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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Will Roethlisberger be Belichick’s kryptonite?

Howard Ulman Associated Press

FOXBORO, Mass. – The coaching genius knows how quickly his reputation can be tarnished.

Another loss to the Steelers and Bill Belichick could go from the mastermind who baffled Peyton Manning to the bungler who still can’t beat Ben Roethlisberger.

“It’s a nice compliment” that some people consider him one of the top coaches in NFL history, the Patriots coach said Monday. “I don’t think it really means much this week. I don’t think anybody cares about that. I’m sure Pittsburgh doesn’t care.”

Belichick already has won two Super Bowls in three years and led the Patriots to consecutive 14-2 seasons. On Sunday, his reputation grew in a 20-3 playoff win over the high-scoring Indianapolis Colts and MVP Manning that put New England in next Sunday’s AFC championship game in Pittsburgh.

Manning’s longest completion gained just 18 yards and he failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time in his 16 games this season.

What happened?

“I think the person you have to ask is Belichick,” Colts tight end Marcus Pollard said. “What they did (Sunday) was different from what teams have been able to do against us all season.”

Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel was part of the defense that carried out Belichick’s orders.

“We had a great plan, an unbelievable plan. Our coaches got together and came up with some good stuff,” Vrabel said. “Different looks, stuff (Manning) hadn’t seen before.”

Belichick and his coaches have been doing that all season.

Curtis Martin of the New York Jets led the NFL in rushing but in two games against the Patriots this season, both losses, he totaled just 103 yards on 33 carries with no TDs.

“Belichick is like the Bobby Fischer of football,” the running back said. “When you give that guy time to plan for you and prepare for you, he’s going to dissect you. He’s going to take your whole strategy apart. And no matter what you do, he has an answer for it. That’s why Pittsburgh is going to have a hard time.”

If the Patriots win, Belichick will tie for the best playoff record among head coaches who have been in at least six games at 9-1.

The other one? Vince Lombardi, who won the first two Super Bowls with Green Bay.

But Belichick shrugs off all the accolades, preferring to scrutinize game film and ponder Xs and Os.

If he loses to Pittsburgh again, he can’t imagine fans heaping praise on him for being a brilliant tactician who designs just the right plays or a wise teacher who motivates his players to stay hungry.

The Patriots’ loss to Pittsburgh ended their 21-game winning streak. Their only other loss was by one point in Miami.

So how could a team that stopped Manning, who set an NFL record with 49 touchdown passes, crumble against a rookie quarterback?

“We didn’t do hardly anything well,” Belichick said. “Obviously, I did a terrible job. You get beat 34-13 or whatever it was, you don’t feel very good about your job.”