Bill Belichick not a fan of midseason report cards

Brady and coach Bill Belichick have routinely dismissed talk of an unbeaten season, and insist that going 16-0 isn’t a priority or goal for this team. I’m anxious about the Giants.

“As far as the mechanics, I’ve really tried to work on those”. I don’t really care about a few midseason midterm grades. A few midseason report card – like, who cares?

“We simply have to take care of our process, our production, better than we’ve ever done it before”.

“I’m anxious about the Giants”, Belichick said. BB: Yeah, but time marches on. Things change for all of us. It’s been several times I’ve been back there, so the newness has kind of worn off.

Through their first eight games, the 2015 Patriots have clearly established themselves as the league’s elite team and top Super Bowl contender, but it’s also obvious that they are not on the same level as the otherwordly 2007 club at this stage in the season. You can see his angst when Chip Kelly or Jason Garrett is on the other sideline, and that anxiety has rubbed off on his team with its late-game performances. “That’s really what the challenge is for our players”. Excitement is a good word for us. It was an fantastic year.

Another four years later, and the Pats and Giants are facing each other yet again, but this time it’s in the regular season. Do you feel your game plan got too much credit or the right amount of credit? How do you feel about that? BB: I think games are won by players.

Q: “What grade would you give Tom?”

“Tom is very intense, smart, obviously offensive oriented”, Belichick said. They’re sound. Their blitz pickup is always good.

The Giants, as their fans well know, have had difficulty covering the middle of the field this year, with quality tight ends giving them fits. They pestered him and came at him from every direction, pressuring him to the point where it was tough to get in his usual rhythm.

Belichick knows that Coughlin has no fear of him when preparing to play the Patriots. BB: In the Tampa game, on the road, on grass, I’m sure he’ll be faster and quicker and more explosive at home. He’s got great length, burst. I don’t know about that. We’ve done all the above – a few more than others, but it all depends on the individual game and situation and how those factors, once we weigh them all out, what our decision is.