New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has admitted that his side were not at their best during last night's 24-20 defeat to the Carolina Panthers.
The match ended in controversial fashion when the officials overruled a penalty flag for pass interference on Rob Gronkowski that would have given Brady one last chance to attack the Panthers defense from the one-yard line.
Brady's initial throw towards Gronkowski was too short, allowing Robert Lester to intercept it, and the veteran quarterback concedes that a better throw would have prevented any controversy taking place as well as giving his side the win.
"I don't make the calls or the rules. I wish it wouldn't have come down to that. I think there were plenty of plays we could've made. But it did, and they're going to make the call or they're not going to make the call. But we can play better than that," Brady told The AP.
"[Gronkowski] was kind of weaving in and out of there. I didn't really want to throw it over his head and out of bounds, so I was a little indecisive. It wasn't a great throw. No excuses. Should have been a better throw."
The Patriots still lead the way in the AFC East ahead of Sunday's match against the 9-1 Denver Broncos.
Barney Corkhill
