Bill Belichick has watched analytics and aggressive decisions infect the football world over the last decade. One of the implications of the addition of aggressive decisions in the red zone has been the death of the art of kicking short field goals and taking points wherever one can get them. Belichick chose to follow the classic winning formula of yore against TCU.
Given the choice between going for a fourth-down touchdown and a two-yard field goal, the former Patriots coach chose the second option on Saturday.
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Fans reacted in spades online, including one knee-jerk reaction from former Chargers player Breiden Fehoko. Fehoko deleted the post.
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“Belichick kicking from the 2 but going for it 4th & 7 from the 27,” he posted. “I see why they kept him out of the hall of fame.”
Other fans reacted positively to the choice.
“Belichick just kicked a 20-yard field goal. Football is back, baby,” one posted.
“Belichick makes the right decision to kick a FG on 4th and 2 from the goal line. Finally common sense is back in FOOTBALL,” another posted.
“Belichick is kicking a FG from the 1-yard line? Oh we are so back,” one responded.
Some fans made jokes.
“Almost like there’s 3 more qtrs to play,” one added.
“We are not getting shut out he said,” another joked.
“Belichick kicking a FG on 4th & goal from the 2-yard line…on the first drive of the season we are so back,” one replied.
Many view the 2026 season as Bill Belichick’s last chance to professionally coach televised American Football at a collegiate or NFL level. Belichick’s last winning season was in 2021, putting plenty of pressure on the coach to return to form half a decade later.
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Bill Belichick embarks on difficult opening stretch to start make-or-break season
Bill Belichick was notorious for lukewarm starts in September as the head coach of the New England Patriots. However, in college football, a slow September can all but end one’s season. The coach has had the showdown against TCU in the spotlight all offseason, but several more matchups lie in wait beyond that.
After a showdown against the East Tennessee State Buccaneers on Sept. 12, Belichick will face notable opponents Clemson and Notre Dame. The North Carolina Tar Heels will face Clemson in their building on Sept. 19. On Oct. 3, Belichick will face No. 4-ranked Notre Dame.
A sub .500 start could all but doom the program and raise questions about Belichick’s future up to and including a demotion to a lame-duck coach. Fans can only watch and wait to learn whether the most accomplished NFL coach in league history will become a tiny footnote in the history of college football.
Edited by Ian Van Roy
