Jabrill Peppers Defends Belichick After New England Patriots Win: 'For Bill!'

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick has come under fire for the team's struggles this year, but his players still seem to have his back.

The New England Patriots made sure to show their coach some much-needed appreciation after Thursday night's upset win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Bill Belichick, the architect of the Patriots' six Super Bowl championship seasons, has come under heavy fire amidst the team's worst season in 30 years. As rumors continue to swirl over what his future might entail, Belichick is just focused on closing out this lost season the best he can.

That effort finally paid off on Thursday night as the Patriots scored just their third victory of the season. After the game, New England safety Jabrill Peppers, who had a key interception, made it known just how much the Patriots means to his team.

Jabrill Peppers had a key interception for the Patriots, then he had his coach's back / USA Today

"We needed it. I just feel good we could get it done for Bill and the rest of the coaches," Peppers said. "I don't really like all the flak he's been getting, because it's on us as players to go out and execute. I personally feel like the game plan has been phenomenal week in and week out, and when we had opportunities to make plays, we didn't make them. But we made enough tonight."

As Belichick chases Don Shula's all-time wins record, this season has been a very trying one. The Patriots' 3-10 record is the worst in Belichick's 24 years at the helm, and his moves as the team's de facto GM have come back to bite them.

Through it all, though, Belichick still has the full support of his players.

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"I have a lot of respect for Coach, how he does things. He's tough. He's fair," center David Andrews told reporters. "We're all putting in the most effort we can to try to win."

New England is all but eliminated from the postseason, but with games against the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills, the Patriots can certainly shake up the AFC playoff picture, just as they did on Thursday night.

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