Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, the New England Patriots had just been embarrassed on MNF by the Kansas City Chiefs 41-14.
In the postgame press conference, Patriots coach Bill Belichick was in a bad mood. His team had just fallen to 2-2. Belichick bared down and was determined he would not respond to questions, choosing only to stress the next game.
There was an epic exchange between Belichick and a younger Albert Breer, then of the NFL Network. Breer attempted to ask five different questions. Sometimes, Belichick interrupted. His first three responses were simply, “We’re on to Cincinnati.”
Belichick then offered a brief elaboration, “It’s nothing about the past, nothing about the future. Right now, we are preparing for Cincinnati.”
A fourth attempt was met with, “We’re getting ready for Cincinnati.” Another attempt, and Belichick replied, “We’re getting ready for Cincinnati. That’s what we’re doing.”
A final attempt was met with, “We’re gonna game plan, do the best we can, be ready to go Sunday night. Same as we always do, nothing’s changed.”
Struggling at 2-2, the Patriots responded by spanking the Bengals 43-17 and won seven consecutive games, won 12 of their final 14 regular season games, and three playoff games, including the Super Bowl over Seattle.
Ron Rivera, head coach of the Commanders, Tuesday was asked a few questions. He was not rude, nor was he boorish as Belichick had been. But he did allude to that 2014 season, pointing out he made the decision to go with younger players. They responded, and the Panthers qualified for the playoffs.
“Do we have that opportunity? I do think it’s the same kind of opportunity.”
Rivera managed to deflect some questions toward what he desired to mention, Sam Howell.
“We feel really good about who Sam is becoming for us,” answered Rivera.
Again, without being asked regarding Howell, Rivera went to Howell, “We do feel strongly about the quarterback. It’s something I’ve talked about in the offseason, training camp, and the beginning of the season about his growth and development, and we’re seeing it.”
When asked about the story being leaked out Monday night about Chase Young not following directions and game plans. Rivera never denied its accuracy and offered he was not sure how or why it got out.
Rivera quickly pivoted and mentioned the biggest thing is the paradigm shift of what they want to do. “We feel we have a quarterback. We feel we have a guy going forward. We have a chance to grow and become what we think we can.”
Belichick wanted to talk Cincinnati, and Rivera wanted to talk Sam Howell.
