he does have to erase the memories of:
(1) SB 42
(2) Not closing the 2006 AFCC in Indy (clearly a colossal defensive collapse, but let's not forget that had the offense converted a 3rd and 4, Addai never sees the endzone, and Pey-me-tons never sees Miami)
(3) Champ Bailey in 2005
Here's what I remember about those:
1. under level of assault that would make Elway and Montana look really really REALLY bad....he did not turn the ball over, led heroic fourth quarter drive, threw perfect bomb at end that Giants' coaches said cornerback made "play of the game" (not Tyree catch). Had best season in QBing history, made several late come from behind efforts last year....nothing about last year diminishes in any way his clutchness. Please tell me if I'm missing something.
2. we all know why Manning eaked this out.....Reche+Gaffney+Brown+old Corey Dillon <<<<< Harrison+Wayne+Stokley+Clark....yes, even Peyton's DEFENSE was superior to Tom's in that game. Sometimes I think that was still tom's best season....even with 2007.
3. do you remember who his go-to receiver was on that play....I do....the venerable and elderly Troy Brown....going up against the best cover corner in the game, and who JUMPED THE ROUTE....there is a difference between a bad throw (offensive pick) and a great risky play (defensive pick). That was not a choke. Denver had the lead and were the underdogs so they could afford to let Champ guess in the red zone and be aggressive....Pats fans have trouble acknowledging the other team sometimes (i.e. giants front seven gets paid too).
Nobody mentioned the 02 season when they didn't make the playoffs....was that because of a choke by 12? Go back and watch the last regular season game and find out. that year they had arguably the worst defense since BB has been here....along with 2005.
And to whoever mentioned the "Vinatieri factor"....please, enough. Joe Montana had a roster of talent beyond the kicker that were superior to the opponent. I'll never forget how Janikowski nailed his kicks in the snow game and Adam barely made them over....made them look a lot tougher because he never had a big leg....sorry, but that debate is over....nobody thinks Tom was the lucky product of having a great kicker....it was an insane argument to begin with, and now we have a substantial body of evidence....consistently sustained dominance over a long period despite a revolving cast around him.
Would Joe have gone 4-0 in parity Super Bowls?....keep in mind how much tougher it is to win parity super bowls.
Elway was perhaps the most gifted and talented QB to ever play....he was not however, at any point in his career, the level of QB that Brady is. Period.
Joe was great, so was John. Joe wasn't tasked with nearly as much responsibility in his offense as Tom is. He wasn't asked to improvise and read the defense, he was asked to run the play that was called....and he did that with great skill, but we're seriously overrating the guy. I'd put Marino above Montana. And I'd put Tom way ahead of Marino....that's just me.
In my book, clutch is just a synonym for greatness.
You can single him out for the 3 postseason losses, if and only if you credit him solely with the 14 wins. He's amassing the greatest postseason record in history -- during the most competitive era of the league -- and some on this board value the lows as being on par with all the highlights. That's sad.
Let's not act spoiled. Open your eyes. We're probably witnessing and appreciating the greatest and most clutch passer the league has ever known.
being "clutch" is about making plays....sometimes the other team gets the ball with 2 minutes left....that doesn't make 12 any less clutch.
