Is Bill Belichick the greatest National Football League coach of all time?

He owns four Super Bowl rings and is roundly viewed among the best quarterbacks in National Football League history, but those who know Brady best have said he thrives as a disrespected underdog.

New England is 38-17-1 ATS in their last 56 games after a straight up loss and 2-6 ATS in their last 8 road games while the under is 4-1 in their last 5 overall. Brady practiced this week, but he did not make himself available to the media and head coach Bill Belichick downplayed his quarterback’s return in vintage Belichickian language. In dealing New England its first-ever shutout in the history of Gillette Stadium, Ryan and the Bills actually pulled to within a game of New England.

“It’s just like any other week, except Tom’s back at quarterback, baby, ” he said. Brady is coming back to this team with a great record, easing the pressure of his return, but it can not be forgotten how well Garoppolo played in Brady’s absence. “So as an offence as a whole we just have to go out there, stick together, practice together, get ready for a tough Browns team, a defence that is always working hard and nonstop and always playing to the whistle”.

Regardless of what Belichick will or won’t admit, Brady’s return should have a positive impact on his team and its chances to win games, beginning with the issue at hand that the coach is fixated on this week. And boy does he have one Sunday at Cleveland. “Certainly great to be back to work”.

Belichick joined the Patriots in 2000, Year 2 of the Browns’ expansion experience.

Steve Smith vs. Josh Norman: Smith had words for Jaguars CB Jalen Ramsey after lighting him up for 87 yards in a Week 3 win, so you know the Ravens WR will have a similar battle with Norman, who used to go at it with Smith in practice when the two were Carolina teammates. Now with both Tom Brady and Rob Gronkwoski back on the field, they pose a threat to all defenses regardless of the caliber. “As a young quarterback, that is something you want to do”.

Danny Amendola said the first successful completion Brady made with him since his return came in the form of a big hug.

Minnesota meanwhile face the Houston Texans after their Monday night win over the New York Giants.

Three years later, the Browns traveled to Foxboro as heavy underdogs in week 14 of the 2013 season. Even Belichick admits he has used what he learned in Cleveland in New England.

Regardless, the game will take place on Sunday. Tight end Martellus Bennett leads the team in receiving yards and ranks second in catches.

Since Bill Belichick began his New England Patriots head coaching reign in the year 2000, he has solidified himself as not only one of the top National Football League head coaches in today’s game, but one of the greatest coaches in the history of the sport. “[We} have to do a great job of taking care of the ball”. And look, this has been a problem for the defense all season: When teams get the ball in the red zone, you might as well just give them seven points.

AP Sports Writers Tom Withers and Kyle Hightower contributed.