GREEN BAY, Wis. — The New England Patriots were on an impressive tear, winning seven straight games, but all good things must end.
The 9-3 Patriots lost 26-21 in a close matchup with the 9-3 Green Bay Packers, and head coach Bill Belichick had some encouraging words for his team after the game.
“He said we fought hard, and he’s proud of us,” cornerback Brandon Browner said. “‘Everybody could have played better,’ he said. Guys could have played better, coaches could have coached better. I feel like I could have played better, you know? And that’s how we all gotta be — take it upon ourselves to do better. It starts with next week.”
If the Patriots were going to lose another game, this was the logical choice. The Patriots have road games against the San Diego Chargers and New York Jets and home matchups with the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills remaining on their schedule, and they could come out of that stretch with a 13-3 record and home-field advantage locked up in the playoffs.
“That’s a good football team, and in the end they made a few more plays than we did tonight,” Belichick repeated to the media after the game. “I thought both teams competed hard, and I’m really proud of the way our guys hung in there right to the end. We just couldn’t quite make enough plays to come out on top, and they did.”
Photo via Morry Gash/Associated Press
