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New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick addressed Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph's public criticism of the Patriots' offensive play-calling ahead of their upcoming Monday Night Football matchup in Week 14.
βI canβt think of any offensive coach that I have ever talked to that has been in favor of turning the ball over," Belichick said via MassLive.com, after admitting he hadn't heard what Joseph said and received more clarification from a reporter. "So letβs start with that. Every coach whoβs involved with offense is always in favor of scoring points. So score points and donβt turn the ball over, I mean, thatβs a good place to start. Then thereβs a lot of things that come after that. In the end, I mean I doubt if you could tell me what the record of time of possession is this year in the league, right? Like, you wouldnβt be able to tell me like, βThese teams had X time of possession, they won, they lost.β Thatβs not really a β turnovers, points, those are the two at the top of the list.β
Joseph described the New England's passing attack as "very conservative" and said "it's like a defensive guy is calling offense" with longtime former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia now serving as the team's offensive play-caller.
βI see an offense thatβs running the ball well. Itβs a very conservative pass game," Joseph said on Thursday (December 8) via MassLive.com. "Lots of screens. All kinds of screens. Itβs like a defensive guy is calling offense,β Joseph laughed. βItβs how a defensive guy would call offensive plays, right? Letβs not turn the ball over. Letβs get four yards a play and try to burn clock. Thatβs what theyβre doing. Thatβs what heβs going to do on Monday night."
βHeβs going to be patient. Maybe take a shot here from time to time, but for the most part itβs run game, itβs quick game, and itβs screens. So I mean, itβs a defensive guy. Thatβs what heβs doing. Heβs calling the way a defensive guy would call plays.β
The Patriots currently rank 24th among all NFL teams in total offense (318.9 yards per game) and 20th in passing offense (214.0 passing yards per game).
New England is also coming off back-to-back losses to the Minnesota Vikings (33-26) and Buffalo Bills (24-10).