Bill Belichick's 'Tilting' Lesson For Us

In September 2014, the New England Patriots traveled to Kansas City to face the Chiefs on Monday Night Football. It was a huge, early-season game that a lot of America would watch. The Chiefs, led by starting quarterback Alex Smith, were hoping to end the month with a .500 record and gain some respect by beating the three-time Super Bowl Champion Patriots.

The Chiefs not only beat the Patriots that night, they dominated them, 41-14. Star Quarterback Tom Brady threw two interceptions, the offense never clicked, and the game was over by halftime. The Patriots’ loss sent shock waves across the entire Northeast as many fans were sensing this was the end of the dynasty.

Two days later, Patriots Coach Bill Belichick met with the media gave a very Belichickian answer when pressed about the loss: "We are onto Cincinnati," he said.

Belichick was not willing to discuss his team's horrendous performance two days earlier, making it clear that any questions needed to center on his team's next opponent, Cincinnati. Since that press conference, "Onto Cincinnati" has become a famous tag line. But few outside of the Patriots headquarters really understood what Belichick was attempting with his words. 

He did not forget the Kansas City game, the outcome, the mistakes or his team's poor preparation. He never intended to sweep this under the carpet — making sure his staff and players learned a great deal from their mistakes. But that Wednesday, he made it clear he was not going to allow the Kansas City game to become two losses.

His line was what most professional poker players call "Tilting." This occurs when a player is defeated publicly and humiliatingly in a game that causes the player to change his/her emotional state — upsetting their equilibrium for optimal poker judgment in the next hand or next tournament. In other words, bad losses linger, stay on the player's minds, and then there are overzealous attempts to change the narrative, leading to more problems. 

Belichick was not going to allow his staff or his team to tilt. He centered his focus on the next opponent, clearing his head, not making emotional decisions, and trying to improve the areas of his team that, as the head coach, he could control. By playing on Monday night and not returning to Foxboro until early Tuesday morning, Belichick had no time to allow the loss to affect his preparation for the next game. He was not going to "Tilt." 

We all have moments in our careers like the Patriots had that Monday night. But we make them worse when we tilt our judgment and start making bold and emotional decisions. Instead, we need to recognize our loss, accept the results and worry only about the things we can control. 

In other words, remember the line and apply it to what you're doing: "You are always onto Cincinnati.”

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