First, a shout-out to Indy Lori's FanPost about Peyton getting into Belichick's brain.  This is not meant to downplay that FanPost, but rather reinforce it and add the rest of the Colts organization to the invading agent...

I knew something seemed too familiar about Sunday’s game to let it go.  No, I’m not talking about the build-up and excitement of the game before kickoff and the annual “battle of 18-12.”  I’m not even talking about the epic come-from-behind win that was only missing a Marlin Jackson interception (“We’re going to the Super Bowl!  We’re going to the Super Bowl!”). 

I’m talking about a couple of mental mistakes made by the greatest coach EVAHHH to walk the face of the Earth:

1. Challenging a call

Not 4 minutes into the game Sunday night, Manning connected with Wayne on a 25-yard catch down the sidelines to move from mid-field to within FG range.  Though it was likely difficult to tell from the opposite sideline, it was clear to those watching the broadcast (and to those near Wayne) that the catch was made.  Nevertheless, as Manning was moving into his hurry-up offense, Hoodie threw the challenge flag.  Call upheld.

In last year’s battle, you may remember that Hoodie threw the flag early in the 3rd quarter because he thought that someone (Brock?) hadn’t cleared the field of play before the Pats snapped the ball.  Replays showed that the player had leaped off the turf just in time and in this case, the non-call was upheld.

Each of these challenges was puzzling to me.  Wayne’s catch came so early in an as-yet-scoreless game that it seemed like pure emotion to challenge it.  I suspect Manning’s hurry-up call had something to do with Belichick’s reaction here.  However, I would have gauged my players’ reactions first, and then considered that there were still over 26 minutes to play in the half before potentially losing both a time out AND the chance to challenge again during the half.

In the case of the 12 men on the field non-call, let’s recall the situation.  The score was IND 7, NE 6.  It was 3 minutes into the 2nd half, and the Pats had driven from their 28 to the Colt 45 (I had to say it).  They were moving the ball well enough that you believed they could score.  Then the challenge flag comes out, with the potential reward of a measly 5 yards!  Again, the risk/reward here was losing both a time out AND the chance to challenge again… this time for the rest of the game!

I agree that coaches should challenge what they think are clearly bad calls, and I hate to see the red flag stay in the coach’s pocket (or sock or wherever they stuff it).  But you also need to use it wisely.

2. Wasting a timeout

After the Colts scored to close the gap to 6 (NE 34, IND 28), McAfee kicked a beauty into the end zone for a touchback.  I’m not 100% certain about this, but at this point, the offense has at least 40 seconds to snap the ball.  That time is typically extended by virtue of media timeouts, but in this case the Pats were expected to take the field right way.  However on Sunday they took their second timeout, perhaps to discuss their approach.  While not likely obvious at the time, this turned out to be a huge problem for them, as they were unable to use the challenge flag later after taking their 3rd timeout to discuss whether or not to go for it on 4th down.

In last year’s game, Hoodie used a timeout at another inopportune moment.  I’ll bring you back to that game… with about 12 minutes left in the game, the score was IND 15, NE 12.  The Pats had driven from their own 24, and had a 4th and 1 at the Indy 7.  Just as they snapped the ball and Cassel leaned forward to ostensibly convert on the 4th down, Hoodie came RACING onto the field to call time out.  The timeout was awarded and the play called off.  Instead of tempting fate twice, Gostkowski came on to kick the FG, tying the game at 15.  Indy went on to win 18-15 after Vinatieri kicked the go-ahead field goal 3 minutes later.

Agree that much of this is hindsight, but not having your play series set before a kickoff is inexcusable to me.  I’m glad that we haven’t seen this type of mismanagement.  The timeout last year was more of an unfortunate coincidence for them, but one that might have cost them the game had they been able to score a TD from 6 yards out.

Discuss his genius all you want, but I think the Colts – and not just Manning – have gotten into that man’s brain.