After a few tumultuous seasons riddled with injuries, player releases, and uncertainties, the Patriots were moving into the playoffs once again. During the beginning of the 2014 NFL season, New England was facing a record of 2-2. Sports analysts across the nation seemed to write off Brady and the Patriots. In short, no one seemed to believe that this team, the once dynamic leaders in the AFC East would ever see a championship again.
Nevertheless, as a team, New England rallied back throughout the season and made to the Super Bowl and faced one of best defenses that year, the “Legion of Boom” Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks, led by quarterback Russell Wilson, were heading back to their second Super Bowl in a row. They crushed the Denver Broncos the year prior and all they needed was a win against New England to become back-to-back champions. Brady was in his sixth Super Bowl appearance and desperately needed a victory to prove he was still in the conversation. A ten-point deficit in the fourth quarter seemed to haunt the Patriots once again. However, this time, Brady would orchestrate a game-winning drive to place them on top in this game.
While awaiting the defense to stop the Seahawks, hearts were pounding on the New England sideline. Russell Wilson had his offense on the one-yard line with running back Marshawn Lynch in the backfield.
The play was called, the ball snapped and every eye focused on the end zone. Wilson stepped back and proceeded to hurl the ball into the waiting arms of…Patriots corner Malcolm Butler. Jaws dropped along the Seahawks sideline, as the realization of what occurred began to become clear.
After a ten-year drought of victory, Brady and the Patriots had won the Super Bowl. Elated does not even begin to describe the attitude of the players. The entire season was filled with doubt, dread and frankly a sense of wondering if Brady could ever do it again. He proved many people wrong that night. This was their year and their moment to celebrate.
The Patriots were back and ready to continue dominating in the postseason. During the 2016 season, Tom Brady led his team to a 14-2 record in the regular season. They headed back to the Super Bowl after defeating the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs. On the other side of the ball in the Super Bowl sat the Atlanta Falcons. Led by quarterback Matt Ryan, the MVP of the league was ready for a victory against Brady.
During the game, it seemed as if New England would not have a chance at victory. The Falcons dominated on every possession they had. By the third quarter, the Falcons had a healthy 28-3 lead on the Patriots. Anyone watching the game was assured that it was impossible for Brady to lead a comeback against this team. After all, no one in the history of the game had ever come back from a 25-point deficit. Until this year.
Tom Brady sat in the driver’s seat for the rest of the game and brought the Patriots back to tie the game. For the first time in Super Bowl history, the game was going to overtime.
The Patriots won the coin toss and in thrilling fashion, Brady drove the team down to the goal line and running back James White scored the touchdown to give New England the title. Five Super Bowl championships, the most held by a quarterback in NFL history; Brady’s legacy was sealed.
At 40 years of age, he seemed to defy age. History has shown that quarterbacks typically do not play their greatest football during this time in their lives. However, Brady seems to wipe those statistics off the charts and continue to dominate.
The 2017 season had the Patriots back in the Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles. The game was a shootout with both teams scoring on nearly every possession. Three touchdowns were tossed and 505 yards were thrown, yet, after an amazing showing in the big game, Brady fell short. For the first time since 2011, New England lost the Super Bowl, and this time to a team other than the New York Giants.
Regardless of the outcome, it did not seem that Brady was showing his age. If anything, his age was a wow factor, defying the stereotype that quarterbacks cannot play football well into their 40’s.
The 2018 season is coming to a close as the New England Patriots, and for the third year in a row, they are representing the AFC in the Super Bowl. Facing them are the Los Angeles Rams, led by quarterback Jared Goff. This is Goff’s first Super Bowl versus Brady’s ninth appearance.
History shows that Brady is more than capable of having his way in the postseason. Although he was not on the winning team at the end of last season, this could be another record-breaking season for the quarterback.
Tom Brady continues to defy all statistics thrown his way. As he heads into his ninth Super Bowl on Sunday, what can spectators expect from the veteran quarterback? The Patriots will not change their approach this year to how they play the game. Coach Bill Belichick continues to preach the same message coming out of the locker room, season after season. Every player will do their job. Every position has the opportunity to be a playmaker. Minimizing mistakes and setting their eyes ahead on the coveted Lombardi Trophy is the ultimate goal. If Tom Brady can lead the New England Patriots to yet another Super Bowl victory, it will be safe to say, without a doubt, that six rings will defy history.
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