For Brady 'It's All About Winning'
BOSTON (CBS) – Patriots quarterback Tom Brady set some records in the team's 45-10 playoff blowout over the Denver Broncos, but in all honesty, he could care less.
"I have no idea what records and stuff like that," Brady said after the game. "We try to go out and execute well. I thought offensively we took advantage of some opportunities. That fumble we got was pretty important in the first quarter. Anytime you score points and you score 45, obviously with the help of our defense and special teams played great. Hopefully we can go out next week and play even better."
In the 20th playoff game of his career, Brady threw six touchdowns against the Denver defense tying the NFL record for a single playoff game. Five of those touchdowns came in the first half, also tying an NFL record.
Highs & Lows: Off To Another AFC Championship
He also set a Patriots franchise record with his 363 yards, which also moved him ahead of Dan Marino to fifth on the all-time list for postseason yards (he's up to 4,770). Brady is no at 36 career playoff touchdowns, good for third all-time.
But for Brady, stats mean very little. Especially since this was his first playoff win in nearly four years.
"It's all about winning," said Brady. "You lose a few playoff games and it's a very bitter way to end the season and it sits on your mind for quite a long time. For us to come out and play the way we did, have a very solid performance in the most important game of the year is very gratifying. I think that we have eight days until the biggest game of the year. From this point on, everyone will be focused on what we need to do to be better next week and hopefully come out and play for another championship."
"Everyone is here for one reason and it's to win – that's the reason why guys are here, is to win," he said. "Coach said last night, 'Every player that was in this room, it was for this game.' He puts together a gameplan to win this game and we did that."
While he is only focused on the final score, Brady has to be proud of his performance on Saturday. He completed his first eight passes, and really only made one mistake; a second quarter interception that was over the head of tight end Rob Gronkowski, who Brady hooked up with for three of his six touchdowns.
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"He was on fire man, that's just how he is," said Gronkowski. "It's Tom just throwing the ball in the playoffs just like any other game."
"The team revolves around him," said another one of Brady's touchdown recipients, tight end Aaron Hernandez. "When he comes to play, which is he mostly does every game, we're going to be on fire. When he's ready, we're all ready."
"He managed the team well," said head coach Bill Belichick. "We were in a fast-paced, no-huddle the whole game and as usual, he did and excellent job of controlling the formations and the plays and got us out of a couple bad situations."
Brady will now go for his 16th career postseason win next Sunday, which would tie him with his boyhood idol Joe Montana for the most of all-time.
Tune in the Patriots in the AFC Championship game Sunday, January 22 at 3pm on 98.5 The Sports Hub and WBZ-TV.
