Brady Shines as Patriots Advance

(Elsa / Getty Images)

With just over a minute to go in the first half Tom Brady under-threw his tight-end Rob Gronkowski going down the seam. The pass was intercepted and Baltimore would go on to score a touchdown just before the clock ran out to retake the lead.

The Patriots had allowed Baltimore to jump out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and had just erased the deficit. Tom Brady's interception negated that progress and left them trailing again as the went into the locker room down 21-14.

The cameras found Brady's head in his hands just before halftime. Whatever was in his head, however, would prove to be the difference in the ballgame.

In a game that lived up to all the hype, Brady would return in the second half to outgun Joe Flacco on the way to a 35-31 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.

Brady's performance was one for the record books, as the go-ahead score put him past Joe Montana for most postseason touchdown passes all-time. But given the history and the build-up leading to this showdown with Joe Flacco-- the cause of two of Brady's playoff exits-- one would imagine it was a game for his personal annals as well.

Brady put the team on his shoulders and kept the ball in his hands for the rest of the game. He was starting in his 27th postseason game, more than any other quarterback in history. No matter what the result of the game would be, he was determined to be the cause of it.

(Jim Rogash / Getty Images)

To start the second half the team called 21 straight passing plays before recording a running play-- a QB sneak by Tom Brady.

He was the only Patriot to record a rushing attempt in the entire second half.

27 of the team's 31 second-half plays were pass attempts. All four rushes were by Brady: 1 QB sneak and 3 kneel-downs. The Patriots finished with just thirteen carries for 14 total yards, but would emerge with the only stat that matters.

Brady would throw for 367 passing yards-- the most in Patriots' postseason history-- and 3 passing touchdowns to go with one rushing score.

The team overcame two separate 14 point deficits-- the only team in postseason history to do so-- and intercepted Joe Flacco twice, including once in the end zone to seal the win with just over a minute remaining.

(AP Photo / Elise Amendola)

The victory earns the Patriots the right to host the AFC Championship, and they will face either Denver or Indianapolis in what is set to be another big game in Foxborough next weekend.

Brady, as always, will be up for the challenge.

"In big games its not the plays, but the players that matter most," Brady said earlier this week.

After watching his performance on Saturday night one thing becomes clear:

He sure as hell meant it.




** The Faded Raider would like to remind the readers that the opinion of the article is not necessarily reflective of the opinion or views of the author, and that, despite the complimentary tone of the piece, it remains common knowledge that Tom Brady's career is the result of a blown call. It was a fumble, Tom.