I think the OP has a point.
In fact, I take it a step further. I firmly believe the entire conference... No, the whole league has been lulling Belicheck into a false sense of security for the last, oh, 13 years or so. Game by game, trophy by trophy, making him think he's got something special going on, until one day, 15-16 years into the long con... WHAMMY!! He opens the can of mixed nuts at his birthday party, and ALL the snakes come springing out. It'll be TOTALLY hilarious, you guys!