the 4th star

Now that we’re all done talking about how Belichick has ZERO confidence in his defence and the potential ramifications of that slight moving forward, let’s move on to things that really matter over here at the 4th Star. For those involved in the New York Giants movement, yesterday was the best Sunday the club has had in a month — and they didn’t even play.

First off, Atlanta loses in Carolina. The Falcons have zero chance of winning the NFC South (New Orleans) so they are in the wildcard hunt. Having them fall to the same 5-4 record as the G-Men was a nice way to start the day. Also nice to see was the Washington Redskins handle the Denver Broncos. Why would I be cheering for a NFC East rival victory? Easy. The ‘Skins have no chance of competing for a post season spot but they can be a club that makes it difficult for others. The confidence gained from knocking off the Broncos will only help matters when they take on Dallas this week. Speaking of the Cowboys, they fall to 6-3 after laying an egg in Green Bay. The NFC East is now wide open.

The Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) did the expected and came up short in San Diego. Despite Belichick’s prime-time gaffe, Andy Reid still remains the worst coach in the NFL. Ever heard of running the ball? Now, the Eagles fans out there will say their club was in a hole early and couldn’t commit to the run as they would have liked, but that’s just sugar-coating. Reid can’t get past the weapons he’s assembled on the outside and leaving it in McNabb’s hands is a hard lesson the coach hasn’t figured out yet. Not that I’m complaining. No, keep doing that. Prediction: Mercenary Brett Favre will be playing in Philly next season.

Finally, what the eff is with this bird? WHOA. When did Tonya Harding lose her belly ring? Good call. It would have taken away from the look. And before you say something, I know there’s a joke here about expecting coverage help underneath but making it would be a disservice to the other mocking points in the photo.

INDIANAPOLIS — An hour after rolling the dice, Tom Brady still couldn’t believe the bet.

With the New England Patriots facing a 4th-and-2 from its own 28, clutching to a slim six point lead over the Indianapolis Colts with just 2:08 left on the clock, let the record show it was the star quarterback who stepped back and completed the pass to the sure-handed running back Kevin Faulk.

Two yards were needed but only a nose of the football was required, sealing the Patriots 34-28 win and bouncing them back into the conference derby. New England (7-2) is now just a game back of the Colts (8-1) in the AFC playoff home field race.

Let the record also show that it was Pats head coach Bill Belichick who bank-rolled the gamble. Without any time-outs to challenge a questionable spot or an incomplete ruling on the field, the man who has been on top of the NFL mountain for the past decade or so, raised the stakes even higher.

From his own 28.

With 2:08 left.

Against the rival Colts.

On the road.

Believe it or not.

“Coach has a lot of confidence that we can gain a yard and a half to win the game,” Brady said afterward. “So you punt it to them, and they showed on the drive before that they can go down and score pretty quickly. And they had some timeouts. So we make that play, and we thought it’d win the game. Coach was being aggressive, and I love that about him.”

‘The Call” — as it will forever be referenced from this point — was a no-brainer, says Belichick. If you believe the coach, New England wasn’t lining up against the percentages at Lucas Oil Stadium. No, they were playing the Colts and when you have a chance to put them out to pasture, you do just that.

Had the call not worked out, however, Belichick was certain to feel the wrath of the second-guess. Those in the hindsight game, some of who have never played sports at a high level, would be jumping all over the three-time Super Bowl winner, questioning not only his decision but the perceived lack of confidence in his defence to stop Peyton Manning and the Colts offence from traveling some 70-plus yards with under two minutes to go.

And there’s your thesis for the decision: Belichick had a gun to his head either way. Die now, or die later.

Or take your life into your own hands. Bite your lip, pull the trigger and live to pass the gun on.

“We thought we could win the game on that play,” Belichick offered, dismissing the automatic praise he would receive over the next week and into the rest of the season for having the guts to go with his gut.

According to reports out of Boston, Pats fans immediately took to the streets after the win, celebrating ‘The Call’ with the same passion as a Red Sox win or a punishing Milan Lucic hit on the forecheck. For a city that suffered through a New York Yankees World Series triumph just a few weeks ago, this night erased those feelings of sports supremacy doubt.

But if ‘The Call’ didn’t pay off, if the Patriots came up short on the play and the Colts went on to win the game, the Pats coach would get creamed by unhappy fans and the media. How he could he make that call, they would scream. This is the NFL — coaches call a systematic, by-the-book game, adhering to the greater odds of success by never taking a chance for victory. You don’t play to win; you play not to lose.

Ever heard of a prevent defence? Exactly.

That’s why ‘The Call’ well be a major talking point for the rest of the season, It not only gives the second-guessers another chance to sharpen up their blades, but it also provides those with perfect 20/20 the easy opportunity to tell anyone who will listen just how smart they are.

“They question everything,” Belichick said.