Tom Terrific
A typical sterling Tom Brady performance may include 300-plus passing yards, three to four touchdown passes, and a a couple of unstoppable drives where he wills the Patriots to a dominating win.
On this occasion, he managed to come up with only one drive worthy of remembering. Down 20-16 against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship, Brady orchestrated a 63-yard drive for the go-ahead touchdown that would lead the Patriots to Super Bowl XLVI.
In the fourth quarter, Brady appeared to punch in the game-winning touchdown on 2d-and-goal at the 1-yard line on a quarterback sneak, but the play was overturned after review. After a failed run by BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Brady put the game back on his back. With the stakes so high, on fourth down nonetheless, he took the dive you see here to put the Patriots up 23-20, the final score, with 11:33 left in the game.
Of course, we all remember the Ravens' Billy Cundiff's missed field goal as time expired. But we should never forget Brady's performance to get the Patriots to their fifth Super Bowl since 2001.
Barry Chin / Globe Staff
