new OT rules there's a legitimate case to kick the ball away to start OT. You get certainty about what you need once you get the ball back. And once you get it back, you have a better chance of winning the game instantly (because you can end on a FG if they go three and out - which you can't do if you start with teh ball).

 

I think it's more likely that he trusted his defence to get the ball back and simply got burnt.

[Tank 92]

 

For a conspiracy theory like that you have to assume a few things:

 

1) Belicheat knew we'd beat the Steelers (when not even Ravens fans saw that coming). Had the Steelers won, they'd have been risking an awful lot for pretty much no gain.

2) He expected his defence would fold.

3) He was happy to risk the Bengals winning this week and put HFA up in the air for week 17 as opposed to trying to wrap it up.

4) He feared the Steelers substantially more than any other side in the playoff race, even though he's had the wood over them for a while and the Jets are more familiar with the Cheetahs.

5) He aimed to throw the game and decided to take it to OT when they had multiple opportunities to simply lay down in regulation and make it all simpler (bear in mind they were trailing for most of the game).

 

With the new OT rules there's a legitimate case to kick the ball away to start OT. You get certainty about what you need once you get the ball back. And once you get it back, you have a better chance of winning the game instantly (because you can end on a FG if they go three and out - which you can't do if you start with teh ball).

 

I think it's more likely that he trusted his defence to get the ball back and simply got burnt.

 

 

 

I'm not fully buying into it, just wanted to bring up the notion.

 

He knew we had beaten the steelers prior to OT beginning, but not before. And I'm not sure about the strategy of deferring you mention, especially on a day when defense was not the theme of the game. Has any team ever deferred in OT?

 

They know the Jets much better than the steelers and it doesn't seem that far of a stretch that the would prefer the possibility of facing them.

 

Like I said, just floating the notion.

[Wildabeast88]

I'm not fully buying into it, just wanted to bring up the notion.

He knew we had beaten the steelers prior to OT beginning, but not before. And I'm not sure about the strategy of deferring you mention, especially on a day when defense was not the theme of the game. Has any team ever deferred in OT?

They know the Jets much better than the steelers and it doesn't seem that far of a stretch that the would prefer the possibility of facing them.

Like I said, just floating the notion.

It has happened 3 times New England twice and Minnesota once this was the first time it hadn't worked. But I agree something about Belichick makes you think Edited December 30, 2015 by Wildabeast88

[Grapple Raven]

Tank, it is an interesting notion. Especially since Belicheat didn't really have a valid explanation for doing so, and Brady didn't pitch a fit on the sidelines like he is prone to do. It makes ya think, and I wouldn't put it past him at all. 

 

When the Steelers played them earlier in the year there was all that controversy over the headphones...perhaps Belicheat didn't want all his cheating ways up for further exposure, lol.

[Pats]

Dear Lord are people here really stooping to steelers tin foil hat fanbase levels? I'd say the jets are more of a rival and someone we wanted eliminated rather than the steelers.

[Winchester]

Seriously?? Throwing a game with home advantage throughout the playoffs on the line?? He was hoping to stop them and win it with Gostkowski.

[redrum52]

I've never seen a team defer and not take the ball first in OT.  After seeing that the Ravens beat the steelers, did billy intentionally tank to try to avoid the pburgers in the playoffs? Wouldn't think this about anyone else but him, and it does seem strange that he gave up the ball in OT. 

It honestly makes sense.  Brady and the offense was horrible for most of that game.  You kick the ball, hope to get the stop and then only need a fg to win.  This was one of the reasons people liked the OT rule change, because you now had to think about what you'd do.  Also, I wouldn't want Pit in the playoffs either.

[CalvinSmoke]

This is how you know that you're a great coach, when people think it's impossible for your team to really make a bone-headed play. It HAS to be a part of a bigger picture right? It was his plan all along?! lol I don't think so, not this time atleast. 

[Tank 92]

It honestly makes sense.  Brady and the offense was horrible for most of that game.  You kick the ball, hope to get the stop and then only need a fg to win.  This was one of the reasons people liked the OT rule change, because you now had to think about what you'd do.  Also, I wouldn't want Pit in the playoffs either.

