Bill Belichick calls holding challenge a ‘mistake’
One of the more curious moments from Sunday’s Patriots win over the Chargers was a fourth quarter challenge by Bill Belichick. With the Chargers backed up on their own 8-yard line, a holding was called on guard Matt Feiler, which backed the Chargers up to the 4. Belichick then threw the challenge flag, making a case that the hold occurred in the end zone, which would have resulted in a crucial safety.
Video replay showed Feiler’s hold take place well outside the end zone, and the Patriots lost the challenge. So why did Belichick throw the red flag in such a key moment in the game?
“I saw the hold on Kyle [Van Noy], I thought it happened in the end zone. I mean, I think it did happen in the end zone on [right tackle Storm] Norton. The foul was called on the guard, and so the play – I didn’t really hear who the foul was on,” Belichick explained.
The video review does show Van Noy apparently getting held in the end zone – a call the officials on the field missed. Had that been called, Belichick would have been correct.
In the past, Belichick has mentioned it can be tough to hear the referee announcements from the sideline. That apparently caught up to him on Sunday.
“I saw it on Norton, I thought it was on Norton, so obviously it was a mistake that I made,” he admitted. “That’s my fault. I blew it.”
That was Belichick’s first challenge of the 2021 season. He’s now 9-for-23 on challenges since the last replay review rule change in 2017.
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Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.
