The Patriots’ comeback win was so impressive Bill Belichick allowed himself to (however briefly) smile

Happy Bill is a rare Bill.

The Patriots are going to the Super Bowl again after they made yet another playoff comeback, this time beating the Jaguars 24-20 after Tom Brady led another fourth-quarter charge and Danny Amendola made a hell of a catch in the back of the end zone and yeah fine whatever we’re used to it at this point.

We know the script. And we know the conclusion: The win also meant that Patriots coach Bill Belichick allowed himself to use one of the 12 smiles he rations out per year.

Look at happy Bill!

That brief moment of celebration allowed Belichick to project to his subordinates that he was, however temporarily, pleased with their efforts.

It was fleeting however. It’s always fleeting. Happiness will never last in the Patriots’ world, because happiness is something that distracts from winning.

If I had to make a guess, I’d say Belichick is currently scouting both teams that the Patriots could face in the Super Bowl, on two separate screens which he’s trained his eyes/brain to process simultaneously, having an assistant slowly shovel his dinner into his mouth so as not to take his eyes away from the action. That is Belichick’s happiness. That is the only true joy he knows.