Patriots: Bill Belichick admits to blowing challenge vs Chargers

The New England Patriots have won two games in a row for the first time all season following Sunday’s victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Adrian Phillips was living proof that revenge game narratives exist, as the former Chargers defensive back intercepted two passes, including a huge pick six in the fourth quarter that helped the Patriots reclaim the lead.

In a game where Mac Jones and the passing game struggled, the defense really carried the load for New England. All in all, it was the type of performance you would expect from a Bill Belichick-coached side.

Ironically enough, though, the 69-year-old head coach wasn’t at sharp as he typically is on Sundays.

Early in the fourth quarter, Belichick threw his challenge flag following a holding call on the Chargers, who were pinned deep into their own territory, with the hope that it would turn into a safety.

It was an unsuccessful challenge from Belichick, who admitted after the game that he thought the holding call was on a different player.

Patriots HC Bill Belichick took ownership for his blown challenge.

Even all-time greats are susceptible to the occasional brain fart. It happens!

For any fans who forget the full details, here’s what happened.

A Herbert completion to Stephen Anderson was negated by a holding on offensive lineman Matt Feiler, who went to great lengths to prevent Christian Barmore from getting into the backfield. That tussle happened near the five-yard line.

Perhaps Belichick received some poor intel from his replay review staff, because he threw the challenge fan thinking that Kyle Van Noy, who was in the end zone at the time of the call, was being held.

Here’s another look at the play.

In Belichick’s defense, it looks like Van Noy was held, but it came at the last possible second before Herbert released the ball. It wasn’t clear and obvious compared to Barmore, who did brilliantly to split the left guard and center and had a direct line to Herbert before he was wrestled to the ground.

New England, of course, lost the challenge and were charged a timeout. Luckily for Belichick, the gaffe didn’t come back to haunt him, as Phillips came through with pick six to propel the Patriots back in front before the offense milked nearly seven minutes off the clock leading to a Nick Folk field goal that made it a two possession game.

Had the Patriots been playing from behind in crunch time, Belichick would be facing the music right now. Credit to the six-time champ for owning up to his mistake, but this better not happen again in the fourth quarter of a close game.