The New England Patriots haven’t won a playoff game in four seasons and have missed the postseason in two of the last three years, but head coach Bill Belichick still deserves to rank among the best.

That’s why Belichick was placed at No. 2 in Pat Daugherty of NBC Sports Edge’s annual NFL head coach rankings just below Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.

Belichick was No. 1 in last year’s rankings.

Here’s part of what Daugterty wrote in this year’s rankings:

“There is no need for qualifying statements, but I will make one anyways. I still believe Bill Belichick is the greatest coach in modern history. If I had to win a game this Sunday, I would pick Belichick over anyone else on this list. But we can't ignore what has happened as Tom Brady has been ushered out and Patrick Mahomes ushered in. Belichick's longtime understudy Andy Reid has had a better five years and it's not particularly close. That is not to say Belichick has cratered to the degree some believe. The undisputed worst three-year stretch of his Patriots career has still included making the playoffs with a rookie quarterback and coming within a game of the postseason in 2022. Belichick isn't sinking to some perilous depth. But he still might if he's not careful. That was the clear takeaway from Belichick's disastrous, hubristic decision to have Matt Patricia and Joe Judge run his offense in 2022.” — Rotopat, NBC Sports Edge

Belichick, as Daugherty later noted, has corrected his mistake of having Patricia and Judge run his offense last season by hiring Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator and Adrian Klemm as offensive line coach this offseason. That should help the offense round back into shape after a disorganized performance last season. Belichick’s defense was still among the league’s best in 2022.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay ranks third, with Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh at No. 4 and San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan at No. 5.

Belichick has not been among the most successful NFL head coaches over the last four seasons, but his track record still more than speaks for itself and makes him deserving of the No. 2 ranking. We’ll see if the team can rebound, get back into the playoffs and win a postseason game this upcoming season.

Featured image via Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports