 Brady earned MVP honors during the Patriots win. (USA TODAY Images) |
After leading his team back from a ten point deficit on Sunday night in Arizona, Tom Brady found himself as the Super Bowl XLIX MVP, his third time earning that honor.
The veteran completed 37-of-50 passes for 328 yards and four touchdowns, and set records after eclipsing Joe Montana in career Super Bowl touchdown passes with 13, while also breaking Peyton Manning's completion record of 34 set in last year's blowout loss by the Broncos.
It didn't go exactly to plan, with Brady throwing a critical interception in the first quarter in the end zone that squandered what would have likely lead to at least three points, and he threw another in the third quarter that gave the Seahawks the ball at midfield. Seattle actually went on to score a touchdown on that drive to go up ten points at 24-14, but fortunately it would end up being their final points of the evening.
But aside from that third quarter miscue he was solid in the second half, completing 17-of-23 (74%) for 151 yards and two touchdowns, with one to Danny Amendola early in the fourth quarter to pull within three, followed by what ended up being the game-winner to Julian Edelman with just over two minutes to go in the contest.
Brady said after the game that after they really got behind he tried to remind guys that all it took was one possession to get things started, and fortunately it worked out.
"We were down 10 and we just said, 'Look, we've got to put one good drive together to get us back in the game'," said Brady. "We made the plays. We overcame a couple of penalties and made the plays to do it and then got the ball back and then scored again. They had a great drive, made some phenomenal plays, and we made a great play in the end. These games, they're tough. They go down to the end. Glad we finally pulled it out."
Now here they are, finally past all the controversies and questions with the ultimate goal having been reached. They've come a long way since losing to the Chiefs in week four and having everyone question whether or not that was the beginning of the end for a team that has dominated the NFL for more than a decade.
Fortunately the critics will have to wait at least one more year to question them, and Brady said he's happy to win, and he's also happy with the effort his team gave Sunday night.
"It's been a long journey," said Brady. "It's just a great win. We left it all on the field."
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