Fake punts of any kind can be game-changing plays. Usually, though, they change games when successfully executed to give the offensive team a boost.
Sunday night in Indy, the Colts strange fake punt not only never really had a chance to succeed but it also sucked the life right out of the home team's upset chances.
The Boston Globe takes another look at the fake punt in its detailed review of Sunday’s Patriots win. Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy doesn't exactly break news when he says Tom Brady is an “angry man” in 2015. The other big special teams play on Sunday was Jamie Collins’ PAT block, which Bill Belichick broke down in his Monday conference call with the media.
The *Globe's *Patriots notebook looks at a Jets team with a new philosophy under Todd Bowles of trying to fly under the media radar.
Brady leads the solid grades Ron Borges’ report card from the Colts game in the* Boston Herald.* Herald columnist Steve Buckley says it's no surprise that there was no Patriots gloating after the win over Indianapolis. Belichick had plenty of good things to say about New England No. 1 cornerback Malcolm Butler.
The *Providence Journal *says Belichick’s Patriots are prepared for every situation, including poorly executed fake punts.
ESPNBoston.com writes that the New England secondary in the post-Darrelle Revis era is built around the Super Bowl hero Butler. The site has Belichick talking about his decision not to go for a two-point conversion late in the win over Indy.
WEEI.com notes Tedy Bruschi saying the Colts fake punt was “comical.” WEEI's Chris Price has 10 questions for the AFC as the midway point in the season approaches. WEEI.com also notes that Brady had to hold onto the ball longer against the Colts than has been the case previously this season.
CSNNE.com's Tom Curran seems to go a bit overboard by saying that the Colts fake punt was “another brain-dead move by a brain-dead organization.” CSNNE.com's Phil Perry passes along Belichick commenting on the Colts fake.
NFL.com has the Patriots in the top spot in its power rankings, though New England is just No. 7 in the site's “watchability” rankings.
The New York Times says the Jets face a midterm exam this week against the Patriots.
Did you know that Colts owner Jim Irsay recently sent Belichick a division championship ring from the 1975 Colts, where the now-New England boss was a first-year assistant. Yes, the Colts apparently produce rings as abundantly as they do banners.
