Belichick's Greatest Hits No. 19: 'We'll Take the Wind'

Jim Rogash. Getty Images.

I'm starting this countdown off with back-to-back moments in big late season games against Peyton Manning teams. Beginning with the goal line stand at Indianapolis in 2003, continuing with this one at Gillette 10 years later. 

This was yet another MVP season for Manning. He was in his second season with the Broncos, two years removed from missing a season where he got some mysterious, undisclosed treatment to fix his spine. Possibly in Europe. Perhaps with the aid of a "wellness center" under all manners of investigation. But at the tender age of 37, he was having a career year. He led the NFL in virtually every passing category. And Denver not only led the NFL with 606 points, they beat the second place team by a full 66 points. 

So as frustrating as it was when Denver rolled up on the Patriots 24-0 at the half, it was by no means a shock. Especially since their first touchdown was a 60-yard return of a Stevan Ridley fumble by Von Miller. 

Two things were shocking, however. Or would have been, if this wasn't the Patriots we're talking about. First was the weather. Officially it was 22 degrees at kickoff, with 22 mph winds making it feel like 6 degrees. 

Second was the comeback. Tom Brady led the Patriots to 31 unanswered points. Two touchdown drives ended with Brady passes sandwiched around a run by Brandon Bolden. Followed by another Brady TD pass following a Logan Ryan interception to give New England their first lead. A Stephen Gostkowski field goal then made it 31-24 lead about halfway through the 4th quarter. The Broncos then answered with a TD drive of their own to tie it up and send it to overtime.

That's when the magic happened:

Bear in mind, this was under the old overtime rules, which were the very definition of "Sudden Death." No promise of ever touching the ball. Give up a field goal on your opponent's opening possession and we're all going home. And when the Patriots won the toss, they elected to kick. Specifically, the captains said "We'll take the wind." But not before checking with the sidelines repeatedly because it seemed such an insane decision they figured they had to be mistaken. They weren't. This was Belichick afterward:

NFL.com - Had it worked out any differently, Bill Belichick would live with it until the end of his days. …

"The wind, it was a strong wind," Belichick said after his team's 34-31 win. "We just had to keep them out of the end zone, obviously. I just felt like the wind would be an advantage if we could keep them out of the end zone on that first drive. We were able to do that. The wind was significant in the game, it was definitely significant." …

"To tell you the truth, the whole situation was a little bit confusing because, when I told the captains (to take the wind), there was a little bit of a question of, are you talking about deferring," Belichick said. "I was like, 'No, we're not deferring, we're taking the wind, period.' 'Well, is that if they take the ball?' 'No, it's not if they take the ball.'

"We actually, with the captains, had a little bit of a conversation that they had right what I wanted to do," Belichick said, "because it was a little bit of an, obviously, unusual type of situation."

Unusual is hardly the word. Giving the ball to the 2013 Broncos was like being in a duel with Doc Holliday and giving him first shot.

A touchback on the opening kickoff meant Denver only had to move the ball about 55-60 yards for a reasonable field goal attempt to win it. If a wind gust pushed the kick out of bounds, you're looking at 35-40 yards. Instead, Belichick chose to put his faith in his defense that had not only given up 24 points, but had just given up an 80-yard, 14-play touchdown drive that ate 4 1/2 minutes off the clock with the game on the line. Technically, he also put his faith in the elements. Both units came through for him. 

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The Broncos got the ball twice in overtime. Neither drive reached the New England 40, too long for a field goal try, and each ended in punts. The second of which was a touchback. And with the wind at his back, Brady was able to engineer a 67-yard drive to Denver's 13 and Gostowki's chip shot was good. 

To echo was NFL.com said, if this didn't work, it would've haunted Belichick's every step worse than even 4th & 2-Gate did four years earlier. This was a bigger risk. But he threw away the book. Went against conventional wisdom. And calculated the odds as only he could. And this list has a long way to go, with even bigger, bolder moves ahead.