Bill Belichick Finds It “Mystifying” to See Basic Clock Management Errors
Bill Belichick expresses confusion over teams’ clock management blunders, urging coaches to learn from recent mistakes.
Bill Belichick, Clock Management, NFL, Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Tom Brady, Raheem Morris, Jedd Fisch
Boston: Bill Belichick recently shared his thoughts on some recent NFL games where teams really messed up their clock management. He was particularly puzzled by the Falcons and Bears, who both made some basic mistakes that cost them. During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, he explained how he thinks teams should handle those late-game situations.
Belichick said, “It’s mystifying.” He emphasized that in a two-minute drill, you should use your timeouts wisely. For him, the first timeout should be used between two and one minute left, the second between one minute and 30 seconds, and the last one under 30 seconds. It’s not a strict rule, but it’s a good guideline to follow.
He also mentioned how Tom Brady influenced his thinking on this. Brady preferred having more time on the clock, even if it meant having fewer timeouts. He believed it gave him more options to work with. Belichick agreed that this approach makes sense, especially when you need to score quickly.
Belichick pointed out that coaches should learn from other teams’ mistakes. He noted that Falcons coach Raheem Morris should have reviewed the Bears’ blunders against the Lions before his own team faced similar issues against the Commanders. He stressed that every team should analyze these situations to improve their game.
He shared an example from a meeting he attended at the University of Washington, where his son was coaching. The head coach, Jedd Fisch, went over the details of a thrilling overtime game between the Falcons and the Buccaneers. Belichick found it fascinating how they broke down the game and discussed what decisions to make in similar situations.
Belichick also mentioned that during his coaching days, they would often discuss late-game situations the day before a game. He loved seeing his players engaged and talking strategy while watching college games. It showed they were thinking critically about the game, not just passively watching.
He believes that every coach and player should adopt this mindset to avoid the kind of embarrassing losses that the Bears and Falcons experienced. It’s all about being prepared and making smart decisions when it counts.