http://www.nesn.com/2012/09/tom-bra...more-responsible-for-loss-than-officials.html
Tom Brady, Patriots Inability to Convert in Key Moments Far More Responsible for Loss Than Officials
by Luke Hughes on Mon, Sep 24, 2012 at 1:44AM
With just seconds left on the clock and a field goal separating the Patriots and Ravens, Sunday night's showdown in Baltimore felt awfully familiar. The only difference this time was the result. About eight months to the day from the Patriots miracle 23-20 win over the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game, this time Baltimore's kicker was actually able to split the uprights -- well, at least officially. One point ended up making the difference between a win and loss for the Patriots on Sunday, but while football fans everywhere will scream bloody murder at the officiating -- if you wish to call it that -- this loss falls squarely on the shoulders of the 46 guys that took the field for New England. Sure. There were some phantom pass-interference calls, questionable holding penalties and, of course, the ever-controversial last-second kick that went over the goal post, but no amount of poor officiating could steal the responsibility of Sunday's loss away from the Patriots players. Tom Brady and the Patriots offense had plenty of opportunities to close out a well deserved win on the evening, but a lack of efficiency on both of the Patriots final two drives resulted in handing the ball back to the Ravens. A couple of short passes and a monster sack by a pair of Ravens linemen were the difference between solidifying the W and putting the fate of the game in Joe Flacco's hands -- an opportunity he both reveled and thrived in. The New England defense couldn't do anything to stop the oncoming onslaught either. Devin McCourty, who seemed to have rediscovered his coverage skills this season, was exposed time and again as he squared off against the speed and strength of Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith and even Jacoby Jones. The Patriots secondary allowed Flacco to chew up 118 of his absurd 382 passing yards during the Ravens final two possessions -- a shameful amount. The defensive backs didn't help their case any by dropping sure interceptions at different times throughout the game, including two from McCourty and one fourth quarter miscue by a stumbling Kyle Arrington. Those were prime opportunities squandered in big moments. And then of course McCourty's pass interference penalty that set up the game-winning kick just capped off a night of errors and missed opportunities. At least the players held themselves accountable in the end, though, knowing this loss was on them. "It's the National Football League," McCourty said of his less than desirable performance. "If you go out there with no confidence, you'll see a worse display than what I played out there." Ouch, self-criticizing can be tough. But sometimes it's just necessary. Tom Brady wasn't shying away from the blame after the loss, either, putting the emphasis for the defeat on he and his teammates inability to convert in key moments. "We just don't play well when we need to," a visibly frustrated Brady said after the game. That seems to be the trend that these Patriots have suffered from for a few years now. Last year's AFC Championship victory was as much a win by the Patriots as it was a loss by the Ravens. Unlike their first four Super Bowl appearances, last year's felt somewhat illegitimate. Something just feels off in New England. The Patriots haven't possessed that true killer instinct in quite some time, maybe dating all the way back to that nearly magical 2007 season. Brady still shows the fiery desire to win, but it doesn't appear to be that same 'whatever it takes' mentality. Bill Belichick continues to be as prepared and steady as any coach in the NFL, and he definitely doesn't like losing -- that was made quite apparent by his demeanor during Sunday's postgame press conference. But maybe there's a stubborness that's keeping the ultimate goal beyond arm's reach. The reality in New England isn't that Belichick, Brady and company have lost their fastball -- to use some baseball lingo -- or that the passion isn't burning as hot as it once did. Rather, it's just to note that the big moments that the Patriots used to live for and excell in now appear to be their Achilles heel. A concern that although maybe utterly innacurate could be something to consider. The Patriots still have plenty of desirable assets, especially when talking about the characteristics of a Super Bowl contender. But for some reason with this team it feels like there's still plenty left to be desired.