In a stroke of irony, Bill Belichick was the front runner in lobbying to make point-after tries a more difficult play. Captain Hindsight might tell the monotone mumbler to keep to himself, at least for one more season.

This new rule change came back to haunt Belichick and the New England Patriots on Sunday afternoon as Stephen Gostkowski pushed an extra-point wide right after a presumable game-tying touchdown late in the first quarter. This was Gostkowski’s first missed extra point in 524 attempts, his last coming in Week 17 of 2006.

Stephen Gostkowski hadn’t missed an extra point since 2006. Strange things are afoot: https://t.co/TRwb0Lfpq2 pic.twitter.com/F4AoZSt8ef — SB Nation (@SBNation) January 24, 2016

At the coaches meeting earlier this year, Belichick and the Patriots proposed a new rule change that would place the line of scrimmage on point after attempts to begin on the 15-yard line. According to the Comcast Sports Network of New England, Bill Belicheck had always felt that the point after try was essentially a non-competitive play, and that pushing the kick back would make it less of an automatic bid.

The Chicago Tribune quoted Belichick as saying, “non-plays are not good for the game.”

Right about now, the 63-year-old head coach is wishing he would have swallowed his tongue last March.

The dropped point forced the Patriots to attempt a two-point conversion with only 12 seconds left after a “would-be” game-typing touchdown catch by Rob Gronkowski. After escaping death twice during their final drive, the Patriots finally faltered in defeat after their two-point attempt was deflected into the hands of Broncos’ cornerback, Bradley Roby.

Now, Patriots Nation is left with the nightmarish thought, “If only.”

Gostkowski, who currently holds the NFL record for most consecutive point after attempts made, told ESPN, “I just feel awful about it. It was my fault, 100 percent. I just didn’t hit a good kick.”

Don’t be too hard on yourself, Stephen. This was cursed upon you by your head coach and organization.