Comments

Tom,
1. Coach Belichick has taught his players to focus on the current moment. Last game, last quarter, last play is history. Pursuing excellence--is an attitude/state of mind--hard to turn on and off. When do you perform with your "B" or "C" game?
2. What's the significance of getting beat by 46 points or by 32 points. Well maybe a 46 point wipping will motivate the Bills to rethink and radically redesign their approach and strategies. How should a business respond when it loses a 46% market share?

Posted by Paul Thornton at November 19, 2007 5:32 PM

(I hope the comments aren't just for Ben!)

Two answers as to why the additional 14 points:

1. Because even the backups continued to execute the offense! The fourth-string running back scored a touchdown after the Pats stopped passing the ball. Would it have been more or less offensive to take a knee inside the Bills' 20-yard-line with that much time left on the clock?

2. Because the Pats kept playing hard on defense, a ball popped loose, and one of the fastest men in the league (Ellis Hobbs) caught a loose ball with nothing but daylight between him and the end zone. Is he supposed to fall down for no reason there? Run around in circles?

Pardon me while I interrupt my years and years of unreserved Tom Peters fandom to get in a two-second snit with you, Mr. Excellence! Always!: What the hell are those players supposed to do out there, NOT try? They're trained to play hard on every play, and playing at half-speed is a recipe for injuries and accidents.

These aren't Little Leaguers. If my son's team of Runts squared off against the Big Bad Bombers and got shelled, at some point we'd invoke a mercy rule. My Longhorns don't score gratuitously against Podunk State in the second half of a pre-season game. But the Bills defense (players and coaches) are highly compensated professionals whose JOB is to stop opposing offenses. They couldn't do it last night because the Pats are too good at what they do. That's tough for the Bills, but you know what? Their professional pride (and large paychecks) will somehow help them weather the storm.

Is Goldman supposed to not "run up the score" because Merrill and Citi are hurting? Tell that to Lloyd Blankfein and see if he can contain his laughter.

The Pats' attitude isn't what I'd want my little boy to emulate. But they're achieving as much as they are because they're BETTER than all the rest. They are Excellence in action, even if you and I don't like the flavor.

Posted by Tim at November 19, 2007 5:34 PM

The best defense is relentless offense. Tom Brady didn't play the 4th quarter. Playing half out is a fine way to get injured.

New England is telling everyone that the Spy fines mean nothing - the $500k Belichek fine & loss of a 1st round draft choice.

And NE is saying the NFL elites tried to humiliate us & given our passion to prove them wrong we must humilate all the NFL - so the 6 remaining teams have lost the mind battle already because they know they could easily be humilated - a simple loss to NE is therefore easy to take and subconciously acceptable.

Posted by MIchael at November 19, 2007 5:38 PM

Because they can.

Posted by Vermont Farmah at November 19, 2007 6:06 PM

Not to pile on with the comments already made but if you don't want to lose that badly, do a better job of stopping your competition!

The Pats were not satisfied with their performance last season so they grabbed the best talent available in positions where they had gaps (adding Randy Moss). They won the talent game and therefor are winning when it really counts.

I feel bad for the Bills but now they know where the bar is set for them to be successful next year!

Posted by Brian at November 19, 2007 6:07 PM

Tom, all due respect...ever try to stop the forward progress of a freight train headed downhill? (Kinda like your presentations when you get really "cranked up". SD

Posted by Steve Dragoo at November 19, 2007 7:09 PM

Someone wiser than me once said, "Go hard or go home".

Posted by Fredd Kambo at November 20, 2007 4:51 AM

I had the opposite reaction to Jim Tressel's decision to ground the ball on the last play of the Ohio State - Michigan game Saturday. 14-3 Buckeyes, Ohio ball on the Michigan 5 with 5 seconds left. The media pats Tressel on the back for being such a gentleman and showing respect to Lloyd Carr by just grounding the ball.

This wasn't just a football game. This was The Game. This was Michigan. Woody wouldn't have grounded the ball. Woody would have gone for the TD, and then the two point conversion. Why? Because the rules won't let him go for three.

Will my Board of Directors pat me on the back if I back off a competitor, or if I don't pursue some advantage over the competition? Will the competitor thank me for not eating their lunch when I had the chance? And will the competitor return the favor? I think not.

Posted by Brian at November 20, 2007 7:48 AM

They have to play the game out (I'm a pats fan and live in Boston).

Posted by Dan Schawbel at November 20, 2007 8:34 AM

I really don't like the Pats, but their perseverance and drive is what makes them such a great team. Always on the A game.

There is no sympathy in competition. Would Apple slow down and feel sorry for Microsoft because the iPod is outselling the Zune?

Posted by Piotr Jakubowski at November 20, 2007 12:17 PM

If Kubota makes a better tractor than John Deere, should they turn away sales to avoid embarassing their competition?

No, they should score every way they can. It's good practice, and puts the whole team in the right frame of mind for the next contest.

Only losers bitch about running up the numbers.

Posted by Mark Miller at November 20, 2007 2:39 PM

Pride always goes before a fall...

Bill Belicheck, of all people, should know this.

Posted by Eric Pennington at November 20, 2007 7:33 PM

What was it Bill Belicheck said when he was accused of running up the score? Something like "if you can't play the game, stay off the field." Put that on a slide, Tom.

Posted by Mike at November 21, 2007 7:24 AM

I agree with many of the above: the Patriots execute better than any TEAM in the 88 year history of the NFL. The fault is not in scoring points, the fault is with the defenses who are tasked to stop the Patriots from scoring. When the Pats 3rd and 4th string backs are running for scores, that shows what a well prepared and motivated organization can do. Bill B. may not be warm and fuzzy or popular, but he gets results. I am a Browns fan, but I feel fortunate to be able to witness the incredible season the Pats are having. Tom, you should use the Pats as an example of how to run an organization, not chastise them for living your goal of Execution and Excellence!

Posted by John at November 21, 2007 10:59 AM

One more thing: look at Tom Brady after he's thrown for 300+ yards and 4 touchdowns. His hair is dry: he hasn't even broken a sweat. Absolutely incredible. I feel so lucky to see TB, Brett Favre, and Peyton Manning play. brand viagra on sale in canada

Posted by John at November 21, 2007 11:04 AM

I know hindsight is 20-20, but games like the pasting the Patriots put on the Bills last week, prepares them for games like they had last night when they had to come from behind in the fourth quarter to beat the Eagles. Belichick wants his guys to play 60 minutes every week, no matter the score so that when they need to be at their best during the final five, they are up to it. Excellence and execution in the easy times can prepare you for the difficult ones, true in football and life.

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