The first back-to-back December Patriots losses since 2002 have a way of sparking questions about anything and everything, even how a Hall of Fame coach determines personnel on Hail Mary coverage and how his Hall of Fame quarterback decides to pilot a potential game-saving drive.
Bill Belichick was as usual disinterested with looking back on his weekly conference call, but did offer some more grist regarding the thin ice his Patriots are on if they’re to earn a ninth straight first-round bye in the AFC playoffs. That bye figures to be important as ever with the streaking (and physical) Colts, the run-heavy Ravens and the Titans — Patriot conquerors barely a month ago — looming as potential visitors to Foxborough for a wild-card round game.