Belichick: 'We Have To Execute Better'
BOSTON (CBS) – New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was not any happier with his team after watching the film of Sunday's 25-17 loss to the Steelers.
"They did a better job than we did in all areas of the game. [It was a] competitive game that we still had a shot there in the last couple minutes; we just weren't able to make enough plays to come out of it," Belichick said Monday. 'It's time to move on, correct mistakes (and) move on to the Giants."
Stats: Pats-Steelers Box Score
The Patriots fell into an early 7-0 hole after an 11-play, 68 yard drive by the Steelers that ate up nearly six minutes. Tight end Heath Miller had four receptions for 55 yards on the drive, including three straight at one point. Even when it was clear Roethlisberger was going to Miller over the middle, the Patriots still could not stop it.
Read: Pats Defense 'Back To Square One'
"We didn't do a very good job defending really anything on that first drive. The tight end for sure," Belichick said of the Steelers opening drive. "It wasn't a very good defensive series for us."
The Steelers also threw more man-coverage at the Patriots than they expected. Still, after facing teams like the Jets, Dolphins and Raiders, Belichick said the team should have been able to adapt.
"Bottom line is we have to execute a little bit better. There were some things they did that obviously caused some problems. We either didn't make adjustments quick enough, or in some cases we tried to adjust to it and we just couldn't get it done the way we needed to get it done. Overall they just did a better job than we did," he said.
Read: Pats-Steelers Highs and Lows
It wasn't anything that I would say we hadn't really seen before, but probably a little higher percentage than what they've shown in other games," Belichick said of the Steelers defense. "We worked on it. Again, we just have to do a better job in those situations – protecting, getting open, having plays that maybe could make everything happen a little bit quicker, a little bit cleaner.
"I don't want to get into like everything was a self-inflicted wound," Belichick said. "I think they did a lot of things well. We had some plays, not as many as they did, and that's why the result was the way it was."
The Patriots coach also addressed not challenging Rob Gronkowski's non-touchdown with four minutes to go in the fourth quarter. He stated after the game the team did not get see a replay, therefore he did not want to challenge it and possibly waste a time-out.
Read: Gronk Thought He Had A Touchdown
He was a little less anxious to answer any questions about it on Monday.
"I'm coaching a game, not really running a replay booth," Belichick said.
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