Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots fell to 2-9 on the season with yesterday’s ugly 10-7 loss to the New York Giants at rainy MetLife Stadium.
On ESPN this morning, former Belichick adversary Rex Ryan brought out the flamethrower for the six-time Super Bowl champion, first blasting Belichick for being coy about his starting quarterback plans before saying that Tom Brady was the primary reason for the Patriots dynasty.
“Tom Brady was the only reason you won anyway. I’m just telling you the difference,” Ryan said. “I said from jump they would never win again when that guy trotted down to Tampa. Because I know how draining [the Patriot Way] is to those kids.
“Bill Belichick, greatest in the history. I will never dispute that. Had my ass kicked by him a million times. But if you think for a minute that it wasn’t about Tom Brady, you’re absolutely crazy.”
More Rex Ryan on the Patriots: “Tom Brady was the only reason you won anyway. I’m just telling you the difference… I said they would never win again when he trotted down to Tampa.” pic.twitter.com/wLCO5IoarJ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 27, 2023
Ryan is far from the first person to argue that Brady was the driving force behind the Patriots’ unprecedented run of success, and there will be some who accuse the former Jets and Bills head coach of displaying sour grapes with his criticism of Belichick today.
Still, it’s impossible to deny that the Patriots are mess. They surrendered only 220 yards of total offense and 10 first downs to the Giants yesterday and still lost because starting quarterback Mac Jones and his replacement Bailey Zappe combined to throw three interceptions.
Rookie kicker Chad Ryland’s 35-yard missed field goal in the final seconds was the final ignominy on the afternoon. Ryland has connected on only 12-of-18 field goal attempts so far this season.