Belichick's Controversial Decision Receiving Plenty of Scrutiny

The New England Patriots found themselves clinging to a 34-28 lead over the Indianapolis Colts with 2:08 left in the fourth quarter during Sunday night's thrilling contest between the two longtime AFC rivals.

After failing to convert on third down, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick weighed his options and decided to take a shocking and monumental gamble by going for the conversion on fourth-and-two from his team's own 28-yard line.

Belichick knew that his decision was either going to be viewed as brilliant if his team was able to successfully execute the fourth down play or perplexing if the Colts managed to stop them to take over at the Patriots 28 yard line. Belichick's decision to go against conventional wisdom backfired when Patriots running back Kevin Faulk was stopped by Colts safety Melvin Bullitt one yard shy of the first down marker on the fourth down play.

The stunned Colts went on to drive down the field while killing as much clock as possible before quarterback Peyton Manning threw a two-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Reggie Wayne, which completed the Colts 35-34 comeback victory.

Lost in the impressive outing that was turned in by the Colts defense in the second half, Manning's heroics and Wayne's exceptional performance was Belichick's ill-advised decision, which is dominating the headlines on Monday due to his lack of confidence in his team's defensive unit.