5 times Belichick and Pats had no business winning, and did

Everyone’s favorite grey-hoodie-cloaked coach won another miraculous game. Here are his five very best.

Trust the system.

Despite being without stars Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, Bill Belichick did just that against the Cardinals on Sunday Night Football in Week 1, entrusting Jimmy Garoppolo to command the playbook in his first career start.

Despite being underdogs on the road, playing against a Super Bowl contender and missing multiple starters, the Patriots eked out an impressive victory at University of Phoenix stadium, thanks in part to a missed 47-yard field goal from Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro. (Bad snap aside, the man truly has zero range.)

This wasn’t the first improbable win during the Belichick era, but one the Pats will truly relish for now as they try to tread water (or heck, go 4-0) during the opening quarter of the season sans Brady. Also, Gronkowski’s improving health can put the team in a great spot to win its eighth straight division title and 14th in the last 16 years.

In recognition of this very Belichickian victory, here are five other times the Canton-bound coach pulled a wondrous win from his sweatpants clad backside.

5. Brady vs. Manning XIV

The Pats have had their fair share of comebacks during the Belichick era, but none bigger than coming back from 24-0 to beat the Broncos in Week 12 of the 2013 season. The home victory was indeed the largest deficit the coach has overcome in his career, and included two late game decisions that can only be described as Belichickian.

After a rough start that included three consecutive turnovers, the Pats found themselves down 24-0 at halftime against an elite team and playing in frigid, unforgiving temperatures. Tom Terrific was having no part of the presumed blowout, however, as he reeled off 31 consecutive points to give the Pats a lead. A late Broncos touchdown sent the game into overtime.

It was then when Belichick made things interesting. First off, he decided to take the wind over the ball to start the period, and lucked out when the Broncos punted the opportunity away. With overtime nearing an end, the Patriots were staring at a fourth-and-four from about midfield with three minutes left. Instead of going for it (very Belicheckian in its own right), the coach decided to once again put the ball in Peyton Manning’s hands.

Luckily for Belichick, Manning never even got a chance as the Broncos tipped the punt away to the recovering Patriots, who subsequently converted on a game-winning field goal.

Next: The intentional safety