The New England Patriots lost to the Philadelphia Eagles Monday night, ending their eight-game winning streak in an embarrassing fashion. After a few days of deflating tweets from fans and players alike, NFL coach Bill Belichick decided to get his revenge on Thursday by trolling the team that beat them last year.
The “bill belichick rings” is a tweet by the former Philadelphia Eagles head coach, Frank Reich. The tweet is a subtle jab at the New England Patriots and their head coach Bill Belichick. This was done because of the Patriots recent Super Bowl loss to the Eagles.
Bill Belichick was once again defeated by Frank Reich.
On Saturday, the Indianapolis Colts defeated the New England Patriots 27-17 in a game that had significant playoff implications. After the game, though, Colts head coach Frank Reich admitted that his team’s first score was something the Pats had seen before, in their Super Bowl 52 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Reich and the Colts re-enacted his legendary (or notorious, depending on if you’re a Patriots fan) Philly Special.
In Super Bowl 52, Frank Reich’s Eagles offense pulled off the Philly Special against the Patriots.
Bill Belichick’s Patriots have been in multiple Super Bowls throughout their history, particularly when Belichick and Tom Brady ruled New England for two decades. They were also chasing their second straight title and third in four years throughout the 2017 season.
The Philadelphia Eagles, on the other hand, had something to say about it.
Frank Reich had a crucial part in Philadelphia’s victory against New England. He was the offensive coordinator for the Eagles at the time, and his team ran the play that became known as the Philly Special at the conclusion of the first half.
With 38 seconds remaining in the second quarter and the Eagles ahead 15-12, running back Corey Clement took the direct snap on fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line. He then pitched the ball to tight end Trey Burton, who passed the ball to quarterback Nick Foles in the end zone for the score while racing toward the middle of the field. It boosted the Eagles to a 41-33 victory by giving them a 22-12 halftime advantage.
On Saturday, Reich’s Colts reintroduced the game.
In their triumph against Bill Belichick and the Patriots, the Colts used the Philly Special.
The Colts had the ball at approximately the nine-yard line with four minutes remaining in the first quarter during their triumph against the Patriots on Saturday, and running back Jonathan Taylor took a direct snap. The ball was then passed to quarterback Carson Wentz, who immediately passed it to running back Nyheim Hines. Indy went up 7-0 after the latter took it all the way to the end zone.
It wasn’t an exact replica of the Philly Special, but Reich claims it was close.
Colts writer Bob Kravitz tweeted earlier this week that if Reich ran the Philly Special against the Patriots, he would pay him $20. During his press appearance, Reich informed him that he owed him money.
According to Colts.com, the coach added, “When we put it in, I thought of you.” “… This is a Philly Special re-imagined. That’s one version…. However, considering the opponent, it was acceptable.”
Reich also suggested the touchdown play may now be nicknamed the “Patriot Special,” according to The Athletic writer Stephen Holder.
Reich’s Colts not only defeated the Patriots, but they were also bold enough to reintroduce the play that his Eagles used to upset them in the Super Bowl. It took a lot of courage to do it, but it all worked out. It also aided Indy’s prospects of making the playoffs.
The victory meant more to Frank Reich and the Indianapolis Colts than it did to Tom Brady and the Patriots.
On Aug. 27, 2021, Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich following a preseason game against the Detroit Lions. | Getty Images/Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto
The Patriots were the AFC’s No. 1 seed going into this week, while the Colts were the No. 6, or second wild-card club.
While the setback harmed the Patriots’ prospects of capturing first place and a first-round bye, it didn’t have a significant impact on their playoff aspirations.
The Patriots had a 99 percent probability of entering the playoffs before losing to the Colts, according to The New York Times. Their odds have just marginally decreased to 98 percent now that they are at 9-5. However, their odds of winning the bye have dropped to 22%, while their chances of hosting a wild-card game have risen to 51%. Bill Belichick’s squad faces the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Miami Dolphins in its last three games.
The Colts, on the other hand, had a 64% chance of reaching the playoffs before defeating the Patriots, according to the Times. They were 7-6 at the time. Their odds have grown to 84 percent after improving to 8-6. The chances of Indy hosting a wild-card game are barely 5%, while the team has a 79 percent probability of playing in one on the road. The Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders, and Jacksonville Jaguars are still on Frank Reich’s schedule.
Overall, Reich has benefited greatly from the Philly Special. It helped him and the Eagles defeat the Patriots in Super Bowl 52, and it has now improved his Colts’ prospects of reaching the playoffs after a 1-4 start.
So, maybe, just maybe, the play could be known as the Reich Special.
Pro Football Reference provided the statistics.
Before becoming the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, Frank Reich had a significant religious career.
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