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."
Exactly. And if Phil Simms was the QB on the 49ers back then, and Montana was the QB on the Giants, I'll bet nothing would have changed. Those San Francisco teams were so dominant because the identity of the quarterback was almost incidental.
Montana has four Super Bowl rings and three Super Bowl MVP trophies.
Here's an interesting bit of trivia for you: Did you know that Joe Namath is the only QB ever to be named Super Bowl MVP without throwing a touchdown pass in the game?
No I did not!
Does anyone even know who played wide receiver on those Giants teams of the 1980s, or who their defensive backs were, or who carried the ball for them?
Taking the gloves off against the Patriots?
LOL!
Peyton Manning has the SuffeRING!
He's available now, much to your chagrin. ;o)
one word: probation....
gee, I thought the Patriots won, with Brady lending a hand.
Didn't know he was a one man team. :P
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.