Brady: Refs 'doing best they can'

Tom Brady was a guest of the Dennis & Callahan show on Tuesday. Brady was asked for his thoughts on Sunday's 31-30 loss to the Ravens, a loss that dropped the Patriots to 1-2 on the season, the first time the franchise has been under .500 since 2003.

"It's a bit frustrating to come up on the losing end," Brady said. "To have a nine-point lead with half a quarter left, to think that we would lose that game would certainly not be the outcome that we would have thought, liked or hoped for. But that's the situation we're in, and we have to start figuring out how to do better so we can start winning these close games."

A huge story in the game was the replacement officials, who struggled throughout the contest to keep control of the players and with several key calls on the field. With the blown interception call at the conclusion of Monday night's Green Bay-Seattle game -- costing the Packers a victory -- the officials are now the biggest sports story in the country. Brady, who said he didn't see the call at the end of the game on Monday night, was asked if the officials have been a factor for the Patriots this season.

"I feel like these guys are doing the best they can do, to tell you the truth," Brady said. "They are going to miss calls and so forth, but part of my job is not to worry about officials. I hate talking about them, I have never talked about the officials. The reason we lost our particular game wasn't because of the officials. I wouldn't say that I could blame them, that's the easy way out."

Brady did acknowledge that he has seen some changes with the behavior of players on the field with the different officials early in the season.

"I've seen more shoving and pushing, more stuff like that going on before and after plays than there would normally be and maybe guys are taking advantage of it," Brady said. "But from my standpoint, for me, it's been business as usual and that's the way our offense has been."

Rob Gronkowski was targeted only three times on Sunday, finishing with two catches. Brady was asked if this simply a product of Gronkowski staying in more as a blocker against heavy blitzing from the Ravens.

"I'm not sure, he was out in some routes, I have to do a better job of finding him," Brady said. "He's obviously a big target for us and a huge part of every game. I wish I had got him the ball more the other night, no question about it."

To hear the interview click on the Dennis & Callahan audio on demand page [1]. For more Patriots news visit weei.com/patriots [2].