The head coaches that have dragged their teams to the NFL playoffs this season are the best of the best. But, despite the future Hall of Famer play callers on the sidelines, the New England Patriots will always have the edge coaching-wise.
No other coach has won more games in the postseason than Bill Belichick (31). He’s also the proud owner of six Super Bowl rings as a head coach.
If we wanted, we could spend the rest of the day heaping enormous praise and countless superlatives in the direction of Belichick, but in all fairness, he’s has had his dog days as well.
Things haven’t always come easy for New England with Belichick running the ship. And while he should still be considered the best leader in the game today, his playoff record isn’t a flawless one.
Josh Allen and the Bills ousted New England from the postseason this year in embarrassing fashion, so we wondered: what are some of the worst playoff losses New England has endured during Belichick’s time as a head coach?
These are the worst playoff losses in Patriots history under Bill Belichick.
6. Ravens destroy the Patriots in Foxborough
Game: 2009 Wild Card
Score: Ravens 33, Patriots 14
Before the 2009 AFC Championship Game took place, there was simply no need to play the Patriots on their home turf in the postseason. Up until that point, Belichick had never lost a playoff game at Gillette Stadium. Although that may have discouraged others, Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens couldn’t care less.
They strode in confidently and effectively won the game in the first quarter. Quarterback Tom Brady gave the ball away three times during the opening quarter and the Ravens took advantage. By the time those 15 minutes expired on the clock, Belichick was facing a 24-point deficit.
In the end, Belichick was handed the first home playoff loss of his career by a ridiculous 19 points.
5. Peyton Manning pulls off the incredible comeback vs Patriots
Game: 2006 AFC Championship Game
Score: 38-34
Tony Dungy, Peyton Manning, and the Indianapolis Colts have always given Belichick headaches. Their postseason showdowns were legendary, but, more times than not, they’ve gone Belichick’s way.
During the 2006 AFC Championship Game, it was believed that the New England Patriots were simply going to waltz into the Super Bowl and compete for another Lombardi trophy.
Following a 21-6 lead at halftime, fans at the RCA Dome began grabbing their belongings and heading for the door. Tom Brady was unstoppable and Belichick knew exactly what defensive scheme would give Manning the most issues.
But just when fans began warming up their cars and heading home, Manning and company were making their move. The Colts would go on to cut the deficit to seven but there was still a ton of work to do going into the fourth.
It may have seemed like an insurmountable mountain to climb, but the Colts managed to score 17 points in the fourth to win the game by four points. When it comes down to it, this was simply a game of two halves. Belichick had his defense humming in the first two quarters, allowing only six points. Things fell completely apart in the next two quarters though, as they gave up 32 points.
4. Josh Allen and Bills steamroll Patriots
Game: 2021 AFC Wild Card
Score: Bills 47, Patriots 17
Perhaps it depends how you’re ranking these. “Worst” as in most heartbreaking … or from a statistical standpoint. If it’s the latter, this one takes the cake. The 30-point loss was worst of Belichick’s career as a head coach and it’s the second-worst in Patriots’ history behind the 46-10 defeat at the hands of the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl back in 1986.
The Bills had their way with the Patriots from the very first snap. They were up 20-0 at the end of the first quarter and went into halftime with a 27-3 lead. New England never got close and were just as bad in the second half, you could say.
Buffalo didn’t punt, fumble, throw an interception, or kick a field goal. The only blemish was a missed extra point. Josh Allen led the Bills on a touchdown drive every time the offense took the field with the exception of the final kneel downs that effectively ended the game. He threw for 308 yards and five touchdowns and the offense as a whole added 174 yards on the ground.
The Patriots’ offense finished with 305 yards and two turnovers. The future does look bright with Mac Jones under center, but the Bills weren’t about to lose twice at home in the same season when they had the better team on paper.
