ON THE NFL
John McClain: In the age of parity, Patriots’ dominance has been remarkable.
ATLANTA — There is no disputing the New England Patriots’ sustained dominance has made them the greatest dynasty in NFL history.
It’s not up for debate about the greatest coach and quarterback in NFL history, either. It hasn’t been for the last few years.
Bill Belichick and Tom Brady don’t have to defeat the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII on Sunday to validate their place in NFL history. If there was a Mount Rushmore for coaches and quarterbacks, Belichick and Brady would be the first to be immortalized.
No matter what you think about the Patriots as a team and organization, and even if you’re tired of seeing them reach another Super Bowl, you have to respect their extraordinary achievement — a ninth Super Bowl with Belichick and Brady, who are trying to win the Lombardi Trophy for the sixth time.
Coaches and players come and go in Foxborough, Mass., but Belichick and Brady are the two constants who’ll be voted into the Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility so they can take their places with the greatest of the great.
This is the Patriots’ third consecutive Super Bowl and their fourth in five years. Their three Super Bowl losses have been one-score games against the New York Giants (three and four points) and Philadelphia (eight).
A good example of how well Brady plays under pressure is they haven’t won a Super Bowl by more than six points. That was the overtime victory over Atlanta (34-28) in Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium.
When the Patriots and Rams kick off at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, sit back, relax and admire a head coach and quarterback who have exerted their dominance over the rest of the NFL for the last 18 seasons.
It’s been a privilege through the years to watch Belichick befuddle so many opponents and Brady dissect so many outstanding defenses. There’s a good chance they’ll do it again in what should be a victory over the Rams.
Belichick and Brady arrived in Foxborough in 2000. As a rookie sixth-round pick, Brady was a reserve behind starter Drew Bledsoe. As New England’s firstyear coach, Belichick had a 5-11 record. Counting his five seasons in Cleveland, Belichick made one playoff appearance in his first six years as a head coach.
In 2001, Bledsoe was obliterated by New York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis. He was replaced by Brady, and the rest is NFL history at its most memorable.
Why are they the best at what they do? Think about this: In the 18 seasons in which Brady has been Belichick’s starter, they’ve never had a losing record. In their last 16 seasons, they’ve averaged 12.5 victories and dominated the AFC East so decisively it’s an embarrassment to the Jets, Miami and Buffalo.
The Patriots just played in their eighth consecutive AFC Championship Game, defeating Kansas City in overtime. By comparison, Houston hasn’t had a team play in the AFC Championship Game since the Oilers after the 1979 season.
Belichick has a 254-89 record with the Patriots, including 29-10 in the playoffs. He’s had to deal with something Paul Brown, Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry, Don Shula, Chuck Noll and Bill Walsh avoided — free agency and the salary cap.
Unlike Belichick, they weren’t forced to make the difficult decisions on their players who would be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Noll never had to choose between linebackers Jack Lambert or Jack Hamm or receivers Lynn Swann or John Stallworth because of the salary cap and free agency.
Lombardi didn’t have to choose between running backs Jim Taylor or Paul Hornung or defensive backs Herb Adderley or Willie Wood.
Shula didn’t have to pick between running back Larry Csonka or receiver Paul Warfield or center Jim Langer and guard Larry Little.
Belichick is a football savant who’s in charge of personnel and oversees just about every facet of the organization. He has an uncanny knack for hiring young assistants for developmental positions before promoting them as position coaches and coordinators and then watching them leave for head-coaching positions.
But a big reason Belichick has been the architect of the NFL’s greatest dynasty has been Brady’s magnificence.
After replacing the injured Bledsoe and then being named the full-time starter when Bledsoe was healthy — the best decision Belichick ever made — Brady won his first Super Bowl. It started with a 20-17 upset of the heavily favored St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.
At 41, Brady continues to defy Father Time. He’s led the Patriots to the Super Bowl four times in his last five playoff appearances. In those 13 playoff games in that stretch, Brady has thrown for 4,493 yards and 30 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.
Since he turned 40, Brady has played in 37 games, counting playoffs. He has 10,755 yards, 71 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. Who’s to say he can’t reach his goal of retiring at 45?
What makes Brady’s prolonged success even more remarkable is his supporting cast. How many of his offensive teammates are in the Hall of Fame or are destined for Canton, Ohio?
Randy Moss had a cup of coffee with the Patriots, but it was enough to help him get elected last year. Tight end Rob Gronkowski should be enshrined five years after his career ends.
Any more of Brady’s receivers? Wes Welker maybe? How about his offensive linemen through the years? Another tight end? Running backs? Not hardly.
Belichick has almost done Brady a disservice with the lack of first-round picks and expensive free agents on offense. That shows how much confidence the coach has in his quarterback. And that’s one reason they’ve earned their place in NFL history — at the top of their profession.
Watch them against the Rams and appreciate what they’ve accomplished because you never know when they’ll play in their last Super Bowl.