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New England Patriots: Top Super Bowl storylines

By Jeffery Reynolds

Jan 24, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Deflated footballs with Super Bowl XLIX logo at the NFL Experience at Phoenix Convention Center in advance of the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Deflated footballs with Super Bowl XLIX logo at the NFL Experience at Phoenix Convention Center in advance of the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 18, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) drops back to pass against the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) drops back to pass against the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports /

Tom Brady’s Legend Will Be Defined By This Game

Let’s try to remember back to a time when Tom Brady wasn’t the pinnacle of the quarterback position in today’s NFL. Back in 2001 Brady, a rookie sixth round pick the previous year, was permanently inserted as the starter over veteran Drew Bledsoe after he was injured. All that little heralded quarterback did was to lead the Patriots to a shocking upset of the heavily favored Rams in the Super Bowl, followed by two more rings in the following three years.

And THEN Brady started setting passing records.

THEN Brady, now at the top of the mountain and believed to be unassailable, led only the second team in NFL history into the Super Bowl with an undefeated record and a chance to finish without a blemish. It seemed preordained.

Except it wasn’t. The Giants shocked them in 2007, and then to confirm it, beat them again in the Super Bowl in 2011.

Despite the inability to close the deal in two of his previous five Super Bowl appearances, Brady is firmly entrenched as the best quarterback of his era. Ten Pro Bowls; Two NFL MVP awards; the only person other than Joe Montana to be named MVP of the NFL and the Super Bowl multiple times; the most division wins as a quarterback (twelve) in history; the most wins as a quarterback (twenty) in NFL history. Oh yeah, and a record six Super Bowls.

The only blemishes on Brady’s stellar career have been the two slip ups against the Giants in the Super Bowls. If Brady wins a fourth Super Bowl, becoming only the third quarterback to accomplish that feat (Bradshaw and Montana were the others), he vaults into the clear Number One position among quarterbacks in NFL history.

No pressure.

Next: If Your Footballs Remain Deflated For More Than Four Hours, Seek Immediate Medical Attention

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