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ESPN’s Ryan Clark Really Compared Bill Belichick to God

In Tuesday’s Hot Clicks: another impressive performance by the Patriots, a crappy day (literally) for the Flyers and more.
Dan Gartland|
ESPN’s Ryan Clark Really Compared Bill Belichick to God
ESPN’s Ryan Clark Really Compared Bill Belichick to God

Patriots fans won’t disagree

Monday’s win over the Bills proved that Bill Belichick really can find any way to win.

With the wind whipping in excess of 50 mph in Buffalo, Belichick dialed up a leather-helmet-era game plan: 46 run plays, three pass plays. Mac Jones became the fourth quarterback in NFL history to win a game while completing two or fewer passes and the Patriots tied the 1968 Saints for the second-fewest pass attempts in a game in the Super Bowl era. (The Bills threw two passes—and completed none—in a '74 win over the Jets.)

It was an impressive coaching performance by Belichick, but no one was as impressed as ESPN analyst Ryan Clark.

“Bill Belichick is the greatest of all time,” Clark said on SportsCenter. “He understands how to build football teams in his likeness and image. You know the only other person they talked about building things in his likeness and image? It was in the Bible. It was God.”

Tom Brady may be the greatest quarterback of all time, but is he drawing comparisons to the big man upstairs?

Clark might have gotten a little carried away there, but if there ever was a time to compare Belichick to an omniscient, omnipotent being, it’s this year. People were ready to write off the Patriots after their 2–4 start, but they’ve won seven straight and are in prime position to win the AFC East. Jones has (when weather conditions allow him to throw the ball) looked like the best quarterback in his draft class. The New England defense has allowed the fewest points per game in the NFL. Why not worship at the Church of Belichick?

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The wind was no joke

Mac Jones was one spectacular catch by a blocking tight end away from having his completion total cut in half

Demarai Gray’s game-winner for Everton was a rocket

You can’t make this up. The Flyers lost eight straight, fired their coach, had a dog take a dump on the center ice logo and then lost again

He makes this look easy

The kid from this meme just won a New Jersey state championship

“Unbelievable” is underselling this

He sounds like a Jets fan

Ten-year contracts are the norm for coaches now, I guess?

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A good song

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Dan Gartland
DAN GARTLAND

Dan Gartland is the writer and editor of Sports Illustrated’s flagship daily newsletter, SI:AM, covering everything an educated sports fan needs to know. He joined the SI staff in 2014, having previously been published on Deadspin and Slate. Gartland, a graduate of Fordham University, is a former Sports Jeopardy! champion (Season 1, Episode 5).

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