Head Coach Bill Belichick 12/3: "We couldn't play the complementary game we needed to play"

Bill Belichick (0:02)

Well, again, some missed opportunities here today.

I thought we had all the guys play really hard. We moved the ball, but we're on a long field. Just really didn't do a good job with field position.

Couldn't play the complimentary game that we need to play. Chargers did a couple of times, got their six points, and obviously that was enough. So, just got to do a better job of, we've talked about all year, making plays in critical situations that we need to make. And that's really about it. Multiple plays you can point to on that, but in the end, just obviously it wasn't enough. And we've got to find a way to make those.

SPEAKER_2 (0:55)

Bill, with your offense being inconsistent, was there any talk between you and your coaching staff about possibly going to Malik Cunningham as a change of pace, as a spark?

SPEAKER_3 (1:12)

Bill, with the offense, how do you explain what's continuously gone wrong here for this group?

Bill Belichick (1:19)

Yeah, just try to do that. Sorry, that wasn't good enough.

Doug (1:27)

What went into the decision to start Bailey over Mack?

Bill Belichick (1:30)

I thought he deserved it.

Doug (1:33)

Was it something he did, or do you feel as though Mack hasn't delivered on what you were hoping to get? Do you feel as though, organizationally, you've let Mack down a little bit, third year, first round quarterback, now on the bench?

Bill Belichick (1:52)

Yeah, just trying to put the best team we can out there every week.

SPEAKER_5 (1:58)

Hi Bill, we saw Ty Kwon get a little more into the offense today. He had one play that worked out, one that didn't just, what did you see from him today, and what more do you want to see from him?

Bill Belichick (2:08)

I see all our skilled players being more productive when they get the opportunity to do that, so it's obvious.

Mike (2:18)

Bill, how surprised are you at the lack of production from the offense? What do you identify as maybe some of the missteps that have contributed to the offense not producing this season?

Bill Belichick (2:38)

I just answered that question, Mike.

Mike (2:42)

I guess I'm trying to figure...

Bill Belichick (2:43)

Yeah, well, it's in the season review. We're talking about the game. Game's just over. Happy to talk about the game.

I made my comments on it. I'm not gonna get into a full season review if that's what you're asking, no.

Mike (2:55)

I think the reason I was asking is it's just hard to fathom how the offenses dip from where we saw it at the end of last year, and this is the way we communicate with you to fans who are curious the same question.

Bill Belichick (3:06)

Yeah, I just told you what I thought about the game. We moved the ball.

Didn't make enough plays to score. Got in the scoring range and weren't able to convert those into points.

SPEAKER_7 (3:20)

Bill, with the offense struggling, was there ever any consideration to putting Mack in the game?

Bill Belichick (3:26)

We did what we thought was best in the game.

SPEAKER_8 (3:35)

Hi, coach, players have mentioned that it's a team game, you know, they're professionals, they signed up for this. But on a human level, what do you say to these guys when they have three pretty incredible performances, and the team still isn't able to pull out a win? Like, how do you keep those guys motivated and engaged?

Bill Belichick (3:49)

Yeah, well, I think I just answered that question. Come to work every day, do the best we can, try to get there, that's what we're gonna do.

SPEAKER_7 (4:02)

Bill, what led you to believe that keeping Malik on the sideline for the entire game was in the best interest of the team?

Bill Belichick (4:10)

I thought that we had time, so we got things going. We wanted to try to stay with what we were doing.

SPEAKER_9 (4:18)

Billy mentioned Bailey deserved to play, in your opinion. What did he show you to earn that responsibility?

Bill Belichick (4:24)

He's worked hard all year.

SPEAKER_9 (4:28)

So was it just until recently that he had shown you that he deserved the job, or was that something that he may have deserved earlier than today?

Bill Belichick (4:40)

I said that he's worked hard all year, and I thought he deserved a chance to play. Made that decision last week.

SPEAKER_9 (4:46)

Why not make that move sooner in the season?

Bill Belichick (4:56)

Because we gave Matt the opportunity to work through his progression with the offense, and obviously, we haven't had a lot of production. I thought Bailey deserved a chance to play, so he played today.