3. Nick Foles completes his Cinderella story against Patriots
Game: 2017 Super Bowl
Score: Eagles 41, Patriots 33
The Super Bowl run that the Philadelphia Eagles were on at the time was pretty cute. Maybe even inspiring, but it was time for Bill Belichick and the Patriots to stomp out their dreams and send them home packing.
Yet, even with most of the world picking the Patriots to take care of business and easily roll to another Super Bowl title, quarterback Nick Foles turned into the second coming of Joe Montana.
Patriots fans didn’t break a sweat despite falling behind early on by six points. The perspiration on their brow, however, began appearing as the Eagles went into the halftime locker room up by 10. Belichick began hitting all the right buttons in the third quarter. The Patriots scored 14 points during the period and were only behind by three in the final frame.
Although they remained in striking distance throughout, Belichick simply couldn’t find a way to stop the persistent backup QB. Foles embarrassed Belichick, he connected on 28 of his 43 passes for 373 yards and three touchdowns. He even caught one in the back of the end zone, thanks to the Philly Special.
Not only does this loss sting because it happened on the biggest of stages but it was clear the Patriots had the better team on paper.
2. Eli Manning’s first time vs Patriots was no fluke
Game: 2011 Super Bowl
Score: Giants 21, Patriots 17
Patriots fans are still shaking their heads after what took place a few years prior to this. Somehow, the New York Giants sauntered onto the field in Glendale, Arizona, and did the unthinkable by ruining New England’s undefeated season in the Super Bowl. It was the sort of loss that will forever eat at Patriots fans.
But, fast forward four years later, and Brady and Belichick had the opportunity to even the score.
Just like their first contest, the Patriots were expected to walk away with the victory, at least in the eyes of the betting market. Yet, in spite of the built-up frustration they had over the years, it was the Giants who came out and took the first swing. Eli Manning led his side to a lead of 9-0 before Brady marched down the field twice to snag a one-point lead heading into halftime.
Everything appeared to be right in the world as the Patriots carried a close two-point lead going into the fourth. That, of course, wouldn’t hold up. Manning, like he did the first time around, led the Giants on two scoring drives, giving them the lead for good.
For as great as Brady normally is in the clutch, he simply didn’t have enough time to answer. As a result, Brady and Belichick were forced to walk off the field with their head held down while confetti rained upon Manning and the Giants all over again.
1. Eli Manning has more Super Bowl magic against Patriots
Game: 2007 Super Bowl
Score: Giants 17, Patriots 14
As you can tell by now, the Patriots have endured some heartbreaking losses over the years. None, however, have been as gut-wrenching or as demoralizing as their 2007 Super Bowl loss to the Giants.
After going a perfect 16-0 in the regular season and walking through the competition in the Divisional Round and AFC Championship Game, it seemed as though destiny was calling the Patriots’ name.
All season long, the Patriots were unstoppable. Also, during the final game of the regular season, these two teams met up on the Giants’ turf with the Patriots eking out a close three-point win. Brady was the league’s best quarterback that year and took home the MVP award after throwing for 4,806 yards, 50 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions — numbers that simply don’t make any sense.
Randy Moss was crowned the league’s best wide receiver after catching 23 touchdowns, a record that still stands today. Also, their defense was top-notch, holding the opposition to just 17.1 points per game while scoring a league-best 36.8 points.
Despite everything pointing to the Patriots completing a historic run, the Giants proved that they were motivated beyond belief to take them down. Somehow, the Patriots scored their lowest total of the entire year: 14 points. It wasn’t just that the Patriots lost but it was how it happened. There will always be one play that New England fans will never forget.
On third and five with the ball on their own 39-yard line and only a minute and 15 seconds remaining in the fourth, Manning somehow broke out of the grips of several Patriots defenders before launching the ball down the field. And that’s when wide receiver David Tyree made one of the most ridiculous catches in Super Bowl history to set up the game-winning touchdown.
This game will always be considered the worst loss in their franchise history.
Ranking Josh Allen among dual-threat QBs Bill Belichick has faced in playoffs
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