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(E) Bill Belichick one victory away from best record in playoffs
http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7861/1/E-Bill-Belichick-one-victory-away-from-best-record-in-playoffs.html
By Nenad N. Bach
Published on 01/24/2005
 

 

Croatian coach about to set the best record in playoffs

Bill Belichick one victory away from best record in playoffs


Monday, January 24, 2005

AFC: Notebook
Belichick set to pass Lombardi

A victory in Super Bowl would give Patriots coach best record in playoffs.

PITTSBURGH -- Bill Belichick is one victory away from another Vince Lombardi trophy -- and one of Lombardi's most impressive records, too.

The New England Patriots coach stymied the Steelers on Sunday night, guiding New England to a 41-27 victory over Pittsburgh to reach the Super Bowl for the third time in four years.

A victory on Feb. 6 and Belichick will hoist the trophy named for Lombardi while passing him for the best playoff coaching record in NFL history.

"It's very flattering to be mentioned in the same breath with Vince Lombardi," he said after earning the right to play the Philadelphia Eagles for his third NFL title. "That's why the trophy has his name on it. I don't think I deserve it."

Belichick improved to 9-1 in the postseason over his career, and will pass Lombardi atop the NFL's all-time list with a victory over Philadelphia in the Super Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla. Belichick has never lost with a conference or NFL title on the line.

Chuck Noll won four Super Bowls in Pittsburgh, Joe Gibbs won three in Washington and Bill Walsh won three in San Francisco. Belichick is among nine men who have won two as a head coach, though he also has two rings as a New York Giants assistant.

"I'm just happy to play for him," defensive lineman Vince Wilfork said. "Hands down, he goes down as one of the best coaches in history. I'm just happy to be a part of it."

A week after embarrassing NFL MVP Peyton Manning, the Patriots defense did the same with rookie of the year Ben Roethlisberger, jumping to an early lead on a frigid Pittsburgh night in a stadium full of Terrible Towel-waving fans.

New England picked Roethlisberger off three times -- the first on his very first pass of the game and the second for an 87-yard touchdown return by Rodney Harrison that gave New England a 24-3 lead. Eugene Wilson grabbed his second interception of the game when Roethlisberger overthrew Hines Ward with 7:29 remaining and the Steelers running out of chances.

Under the guidance of Belichick and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, who is expected to be hired as Cleveland's head coach after the Super Bowl, a depleted Patriots' defense held Roethlisberger to 224 yards passing. Jerome Bettis carried 17 times for 64 yards but fumbled on a first-quarter fourth-and-1 and a fourth-quarter third-and-goal from the 3 that forced the Steelers to settle for a field goal.

"The strength of their team is the running game. Any time you can take that away and make it a one-dimensional team, that's your goal," said defensive lineman Jarvis Green, who subbed when All-Pro Richard Seymour was scratched.

"Your goal is to stop (Bettis) and make a rookie quarterback throw the ball downfield," linebacker Rosevelt Colvin said. "With Bill, it's pretty much cut and dry. He tells you 'This is going to work. This is not going to work.' He presents the players with a great opportunity to be successful. All we have to do is go out and perform."

And they've done that better than any other team in football over the past two seasons, going 14-2 and reaching the Super Bowl in consecutive years.

"It's tough but very gratifying. This team has worked hard," Belichick said. "We demand a lot of them. They lay it on the line. I've never been around a harder-working group of guys."

In last week's playoff game against Indianapolis, the Patriots held Manning without a touchdown -- or even a pass longer than 18 yards -- to beat the Colts 20-3.

Roethlisberger had not lost as a starter coming into the game, though he struggled last week against the New York Jets with two interceptions. But Pittsburgh was still awash in signs praising "Big Ben" as he tried to become the first rookie quarterback to lead his team to the Super Bowl.

Things didn't start well for him.

On the third play of the game, his pass went off Antwaan Randle El's hands, off each hand of Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel and into Wilson's. New England drove to the Pittsburgh 30 before Adam Vinatieri's field goal made it 3-0.

Steelers Coach Bill Cowher went for it on a fourth-and-1 from the Patriots 39, but Colvin forced Bettis to fumble and Mike Vrabel recovered it. On the next play, Tom Brady hit Deion Branch on a 60-yard touchdown pass -- the Patriots' longest pass play of the season -- to make it 10-0.

New England was playing without starting cornerbacks Ty Law and Tyrone Poole, who have been out most of the season, and lineman Richard Seymour, who has missed the last three games with a left knee injury.

Record return

Rodney Harrison's 87-yard interception return for a touchdown was the longest run back for a score in Patriots history.

It was Harrison's fourth playoff interception in two seasons with New England, tying him with Ty Law for the most in franchise history. The 87-yard return topped Law's 47-yard return against the Rams in the 2002 Super Bowl.

Fans in Ben Roethlisberger's home town of Findlay, Ohio, painted their faces black and gold ... but they quickly turned blue.

The Steelers quarterback who won his first 14 starts and was trying to become the first rookie to take his team to the Super Bowl threw three interceptions Sunday.

Roethlisberger's hometown fans, though, said the loss wouldn't diminish his season.

"I think they ought to have the biggest parade they've ever had for him," Findlay's Bev Phillips said. "How can you not be proud of him?"

New England was playing without starting cornerbacks Ty Law and Tyrone Poole, who have been out most of the season, and lineman Richard Seymour, who has had a left-knee injury.

