Patriots' Belichick might measure up to Lombardi

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Super Bowl winners giddily hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Yes, even dour, determined Bill Belichick smiled like a kid at recess when he lifted the prize twice in the past three years.

If Belichick leads his New England Patriots to another NFL title next Sunday, his team will be compared to the best in pro football history. And Belichick will be mentioned with the great Lombardi.

After nine straight playoff victories, he just might measure up.

Lombardi reigned in Green Bay for nine seasons, winning five league championships, including three straight (1965, '66 and '67), the final two in what then was called the AFL-NFL Championship. It was Lombardi's first head coaching stint after years as an offensive assistant with the New York Giants.

Belichick is in his fifth season in charge of the Patriots; he also had a mostly failed four-year stint as Cleveland Browns coach. Like Lombardi, Belichick made his reputation as a coordinator with the Giants, specializing in befuddling opponents with his defensive schemes. And like Lombardi, Belichick guided the Patriots to the title game in his second season. The difference: Lombardi's Packers lost to the Eagles in 1960; Belichick's Pats beat St. Louis in the 2002 Super Bowl.

Just like Lombardi, Belichick has taken few steps backward after getting to the top. Green Bay won championships in 1961, '62 and then the three in a row. Except for the loss to Philly, Lombardi was unbeaten in title games.

New England took last year's Super Bowl and heads into next week's game as a seven-point favorite over Philadelphia.

Other coaches have had similar success to what Lombardi experienced and what Belichick is compiling. Chuck Noll won four Super Bowls in six years with Pittsburgh in the 1970s — but he never won nine straight postseason games. Neither did Joe Gibbs, nor Bill Walsh, who each won three Super Bowls.

Dallas took three titles in four years in the 1990s, but with two coaches — Jimmy Johnson in 1992 and '93, Barry Switzer in 1995.

Only Belichick has reached the Lombardiesque winning streak.

"It's very flattering to be mentioned in the same breath with Vince Lombardi," says Belichick. "That's why the trophy has his name on it. I don't think I deserve it."

Ah, but maybe he does.

"I look at Bill and Lombardi and I see major similarities in the guys," says Hall of Fame defensive end Willie Davis, a mainstay for the Lombardi Packers. "You need to come up with whatever is necessary and Bill can come up with it, and Vince did that. He will have his team playing up to the max. So did coach Lombardi."