Last night’s game between the Colts and the Patriots was one for the ages, yet all anyone is talking about today is Bill Belichick’s decision to go for the first down late in the game on fourth down, despite being pinned in fairly deep on New England’s half of the field. Given the way Tom Brady and Co. had been playing on offense up to that point in the game, most folks would have liked their chances in that spot.

But having favorable odds and actually beating them are two different things in the NFL, and in this case, Belichick’s attempt to seal a huge win backfired in a big way. Had the Patriots picked up the first down, they likely would have been able to run out the clock and win the game, but once they failed to convert, the Colts gained a tremendous edge in field position and the rest is history.

As a fan of the game, I can’t say that I dislike the move to win on the part of New England, but there’s a reason why coaches and players are paid a premium for their services in the NFL, and sometimes they fail to take into account their propensity to overthink a situation, instead of sticking with the routine that’s already been established. That’s exactly what happened here, in my humble opinion, and while I think it was a gutsy call, in the long run, people will remember this game for Belichick’s mistake and not for the confidence he displayed in going for it on fourth down.

Obviously, the loss hurts the Patriots way more than it does for the still unbeated Colts, as New England is still trying to fight their way through the AFC East en route to securing the division title and a return to the playoffs this year. Indianapolis, on the other hand, has already locked up their division for the most part, and is gunning more for home field advantage than the right to keep playing on at the season’s end at this point.

No one can be sure if the Patriots will allow this loss to fester inside them and force a poor effort in the coming weeks, but if it does, the blame for it will lie squarely at the feet of Belichick, who is widely considered one of the best football coaches in modern history. One mistake typically does not mar a legacy in the NFL, but in this case, it could, depending on how his team plays down the stretch of this season.

Personally, I’d be surprised to see it come to that, but crazier things have happened in the NFL, so anything’s possible at this point.

What do you think? Will Belichick’s decision become a bigger mistake as the season moves on? Or will it fade away by this time next week? Whatever the answer, we want to hear from you! Feel free to bang it back on the comments section and don’t forget to vote in the poll!