How Did The New England Patriots React To 35-28 Loss To Eagles?

Dec 6, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) is tackled by Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Vinny Curry (back) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Brady

Q: What did you see on the interception by the goal line and the catch you made prior to it?

TB: The first interception was bad quarterbacking. The team trusts you to put the ball in your hands and make good decisions with it, and that was a terrible decision. So it’s unfortunate because those cost you the game, and I’ve got to do a better job.

Q: What broke down on that play? 

TB: I kind of scanned the field, and we didn’t have much. I was actually trying to throw it away and didn’t throw it far enough, so one of those where if I’m going to try to throw it away, you’ve got to throw it away. You can’t throw it where they have an opportunity to catch it, so that was another very, just a bad mental error.

Q: Other than injuries, is there something else causing your team to struggle right now?

TB: We’ve got to do a better job. I think that’s just what it comes down to. No one can do your job for you and the execution of certain plays. There’s no one, well, tonight there were a couple of people who threw it, but I’m the person that throws it the most, and I’ve got to make good decisions with the ball. If I turn the ball over twice, I don’t think we’re going to have the chance to win many games, so I think that’s what it comes down to.

Q: Did the Eagles defense show you something that you didn’t see on film from them?

TB: I think they’re well coached. I think those were two pretty tough games for them. I think we were out of rhythm quite a bit of the time in the first half, and then the third quarter was what it was. And then we made some plays during the fourth quarter, but they’ve got some good players on defense. Certainly the big plays really helped them out. I mean, a 99, 100-yard interception return, that’s about as bad as you can do for a quarterback.

Q: When you look back, do you think you were ever trying a little too hard?

TB: I think there are always plays you look back on and you obviously wish you did something different. On the interception, it was just a dumb play. There was really not much chance of a completion, so I should’ve just probably thrown it out of the back of the end zone or found someone else to throw it to. We would’ve kicked three points. It was just a bad play. And then the other one, when I’m throwing it away, you’ve got to throw the ball away. I think that’s like, basic quarterbacking. You throw it and I didn’t get enough on it, and he’s there in the end zone and makes the play. That was just a bad play by mean. I mean, no one can save us from that. That’s my fault.

Q: Does this game show how much you miss Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman?

TB: You’d love to have everybody healthy. I think every team would love that at this point, but it’s just not the reality, so it’s tough. You’ve got to find ways to adjust, and we do plenty of good things. I think tonight there were just some critical errors that it really came down to. Just a disappointing night, but we’ve got to figure out how to win a game next week?

Q: What did you think of James White tonight?

TB: He did a great job. He really came up big for us when we needed it a few times on fourth down tonight, made some big plays in the pass-game, was good in protection. He’s done a great job for us. He’s got a significant role. We’ll need him all the way down the stretch here. We’ve got to play better football. I think it’s just better execution all the way around, and that’s what we’re going to need to get a win. I don’t care who you play or where you play. If you make the plays we made tonight, we’re not going to give ourselves many chances to win. 

Q: What was causing you to hold onto the ball longer than normal?

TB: Part of it I think was their scheme, and you’re right. I’ve got to find a guy to throw the ball to. It’s just scanning the open field and finding a guy and letting him have it. I always like to try to do that. Sometimes they had a few extra guys in coverage, but you’re right. I can definitely get rid of the ball quicker.

Q: What does this game mean for the team going forward?

TB: Well, we’ve got a pretty important game coming up, so I think that’s where we’re at. We can’t do anything about what happened obviously tonight or last week just like we can’t do anything about the ones before that. And I think we’ve got to just play better football. I think that’s what it comes down to, and each of these games are important. We’re in a decent spot. We’ve just got to, if you want to win consistently, you’ve got to do things well consistently, and we just haven’t played winning football for the last two weeks. 

Next: Danny Amendola, Others Speak