The New England Patriots‘ 27-24 loss for Green Bay Packers put Bill Belichick in an unusual spot on Sunday.
It was the first time a Patriots head coach has started a game 1-3 or worse since 2000 and 2021, his first two seasons in New England. The Pats went 5-11 in Belichick’s first year at the helm, then followed up with a magical Super Bowl in 2001 despite that awful start to the campaign.
It was the start of a Patriots dynasty that included 17 first-place finishes in the AFC East and six Super Bowl victories in nine games. Of course, the other constant on those Patriot teams besides Belichick was the man many consider the greatest quarterback in NFL history, Tom Brady.
Since Brady left New England in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Belichick is just 18-20 in 2020, and the Patriots missed the wild-card round of the playoffs. During that span, 15 coaches have more wins than Belichick, including two who are no longer NFL head coaches (Bruce Arians and Brian Flores).
FOX Sports’ Craig Carton admitted that Belichick might be the best coach in the NFL He has historically had his fair share of struggles without Brady under center.
“We’re learning something,” Carton said Tuesday on “The Carton Show.” “If he doesn’t have the best talent, aka Phil Jackson, if he doesn’t have the best quarterback in the league … while no one questions his legacy and all the Super Bowls and first-ballot Hall of Famers, all For that matter, I agree with everything. He is the greatest coach any of us have ever seen and the best of all.
“But now he’s without a quarterback and under .500, just over two full seasons in the NFL. That story needs to be told a little more.”
Is Bill Belichick faltering without Tom Brady at QB?
Craig Carton says it’s time to admit Bill Belichick is under .500 since Tom Brady left for Tampa Bay.
Belichick’s record as a head coach before Brady entered the league wasn’t great either. For his five seasons with Cleveland Browns, Belichick went 36-44 (.450) with his only postseason appearance coming in 1994. In the games he coached the Patriots without Brady during his 23 seasons in New England, Belichick went 36-38 (.486). By comparison, in games Brady has started, he is an impressive 219-64 (.774).
Former NFL player and analyst for FOX Sports Mark Schlereth said the players ultimately determine wins and losses, noting that Belichick hasn’t had the best talent at the most important position since Brady’s departure.
“When it comes to the NFL, it’s about your Jimmys and Joes,” Schlereth said. “It’s about guys playing. You have to have great players, especially in a quarterback-driven league. You must have a great quarterback. Most of it was with Squishy Mac [Jones]so he has a rookie quarterback [for a lot of that time].”
Carton mentioned it Chiefs coach Andy Reid and Colts both Frank Reich coaches have more wins than Belichick in recent seasons. Schlereth was quick to point out that both coaches have something he feels Belichick doesn’t have in New England.
“You put Andy Reid, good thing Andy Reid had Patrick Mahomes during that time,” Schlereth said. “You look at Frank Reich, and even though Frank Reich has 21 wins, he did it with Phil Rivers. He did it with Carson Wentz. Now he got it Matt Ryan. Two of those guys, Matt Ryan and Philip Rivers, are borderline Hall of Fame guys. All the veteran defenders are there.
“I understand. I understand how important it is and coaching is very important. But it really depends on the players.”
Even though Jones is dealing with an injury that could sideline him for several weeks, Carton doesn’t believe that will distract from the reality Belichick faces.
“At some point we have to recognize that we’re not at the beginning of the end, we’re in the middle of the end,” Carton said. “It won’t get better, because he is now on the third line of defenders. They don’t have a very good defense, although that’s good. They don’t have a great offense. No one wants to play there anymore.”
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