Bill Belichick has said that having previous experience of the NFL playoffs does not give players a big advantage.
Belichick's New England Patriots have missed the post-season only once in the last decade, while their opponents, the Houston Texans, are in the playoffs for just the second time in their history.
The Patriots head coach told reporters: "You can find plenty of examples of teams and players with limited experience that have done very well and plenty of those same examples where it hasn't gone so well.
"If you've been through it once you have a little more knowledge and a little more confidence and understanding of what's going to happen than if you've never been through it before.
"I think there is some advantage to it but I think the advantage goes to the team that plays well, that executes well, makes good decisions. I think that's more of an advantage than experience or no experience.
The Patriots and Texans meet in the divisional round of the playoffs on Sunday.
Sian Cowper