 

 

I guess, but it would seem the spirit of the rule change and the reason people like it is that it discourages a team from playing for a FG of the first possession. I now know that it has been done before(twice I guess?), but probably not again.   lol

 

This came up in an office discussion and all agreed the thought of tanking would not even be discussed if it were not the cheatriots that were involved. The incredulous look on the guys face standing at midfield after they deferred added "mystery" to it as well.   lol

[rmcjacket23]

Note that the entire premise of this ludicrous argument is to avoid the Steelers in the playoffs. Yet, at the time of his decision to kick, he would have already known that the Steelers lost, so throwing the game was meaningless.

He also didn't know the outcome of the Monday night game, which had just as much effect on the Pats and Steelers potential draft position as anything.

Lastly, I don't even buy that the Pats are scared of the Steelers. I think they match up well with them. It's the Jets, a team they struggled with twice and the team most likely to be the 6th seed, that they should be looking to avoid. Losing to them is the exact opposite of avoiding them.

[Willbacker]

You can't defer an overtime toss since there is no 2nd half. What they chose to do was kick but the confusion was they thought they could also choose what goal to defend but not the case. Jets got the wind and the ball lol. I can almost buy Tanks proposal of Belichick throwing the game cuz Belichick doesn't mess up. Does he? lol

[beanfigger]

Give me a break. This kind of stuff just gives the Pat fans that claim everything is against them more credibility. Stop it.

[rmcjacket23]

Give me a break. This kind of stuff just gives the Pat fans that claim everything is against them more credibility. Stop it.

Agreed. It's threads like this that make people look bad, not the Pats

[Tank 92]

Again, floated this for discussion looking for a viable explanation and asking the question.

It just seems pretty dumb to not take the ball first. If you wanted to put the game in the hands of your D and kicker why give the opponent the chance to win with a TD first and risk losing any ability of your own to win? Also hard to believe that Billy wouldn't know he couldn't give up the ball and also choose the direction of play.

Edited January 1, 2016 by Tank 92

[K-Dog]

Again, floated this for discussion looking for a viable explanation and asking the question.

It just seems pretty dumb to not take the ball first. If you wanted to put the game in the hands of your D and kicker why give the opponent the chance to win with a TD first and risk losing any ability of your own to win? Also hard to believe that Billy wouldn't know he couldn't give up the ball and also choose the direction of play.

Maybe he needs to read the rule book.

[rmcjacket23]

Again, floated this for discussion looking for a viable explanation and asking the question.

It just seems pretty dumb to not take the ball first. If you wanted to put the game in the hands of your D and kicker why give the opponent the chance to win with a TD first and risk losing any ability of your own to win? Also hard to believe that Billy wouldn't know he couldn't give up the ball and also choose the direction of play.

Best viable explanation I came up with is Belichick made a poor decision. Certainly possible, given he's a human being and has made plenty of poor decisions in the past.

The fact that we are trying to justify his decision as anything other than that is basically paying him the ultimate compliment.

Edited January 1, 2016 by rmcjacket23

[The Raven]

I've now heard it all. Belichick threw a game? Lmao.

[hawkprey]

Yes, because after not being able to beat the Jets in regulation, Belichick decided he'd still rather not face the team that lost to the 4-10 club because they're the bigger threat.

[Cville-Raven]

lol c'mon now

[Militant X 1]

Got to be kidding?

[Tank 92]

lol.....dag, OK already.  Like I said it was an office conversation and one that wouldn't even have come up if it weren't for the history of the cheatriots. I guess it may be that Billy is slipping a bit in his old age. It was an idiotic decision.

 

I have to say though I much rather face the jets than steelers in the playoffs. This would be Fitz's first trip to the post season.

Edited January 2, 2016 by Tank 92

[mg90]

Well if Pats fans can speculate that someone in Baltimore tipped off the Colts on deflating footballs... Maybe this is possible. The move seemed completely idiotic to me. You take the ball there. Not even just in hindsight. I'm not saying I'm buying the theory. Personally I wouldn't bet on it. Just wouldn't be that surprised if it were true.

[beanfigger]

Coach pulled Free Brady and the starters before the final drive. Obviously, he was throwing the game. Probably trying to screw the Dolphins out of the higher draft pick. Typical Pats.