By John Wawrow
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
What’s more surprising than Bill Belichick’s team making sloppy mistakes? How about the longtime Patriots coach apologizing for his surly attitude in the post-game media availability.
The “on to Cincinnati” meme-maker told reporters on Monday that he was sorry for being curt after the 27-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts that dropped New England from the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Belichick’s answers on Saturday night ranged from surly to argumentative, but the new week brought a new attitude.
“Look, fellas. I apologize. I seemed like I was a little short with you after the game,” Belichick said. “Not really trying to be short, but honestly, there wasn’t too much to say. I don’t know there’s a whole lot more to say now, but it’s not your fault. It was a frustrating game.”
The Patriots had won seven in a row to propel themselves to the top of the conference, but things fell apart quickly in Indianapolis.
New England was pushed around on the Colts’ first possession, with Jonathan Taylor running six straight times for 33 yards to help set up a touchdown. Then Indianapolis blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone to make it 14-0.
A field goal made it 17-0 before Mac Jones was picked off after driving New England to the Indianapolis 15 at the end of the first half. Jones threw his second interception to start the second half, setting up the Colts’ 46-yard field goal attempt; it missed, but an offside penalty gave them another chance, which was successful to give Indianapolis a 20-0 lead.
In all, the Patriots committed eight penalties, including three false starts, and another that got Kyle Duggar kicked out of the game.
So it’s no wonder that Belichick, never a ray of sunshine, was especially grouchy. Asked about Taylor, who finished with 170 yards, Belichick said, “I’ve said it like five times, I could just say it another five times. We didn’t do anything well enough to win tonight, including giving up 225 yards rushing.”
The loss cost the Patriots pole position for the conference’s No. 1 seed and a first-round bye. Next up: Buffalo, their closest pursuer in the AFC East.
“If we don’t handle it well, it’ll be our season,” defensive back Devin McCourty said. “Guys in here have all lost games. We started the season off losing games, so we know what we need to do, and we know how we need to practice against a team we know well.”
Bills eager for rematchBring on the Patriots.
That was the resounding message from several Bills players not long after a 31-14 win over Carolina on Sunday, in which Buffalo snapped a two-game skid by padding its record against yet another flawed opponent with a losing record, starting a backup quarterback and having lost its kicker to injury an hour before kickoff.
“We’re just trying to find ways to win games, and we did that today,” quarterback Josh Allen said before looking ahead to playing at New England this weekend. “And we’re going to need that going forward.
“We all know who we have next week. It’s no secret.”
By beating Carolina, coupled with the Patriots (9-5) losing to Indianapolis, the Bills (8-6) find themselves back in contention to win the AFC East for a second straight season.
Despite a 14-10 loss to New England at home in blustery conditions two weeks ago, Buffalo needs only to sweep its final three games to claim the division because it will have split its season series against the Patriots and would have the tiebreaking edge against AFC East opponents. Both are currently 3-1, with the Patriots having lost their season opener to Miami.
“I know guys will be excited, honestly, based off what happened last time, just to have another go-around with them,” linebacker Tremaine Edmunds said.
And yet, be careful what you wish for, might also serve as words of warning for Buffalo, which is still 7-36 against the Bill Belichick-coached Patriots despite sweeping the season-series last year.
The Bills have yet to prove they’ve shaken their prevalent inconsistencies in winning just four of their past nine.
This is also a team which is 1-5 against opponents entering Week 16 with plus-.500 records. Buffalo’s lone victory came against Kansas City (10-4) in Week 5, which just happens to be the last time the Bills won consecutive games.
If there is a bright side, the Bills are driven by memories of their loss to the Patriots, after which they faced questions about being embarrassed at home by an opponent which attempted just three passes, while gaining 222 yards on 46 carries.
Just don’t remind safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, who were unhappy over the postgame line of questioning two weeks ago.
“Yeah, we’re excited to play them,” is all Poyer had to say on Sunday.
Then there’s coach Sean McDermott who, on Monday, clarified comment he made following the loss two weeks ago, when suggesting not to provide Belichick too much credit. He now says he was referring to the Bills beating themselves.
“Yeah, 100 percent of where we fell short and what we could’ve done better,” McDermott said. “One hundred percent respect for coach Belichick and it’s really just focused on us.”
Several concerns remain.
The Bills’ run defense has allowed a combined 510 yards over its past three, after giving up 151 to the Panthers. On the bright side, Buffalo limited Carolina to convert just one of five fourth-down opportunities.
On offense, questions revolve around a patchwork and COVID-19-depleted offensive line, which allowed four sacks. By comparison, the line succeeded in helping running back Devin Singletary gain a season-best 86 yards rushing and score the opening touchdown on a 16-yard run in the second quarter.
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