Patriots head coach Bill Belichick defended the decision to go for it on fourth-and-1 during Sunday's 23-20 victory in San Diego, and his response was nearly identical to what he offered after last season's controversial fourth-and-2 call in Indianapolis.
The Patriots had a fourth-and-1 Sunday at their own 49-yard line with 2:00, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis was stuffed for a loss on a run to the left. The Chargers took over at the New England 48 afterward, but lost the game when Kris Brown's 50-yard field-goal attempt got rejected by the right upright.
"I thought, if we made it, we could pretty much end the game right there," Belichick told reporters at his postgame news conference. "[The Chargers] made a good play. Give them credit. They've got a good defense."
Belichick was asked about it again a couple of minutes later and gave a similar answer.
"I thought we could make it," he said. "That would have ended the game."
