Bill Belichick, not Tom Brady, deserves the bulk of the credit for the Patriots' success

While some fans might argue that with five Super Bowl wins Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is the greatest NFL player of all time, those five rings are more a testament to strong coaching and an immovable defense, than Brady’s arm.

The credit should go to Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots defenses. Defense has always been Belichick’s calling card. He led the New York Giants to two Super Bowl wins as their defensive coordinator in 1986 and 1990, including the Giants’ 20-19 upset victory over the Buffalo Bills. The game plan from Super Bowl XXV is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

During the Patriots five Super Bowl seasons the defense was never ranked lower than the eighth-best in the NFL. The defense allowed Brady and the offense to play with a significant margin of error.

New England’s defenses have finished sixth, first, second, eighth, and first in points allowed per game during the team’s five Super Bowl championship seasons.

As general manager, Belichick has built an offense that goes well beyond Brady’s skills. Read More