The Patriots are missing enough firepower on offense, but coach Bill Belichick said he never considered taking his most important player off the field yesterday.
Tom Brady’s nursing a knee injury, and the Patriots were up 26-3 with five minutes and 52 seconds left against the Rams. But the idea of protecting his quarterback seemed foreign to Belichick.
“Well, after the game turns out, it’s easy to go back and make those suggestions,” Belichick said, via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. " I’ve seen a few games in this league, seen those double-digit leads evaporate in a minute or two.
“I know that’s not a big concern when it doesn’t happen. [But] when it does happen, it’s a major crisis and a lot of second-guessing about what should have been done or shouldn’t have been done. Trying to win the game.”
The Rams, as presently constructed, would need far more than a minute or two to score 23 points. Weeks, perhaps.
Asked a similar question during his weekly appearance on WEEI, Brady said: “We’re playing for a lot here. I don’t think it’s ever right to take your foot off the gas pedal.”
Even with tight end Rob Gronkowski out and wide receiver Danny Amendola sidelined, the idea of staying out of harm’s way is not one that resonated with the Patriots, who have plenty to play for over the next month.