We’re a long way from Super Bowl XXXVI, when the Patriots were decided underdogs against the St. Louis Rams. Since then, you can easily argue that they’ve been the most successful NFL franchise.
Before Nick Saban became college football’s Dark Lord at Alabama, there was Belichick, the Darth Hoodie, who does not care what he looks like and does not care what people think of him. There is no intense branding conspiracy, it’s not an act Belichick plays, it is simply who he is. What is he? A winner, nothing else. Beating Belichick when he has adequate time to scheme for you is nigh impossible. He can beat you without his star quarterback. He can beat you without his star tight end. He can pick an aging journeyman out of free agency and turn him into a successful starter. No one gets more out of his players than Belichick.
It makes sense that he wins so much, because he has Tom Brady, who might be one of the best to ever play the game. He has Gronkowski, who is injured for this game, but is a terror on the field. He has Julian Edelman, who is insanely hard to catch in the open field.
He has the defense, without a true league-wide star on the roster, but when combined is a dangerous weapon. He’s got Brady. The Patriots are formidable without Belichick, but Belichick is the engine that runs the tank.
In that aspect, coaching, the Patriots outclass every single team in the league, including the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta has Matt Ryan, Atlanta has Julio Jones, Atlanta can score the points, but the Patriots have Belichick, and he’s by far and away the best at what he does. I respect the Falcons, I’d go so far as to say that I want them to win. I’m tired of the Patriots being at the top of the NFL year after year after year. However, I can’t bring myself to pick against them. I like the Pats to win it all, and it’s mostly due to my respect for Belichick.
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