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NFL news and notes

 
Published Dec. 28, 2015

Notebook

Patriots kick away chances with OT call

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Bill Belichick won the coin flip and lost the game. And everyone was left trying to make heads or tails of the New England coach's decision to kick off to start overtime, which led to the Jets beating the Patriots in overtime Sunday.

"I thought it was the best thing to do," said Belichick, whose team failed to lock up the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.

Before the coin toss, Belichick told his players that if his team won, the Patriots would kick off. Referee Clete Blakeman flipped the coin and the Patriots won and chose to kick off.

"The only confusion was whether or not we got to choose which direction we get to kick the ball," said Patriots receiver Matthew Slater, who was out for the toss.

According to CBS audio, Blakeman said: "Heads is the call. … It is heads." He turned to Slater and asked: "You want to kick?"

Slater responded: "We want to kick, that way."

Then a puzzled-looking Slater asked: "Hey, we won. Don't we get to choose?" Slater acknowledged he was simply trying to get clarification from Blakeman on not being able to choose the direction to kick.

Flex scheduling: Next week's Vikings-Packers game at Green Bay, which will decide the NFC North title, was moved to the primetime spot on Ch. 8. The Raiders-Chiefs game was also moved, from 1 p.m. to 4:25.

Bills: DT Marcell Dareus (neck) left in the first half.

Browns: RB Raheem Mostert (ankle) and WR Marlon Moore (concussion) left in the second quarter.

Colts: Frank Gore had two rushing touchdowns as the South Florida native and former University of Miami star played at Miami for the first time in the NFL. … Adam Vinatieri joined Morten Andersen and Gary Anderson as the only players with 500 field goals.

Falcons: DT Paul Soliai (calf) and WR Eric Weems (concussion) left with injuries.

49ers: Former Central High standout DuJuan Harris, signed Tuesday off Baltimore's practice squad, ran for a career-high 73 yards.

Rams: DE Ethan Westbrooks, DT Nick Fairley and S Mark Barron left with concussions.

Texans: Former USF standout B.J. Daniels completed his first career pass in the first quarter, a 7-yarder to WR Jaelen Strong, and finished the game in the fourth quarter.

Titans: The franchise barely avoided being shut out at home for the first time since 1976, when the Houston Oilers lost 21-0 to Pittsburgh.

Number of the day

13 Players with 1,000 receptions after San Francisco's Anquan Boldin, a former Florida State standout, joined the club against Detroit

Times wires