by Tom Brady’s Legendary Career and Memorable Games
Tom Brady is widely considered the greatest quarterback of all time based on his record-setting career and unparalleled success in the biggest games. Over two decades in the NFL, Brady has won 7 Super Bowl titles, 5 Super Bowl MVP awards, and 3 NFL MVP awards. He has shattered numerous passing records and consistently leads his teams to victory in high-pressure situations. Brady’s legendary career is filled with unforgettable games that showcased his clutch performance ability time and time again. Here is a look back at some of the most dramatic and exciting games from Brady’s career.
Super Bowl LI (February 5, 2017)
Down 28-3 in the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons, Brady engineered the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history to win 34-28 in overtime. The Patriots offense had struggled for most of the game against the Falcons’ stout defense. But Brady refused to give up, leading scoring drives of 9, 14, and 6 plays to cut the deficit to 28-20. After a Patriots field goal, they got the ball back with just over 2 minutes left and no timeouts. Brady completed 5 passes to get them in field goal range for a game-tying kick with just over a minute left to play.
In overtime, the Patriots won the coin toss and Brady methodically marched them down the field. On the seventh play of the drive, he connected with James White on a 2-yard touchdown pass to complete the historic comeback. Brady finished the game 43-62 for 466 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. His poise and determination under pressure allowed the Patriots to overcome the massive deficit and secure Brady’s 5th Super Bowl ring. The 25-point comeback is the largest in Super Bowl history and cemented Brady’s legacy as the greatest clutch quarterback of all time.
Super Bowl XXXVI (February 3, 2002)
As a second-year quarterback making his first Super Bowl appearance, Brady faced the daunting task of leading the Patriots against the St. Louis Rams, who were heavily favored after a dominant regular season with the “Greatest Show on Turf” offense. The game was a defensive struggle throughout, with Brady completing 16-27 passes for 145 yards. With the score tied at 17 in the final minutes, Brady led the Patriots on a game-winning drive. Starting from their own 17-yard line with 1:21 left, Brady completed 5 passes to get them in field goal range. Adam Vinatieri then nailed a 48-yard kick as time expired to give the Patriots a 20-17 victory in one of the biggest Super Bowl upsets ever. Brady was named Super Bowl MVP, launching his career as a champion quarterback.
2004 AFC Championship Game (January 24, 2005)
Dubbed the “Snow Bowl”, Brady faced off against the Pittsburgh Steelers in blizzard-like conditions at Gillette Stadium. With over 2 feet of snow accumulating on the field during the game, visibility was extremely limited. But Brady thrived in the messy conditions, completing 16 passes for 201 yards and 2 touchdowns. Trailing 21-14 in the 4th quarter, Brady led the Patriots on a scoring drive to tie it up. After a Steelers field goal, Brady got the ball back with just over 2 minutes left and drove them into field goal range again for the win. Vinatieri drilled another kick as time expired, securing a 41-27 victory and Brady’s 2nd trip to the Super Bowl. His poise in the treacherous snow showcased his elite leadership.
2018 AFC Championship Game (January 20, 2019)
Brady faced off against the red-hot Kansas City Chiefs and second-year star Patrick Mahomes in a high-scoring shootout. Trailing 28-24 late in the 4th quarter, Brady led the Patriots on a go-ahead touchdown drive. But the Chiefs responded with a field goal to send the game to overtime tied at 31. In the extra period, Brady marched the Patriots down the field again before Rex Burkhead punched it in from 2 yards out for the game-winning 37-31 score. Brady finished with 348 passing yards and a touchdown, outdueling Mahomes to earn his record 8th Super Bowl appearance. His late-game heroics proved once more why he’s the greatest in clutch situations.
2020 NFC Divisional Round (January 18, 2020)
In his first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after 20 years with New England, the 43-year old Brady showed he still had plenty left in the tank. Trailing the New Orleans Saints 29-23 with just over a minute left, Brady led the Bucs down the field and found receiver Mike Evans for the go-ahead touchdown with no time remaining on the clock. Brady finished with 280 passing yards and 3 touchdowns in the incredible 30-20 comeback victory. His late-game magic traveled with him to Tampa, proving he can still deliver in crunch time despite changing teams late in his career. This win helped propel the Bucs to a Super Bowl championship, Brady’s 7th ring.
Conclusion
Through all the memorable playoff runs and championships over two decades, what stands out most about Tom Brady’s career is his knack for coming through in the biggest moments under immense pressure. Whether it was leading historic Super Bowl comebacks, orchestrating last-second game-winning drives in the snow or against top defenses, or outdueling fellow all-time great quarterbacks late in games, Brady has shown time and again why he is the greatest clutch performer of all time. At age 45, he is still playing at a high level and adding to his legendary resume. Brady’s list of dramatic victories and superb performances when it matters most is what cemented his place as the GOAT and one of the all-time great competitors across all sports.
