FOXBORO — Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt addressed the elephant in the room before he could even be directly asked about it.

Robert and Jonathan Kraft were shown on Sunday’s CBS broadcast looking frustrated while their team’s offense was on the field. Lip readers have determined that Robert Kraft brought up offensive play-calling, and that Jonathan Kraft called it “terrible” after a 5-yard loss from running back Antonio Gibson late in the second quarter.

Van Pelt was asked specifically about the play-calling when the Patriots failed to convert on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 midway through the second quarter.

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“I know Jonathan was upset and that came out,” Van Pelt said. “There’s nobody more pissed off than I was. I can promise you that. No good play call — or no bad play call works. Like, if that play works and we block it up we had it up. We had the right numbers for the right people, and it didn’t work. Obviously, in hindsight, it’s easy to look back and say, I wish I’d done something different. That’s always part of a play callers’ view after a game.

“Would I call that play again, in that situation? Probably. We need a half a yard. We called a similar play in the goal line in the Jets game to win it. That’s an attitude play, that’s a move guys off the ball, two lead blockers for a good running back. So unfortunately, it didn’t work out, and that was a big swing in that game. We had a chance there to go down, get back within six points. Thought we moved the ball up and down the field for the most part of the day. It was a strange game in that regard, but it’s tough. If it works, it’s a non issue, but when it doesn’t work, then you always kind of second-guess yourself on that call. But again, schematically, we had the right call on. We just didn’t get the job done.”

Van Pelt said he has not had a conversation with the Krafts since they were shown on CBS discussing his play-calling.

He said he has spoken to them in passing this season.

“Throughout the course of walking through the hallways, nothing that’s scheduled each week,” Van Pelt said. “If they have a question, I’m always open to answer the questions. …

“My door is always open. Obviously, the Krafts, I answer to those guys. So if they ever want to come down and talk, my door is open. I’ve had great conversations with Robert over the course of the season, Mr. Kraft, and it’s been positive. Always willing and always available.”

It was a tough Sunday overall for Van Pelt. After the game, head coach Jerod Mayo was asked if there was any consideration of using Maye in short-yardage situations, given his ability as a runner. Mayo answered, “You said it. I didn’t.” That seemed to imply that the call was not Mayo’s, and most people assumed he was throwing Van Pelt under the bus.

Mayo said Monday that it was a defensive remark on his part, that he meant nothing by it and he talked with Van Pelt in the morning after the game.

“I didn’t see it. I had no idea,” Van Pelt said of Mayo’s comment. “Then I was watching tape early in the morning and he came in and said what he had said. I have Jerod’s back at all costs. We have a great relationship. We’re very communicative. I took no offense to that whatsoever. I think it was taken out of context, as he said. And we have a great relationship.”

Van Pelt believes the Patriots can use Maye on QB sneaks, but he’s emphasizing keeping the young quarterback healthy so he can continue to develop.

“I think we all feel very confident in his abilities,” Van Pelt said. “At the same time, I’d hate to lose him and not let him finish out the season by using him in a way where if we didn’t need to, then we didn’t have to.”

The offensive coordinator also said the approach to quarterback-designed runs would be different if the Patriots weren’t 3-11 and instead were fighting for a playoff spot.

“If it’s third-and-2 and we’re trying to get to a playoff spot, we’re going to use every means necessary to get those plays and put our guys in the best position,” Van Pelt said. “I’ve been around the quarterback run game in Cleveland and we lost our quarterback for the year. So I know what it entails, I know what comes with that, there is a big risk that’s involved. If it’s a playoff situation, or it’s a got-to-have-it to win the game, possibly. But when that comes up, we’ll make that determination.”

Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte also said after the game that he felt the team could have been more aggressive early in the loss to the Cardinals. They later went on two scoring drives late in the game running their hurry-up offense.

Boutte said Wednesday that he had apologized to Van Pelt for his comments.

“That’s part of receiver play. It’s not changed since I played,” Van Pelt said. “(Ex-Bills wide receiver) Andre Reed didn’t get enough catches and he’d be upset. I understand that; it’s the competitive nature of these guys.

“We had a really good conversation on Monday and I just reiterated to him, if there’s something you see during the game, we always talk about open communication – ‘come to me during the game, don’t wait, and let’s try to find solutions during the course of the game.’ Real positive conversation with him and excited to see him come out and make plays for us this week.”

There are certainly questions about Van Pelt’s job security after this last weekend. The Patriots’ offense has improved as the season has gone along, however, and Maye’s development has been the most positive aspect of the 3-11 campaign.

The Patriots’ defense has taken a massive step back this season, however, and Mayo is a defensive-minded head coach who hand-picked DeMarcus Covington as his defensive coordinator.