What a game we witnessed on Sunday night . We saw a historic comeback by the Patriots against the best team in the NFC. One of the biggest takes, of many, that came out from the big game, where many people crowned Tom Brady the greatest quarterback that has graced the NFL. Now many people still debate that Peyton Manning or Joe Montana are better players. Well while that may be their respective opinion. It is not correct.

Regular and Postseason success:

I will be the first to admit that Peyton Manning is the single best regular season quarterback in NFL history. He ranks high in multiple career categories that measure a QB’s ability: 1^st in Passing Touchdowns, 1^st in Passing Yards, and 6^th in Passer rating. What about the other competitor for G.O.A.T. Joe Montana? Well in those same categories he ranks: 16^th in Passing Touchdowns, 17^th in Passing Yards, and 13^th in Passer Rating. Both rank pretty well in those categories, but let’s look at Tom Brady. He ranks: 4^th in both Passing Touchdowns, Passing Yards, and 3^rd in Passer Rating. So, what does this prove? All three are great regular season players. Manning produced more in these games, but how did these guys do when the lights were on? Montana went to the playoffs 11 times. Brady has a solid 14 appearances. Manning a cool 15 postseason appearances. So in the exact same categories were do they all rank all-time? Passing Touchdowns: Manning 4^th (40 total) Montana 2^nd(45 total) Brady 1^st (63 Total). Passing Yards: Manning 2^nd, Montana 4^th, Brady 1^st. Passer Rating: Manning 16^th, Montana 6^th, Brady 13^th. This shows Manning is a better player during the regular season. But when the lights turn on. Both Brady and Montana surpass him. While it also shows Brady is a more consistent player compared to Montana as he stays near the top of these categories during both parts of an NFL season.

Scheme Adaptability:

A lot of people want to say Tom Brady is simply a system-based Quarterback that can not succeed in a different system. Well this is wrong Brady has shown he can succeed playing in multiple offensive schemes. He went from a pro-based run first offense in the early 2000’s, winning three Superbowls, to a spread out shot-gun offense in the mid 2000s. Where he went 16-0 and held at the time the single season passing Touchdown record. Again transitioning to a two-tight-end offense with Rob Gronkowski and ex-player Aaron Hernandez. Where he became the only unanimous MVP in NFL history. After Hernandez’s legal problems and subsequent expulsion from the league. The Patriots again transitioned to a hybrid of a two tight-end and spread offense. Where he again won his fourth and fifth Superbowls.

Rings:

Look I can already tell some of you are rolling your eyes at this argument. “Football is a team sport it takes more than one guy to win!” Well, look at it this way. In the current salary-cap era NFL teams change drastically every season. Unlike in Joe Montana’s time with no cap. It was easier for a team as rich as the 49ers to keep their team together. Going to the Super Bowl almost every year with the same team. Well, the Patriots don’t have that luxury. They face the inevitability some of their star players will leave for another team that pays more. This leads to changing schemes and personnel. Being to gain chemistry with new receivers, offensive lineman, coaches, and behind the scenes personnel. It is amazing if a player ever reaches a Super Bowl. Well not only has Brady has reached 7 Superbowls but he won FIVE! That is incredible. If you want to be considered the G.O.A.T. in a sport. You have to succeed both in the regular season, which Brady has, and in the post-season. That 25-point comeback did not solidify his status. That was long established. The comeback he engineered on Sunday. Was just the icing of his G.O.A.T. cake.