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Bill Belichick is very close with Nick Saban, but perhaps there was a part of the Patriots head coach that enjoyed watching his good friend's team lose Monday night.
Georgia topping Alabama in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game seemingly improves New England's chances of winning Super Bowl LVI. That's because since Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2007, the Crimson Tide and the Patriots haven't won a championship in the same season.
Here's a breakdown dating back to 2009, when Saban won his first national title with the tide.
2009: Alabama wins national title; Patriots lose in wild-card round
2010: Neither team wins title
2011: Alabama wins national title; Patriots lose Super Bowl XLVI
2012: Alabama wins national title; Patriots lose in AFC Championship Game
2013: Neither team wins title
2014: Alabama loses in Sugar Bowl; Patriots win Super Bowl XLIX
2015: Alabama wins national title; Patriots lose in AFC Championship Game
2016: Alabama loses CFP National Championship Game; Patriots win Super Bowl LI
2017: Alabama wins CFP National Championship Game; Patriots lose Super Bowl LII
2018: Alabama loses CFP National Championship Game; Patriots win Super Bowl LIII
2019: Alabama wins Citrus Bowl; Patriots lose in wild-card round
2020: Alabama wins CFP National Championship Game; Patriots miss playoffs
One person who probably wasn't pleased with the Tide's loss to the Bulldogs was Mac Jones, an Alabama product. He'll take the field for his first NFL playoff game Sunday night when the Patriots and Buffalo Bills square off for the third time this season.
