The New England Patriots have rebounded from the loss of Tom Brady quicker than most people expected. Bill Belichick has tapped into the potential of rookie quarterback Mac Jones while putting together an elite defense, even after trading away superstar cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
The Patriots posing a 7-4 record with a top 10 offense and top 5 defense has earned Belichick huge praise. Rex Ryan — formerly the head coach of two of New England's rivals, the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills — said that this season is the best single-season coaching performance in Belichick's storied career.
"I believe Bill Belichick has done his best coaching job this season, EVER, in his entire career. … Part of it is, you've got the rookie QB playing like a veteran. That is the greatest thing, compliment, you can give to a coach."
—Rex Ryan pic.twitter.com/I4OUXqmDdr
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) November 28, 2021
Belichick and Ryan coached against each other for eight years. Although Ryan didn't prove to be nearly as good of coach as his former rival, he certainly is familiar with Belichick. Saying that Belichick's coaching this season is better than every other season of his 27-year career, even New England's 16-0 season, is quite the endorsement.
Ryan has experience winning with a rookie quarterback, too. His Jets gave Belichick's Patriots trouble in Ryan's first two seasons in New York, in which he took the Jets to the AFC Championship game both years. The quarterback for those teams was Mark Sanchez, who was in his first and second years in the league.
The Patriots have already matched their win total from last season and are in a tight race with the Bills for the AFC East title. New England faces a tough task today: a matchup with the 8-3 Tennessee Titans. A Patriots victory would be huge in their quest to earn the AFC's top seed.
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