Detroit News wire services

http://www.detnews.com/2005/lions/0501/24/D06-68385.htm

 


(E) Bill Belichick one victory away from best record in playoffs

 

Croatian coach about to set the best record in playoffs

Bill Belichick one victory away from best record in playoffs


Monday, January 24, 2005

AFC: Notebook
Belichick set to pass Lombardi

A victory in Super Bowl would give Patriots coach best record in playoffs.

PITTSBURGH -- Bill Belichick is one victory away from another Vince Lombardi trophy -- and one of Lombardi's most impressive records, too.

The New England Patriots coach stymied the Steelers on Sunday night, guiding New England to a 41-27 victory over Pittsburgh to reach the Super Bowl for the third time in four years.

A victory on Feb. 6 and Belichick will hoist the trophy named for Lombardi while passing him for the best playoff coaching record in NFL history.

"It's very flattering to be mentioned in the same breath with Vince Lombardi," he said after earning the right to play the Philadelphia Eagles for his third NFL title. "That's why the trophy has his name on it. I don't think I deserve it."

Belichick improved to 9-1 in the postseason over his career, and will pass Lombardi atop the NFL's all-time list with a victory over Philadelphia in the Super Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla. Belichick has never lost with a conference or NFL title on the line.

Chuck Noll won four Super Bowls in Pittsburgh, Joe Gibbs won three in Washington and Bill Walsh won three in San Francisco. Belichick is among nine men who have won two as a head coach, though he also has two rings as a New York Giants assistant.

"I'm just happy to play for him," defensive lineman Vince Wilfork said. "Hands down, he goes down as one of the best coaches in history. I'm just happy to be a part of it."

A week after embarrassing NFL MVP Peyton Manning, the Patriots defense did the same with rookie of the year Ben Roethlisberger, jumping to an early lead on a frigid Pittsburgh night in a stadium full of Terrible Towel-waving fans.

New England picked Roethlisberger off three times -- the first on his very first pass of the game and the second for an 87-yard touchdown return by Rodney Harrison that gave New England a 24-3 lead. Eugene Wilson grabbed his second interception of the game when Roethlisberger overthrew Hines Ward with 7:29 remaining and the Steelers running out of chances.

Under the guidance of Belichick and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, who is expected to be hired as Cleveland's head coach after the Super Bowl, a depleted Patriots' defense held Roethlisberger to 224 yards passing. Jerome Bettis carried 17 times for 64 yards but fumbled on a first-quarter fourth-and-1 and a fourth-quarter third-and-goal from the 3 that forced the Steelers to settle for a field goal.

"The strength of their team is the running game. Any time you can take that away and make it a one-dimensional team, that's your goal," said defensive lineman Jarvis Green, who subbed when All-Pro Richard Seymour was scratched.

"Your goal is to stop (Bettis) and make a rookie quarterback throw the ball downfield," linebacker Rosevelt Colvin said. "With Bill, it's pretty much cut and dry. He tells you 'This is going to work. This is not going to work.' He presents the players with a great opportunity to be successful. All we have to do is go out and perform."

And they've done that better than any other team in football over the past two seasons, going 14-2 and reaching the Super Bowl in consecutive years.

"It's tough but very gratifying. This team has worked hard," Belichick said. "We demand a lot of them. They lay it on the line. I've never been around a harder-working group of guys."

In last week's playoff game against Indianapolis, the Patriots held Manning without a touchdown -- or even a pass longer than 18 yards -- to beat the Colts 20-3.

Roethlisberger had not lost as a starter coming into the game, though he struggled last week against the New York Jets with two interceptions. But Pittsburgh was still awash in signs praising "Big Ben" as he tried to become the first rookie quarterback to lead his team to the Super Bowl.

Things didn't start well for him.

On the third play of the game, his pass went off Antwaan Randle El's hands, off each hand of Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel and into Wilson's. New England drove to the Pittsburgh 30 before Adam Vinatieri's field goal made it 3-0.

Steelers Coach Bill Cowher went for it on a fourth-and-1 from the Patriots 39, but Colvin forced Bettis to fumble and Mike Vrabel recovered it. On the next play, Tom Brady hit Deion Branch on a 60-yard touchdown pass -- the Patriots' longest pass play of the season -- to make it 10-0.

New England was playing without starting cornerbacks Ty Law and Tyrone Poole, who have been out most of the season, and lineman Richard Seymour, who has missed the last three games with a left knee injury.

Record return

Rodney Harrison's 87-yard interception return for a touchdown was the longest run back for a score in Patriots history.

It was Harrison's fourth playoff interception in two seasons with New England, tying him with Ty Law for the most in franchise history. The 87-yard return topped Law's 47-yard return against the Rams in the 2002 Super Bowl.

Fans in Ben Roethlisberger's home town of Findlay, Ohio, painted their faces black and gold ... but they quickly turned blue.

The Steelers quarterback who won his first 14 starts and was trying to become the first rookie to take his team to the Super Bowl threw three interceptions Sunday.

Roethlisberger's hometown fans, though, said the loss wouldn't diminish his season.

"I think they ought to have the biggest parade they've ever had for him," Findlay's Bev Phillips said. "How can you not be proud of him?"

New England was playing without starting cornerbacks Ty Law and Tyrone Poole, who have been out most of the season, and lineman Richard Seymour, who has had a left-knee injury.

Detroit News wire services

http://www.detnews.com/2005/lions/0501/24/D06-68385.htm