Tom Brady’s leadership of the New England Patriots to their 5th Super Bowl victory over the Atlanta Falcons will be recognized as a crowning achievement for an individual who will arguably be remembered as the best quarterback to play the game.
In front of the spectacle of billionaires, celebrities, former presidents, and the current Vice President attending Super Bowl LI, Brady executed the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history.
Even if you’re not a fan of the Patriots and are tired of seeing them have so much success, it’s undeniable how impressive that victory was yesterday.
And whether yesterday’s Super Bowl win will be the exclamation point to the Patriots dynasty that has spanned the last fifteen years or just another stop along the way, only time will tell. But either way, yesterday’s Super Bowl was one of the most amazing games I can remember ever watching.
There were numerous Super Bowl records set last night including the following:
- The first Super Bowl to go into overtime,
- Largest point deficit overcome (25),
- Most passing yards (416) in a Super Bowl,
- First team to reach nine Super Bowls, and
- Tying the Cowboys and 49ers for the most Super Bowl wins at seven.
But apart from these impressive records, the most amazing part of watching the comeback was the confidence and patience exhibited by the Patriots. Despite a historic deficit, the team never showed any signs of panic or giving in to what most thought would be an inevitable loss.
And even as the comeback began taking shape, there were still setbacks. Brady continued to get rushed and sacked. The Patriots missed a crucial extra point forcing them to try another two-point conversion. And on the first play after pulling within one score, the Patriots gave up a 39-yard run seemingly putting the Falcons into position to attempt a field goal which would have sealed their victory.
But the Patriots never backed down. They didn’t rush things. They continued methodically doing their jobs as if the outcome really didn’t matter. Watching them in the second half, you would never know how much was at stake or how historic the comeback would need to be if they were to pull off the unimaginable.
And that’s what distinguishes the Patriots organization from all the others. While Brady is a sure Hall of Fame player, over the past decade and a half, the team hasn’t been just simply a collection of Hall of Fame players. They have made things work with everyday players many of whom had unremarkable careers prior to joining the Patriots.
Brady himself, a 6th round pick and the 199th player selected in the 2000 draft, would never have been predicted to become the greatest quarterback to play the game. But that’s what makes this dynasty even more impressive.
Whether you’re a raving fan, a distant admirer, or you cannot stand the team, the Patriots deserve every accolade that can be sent their way.
Congratulations Super Bowl LI champions New England Patriots!