Posted on 01/19/2005 2:45:31 PM PST by bikepacker67
FOXBORO, Mass. - One quarterback played up to expectations in Sunday's AFC divisional playoff game because all the Patriots ever ask Tom Brady to do is win.
As the seasons roll on and each trip to Foxboro turns into Groundhog Day for Peyton Manning, it appears that Manning will be Dan Marino to Brady's Joe Montana. Marino had the records. Montana had the rings.
By the time it all ends in Jacksonville next month, Brady may be tied with Joe Cool as a three-time Super Bowl MVP. He may have only thrown for 144 yards in Sunday's victory but the win moved his postseason record to 7-0.
By the time Manning plays his 17th season (the length of Marino's career), he can only hope he can look back on the one day he did have to face the Patriots in the playoffs. Manning is probably the most talented quarterback in the game but until he cashes one in, he can only envy Brady.
Of the four quarterbacks left in the tournament, two - Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick - routinely make more highlight films. Brady's counterpart in Sunday's AFC Championship Game is Ben Roethlisberger and wouldn't it be fitting if Roethlisberger suffers his first career loss to a guy who just doesn't lose big games?
"There's no other guy I'd want in a big game than him, nobody," said Patriots tight end Christian Fauria. "I mean, go down in history, this is the guy I want in the huddle. Talk about poise and control. The only thing colder out there was him."
You can run down Brady's career highlights and none of them has to do with yards or touchdown passes. He has the highest winning percentage of any active QB with at least 30 starts. He's 7-0 in overtime games. Her has engineered 16 game-winning drives and he is 18-2 in games decided by a TD or less, 4-0 in the playoffs.
It was appropriate that when Bill Belichick was asked about Brady's performance, he talked about one play, the 5-yard touchdown pass he threw to David Givens to put the Patriots up by two scores at 13-3. In case you're counting, that was one touchdown pass for Brady, zero for Peyton. But it's never about Brady's numbers, even when they are sparkling. It's about the plays he makes to help win.
"I mean, that was a really big play in the game," Belichick said. "You know, not having to settle for third down . . . Tom made a nice play, stepped up . . . got a little opening and made the play. You know, that's what good quarterbacks do . . . they make plays when things don't go perfectly, which a lot of times they don't."
The play almost broke down because Brady's receivers were covered. But he bought himself extra time by breaking the pocket to his left. Givens sensed that the Colts had abandoned the weak side and slid past the DB. Brady, as always, saw him.
"Made a great catch," he said. "I threw that thing hard."
Manning, who was never allowed to unleash his arm downfield (by both the Pats' defense and the Colts' play-calling) tried to answer questions about how his 49-TD season (perhaps his career) would be defined. As usual after facing Belichick, he didn't have any answers.
"Unfortunately I have always believed that a player does kind of define himself," said Manning, who is also one of the most thoughtful players in the NFL. "I am starting to change those thoughts because there are so many opinions and experts talking about me and my career, I just sort of stopped trying.
"Right now, it is hard to think about anything else besides losing this game."
Brady blushed when someone asked him why he sparkled and Manning struggled.
"Well, I mean, I don't think I shined," Brady said. "We made plays when we needed to. You know, for a team that led the league in turnovers this year, to come out of that game with no turnovers was probably what I'm most happy about."
Doesn't it mean more because of all the Manning hype, he was asked?
"Just none of this stuff means anything, it really doesn't," Brady replied. "I mean, we're going in there thinking we're going to win."
Glad you lost Hackett. I like having the AFC East being the powerhouse that eats up wildcards.
Well quit giving Beady the credit when he doesnt deserve it, when you in by 3 points the kicker won the game not the QB
OK, then your only hope is Staley.
My Pats have shutdown the Bus for a lifetime 2 TD's and an average of 50 yds a game
>>Speaking of thumbs, why is Big Ben suckling his? He claims there's no injury, but the video tells otherwise...
I dunno. That view of him doing that had me unsettled. I'm guessing/hoping that it wasn't related to internal structural damage, but was something on the surface like when you bend back your fingernail or get that little bit of torn flesh next to the fingernail. (Is that the cuticle?) If it were bone/muscle/ligament/cartilage damage it doesn't seem like one would be using one's mouth to alleviate it.
Your in for a disappointing weekend. I almost feel sorry for you. Then again, here in New England, beating the big mouthed, perenially overrated Steelers is second only to....well nothing.
You are a moron.
As a from day one Patriots fan I agree with you.
Quarterbacks are key players, but the are also IMHO the most overated players on the field when it comes to getting credit for victories.
Brady is playing on a winning team. The Patriots are not winning all those games because of his quarterbacking.
Defense, special teams and a really good kicker have made the winning streaks possible. But Capt. Tom you know Tom Brady wins, he wins he wins. Yes, so doesn't Matt Light, because they are both on a winning team, and they both get their job done.
The Patriots got a Heisman trophy winner in 1971 named Jim Plunkett for a quarterback. He threw more interceptions than touchdown and got the crap kicked out of him because he was not on a good team, although he was a competent QB.
Beat up and injured he went home to Calif.for a role as a backup QB. The SF team let him go to Oakland. Jim was a backup to Pastorini, and took over when Dan got injured in 1980. They won the superbowl and Jim Plunkett was MVP. He wins! He wins! He wins!(Odd that he couldn't do that here in New England do you tank a mediocre team might be a factor)
In 1983 Plunkett backed up Marc Wilson. When Wilson got injured Jim came in and they won another superbowl. He wins! He wins! He wins! And IMHO for the same reason Brady wins they both ended up on good teams,and were competent quarterbacks.- Tom
Why do fans insist on saying that the yellow in their teams colors is "gold"?? Packers fans do that too. (Green and Gold when actually it is green and yellow)
Notre Dame has gold. Purdue has gold. The St. Louis Rams used to have yellow now they have gold.
Sorry. Nothing personal. Just a pet peeve.
>>Your in for a disappointing weekend. I almost feel sorry for you. Then again, here in New England, beating the big mouthed, perenially overrated Steelers is second only to....well nothing.
Are you sure you're not a democrat on the wrong web page? :) You've called us overrated even though we are the underdogs in our own house. I've seen that argument style elsewhere.... I've got to remember where I've seen that before!
That's a low blow. Let's keep this civil.
On the 31st of October, here in Pittsburgh, beating the big mouthed, overrated Pats was second only to....well nothing.
Remember that feeling. Hold on to that memory. It might make you feel better as you watch the Patriots win their 3rd Superbowl in 4 years.
Look, I mentioned this on another thread:
The Halloween game took place 4 days after the Red Sox won the World Series. All of New England was hungover by that Sunday.
Sometimes you see a post and just have to shake your head at the logic behind it.
Then you ask yourself one question: If Brady was a free agent would the naysayers change their tune if their favorite team picked him up?
They would be buying #12 jerseys before the ink was dry on his contract.
Sure do. Remember we ended your streak and every paper keeps reminding the nation we ended your streak. At one point in the game we held Brady to a 15 QB rating.
Hold on to that memory.
See Above.
It might make you feel better as you watch the Patriots win their 3rd Superbowl in 4 years.
Been there, done that. When you get to four in six, give us a call.
I love Tom Brady. He's a local boy and I'm with him all the way to the SuperBowl. Go Pats!
Talk to us on Monday!
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