Tom Brady Sets Record With 201st Career Victory For Patriots
By Michael Hurley, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- It's official -- no quarterback in NFL history has ever won as much as Tom Brady.
With Sunday's 26-10 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, Brady earned the 201st win of his career, regular season and playoffs combined.
"I'm just grateful for all my teammates and my coaches and for my family and friends," Brady said after Sunday's win. "It's been a lot of football over the years. It's always been about winning. I've been very fortunate to be on a lot of great teams. So I feel very grateful."
Head coach Bill Belichick, who drafted Brady in 2000, spoke to how Brady's managed to maintain consistency through age 39.
"I think Tom does the things he's always done," Belichick said. "He prepares hard on and off the field, physically, mentally. Studies film, knows our game plan, knows the opponents. He's got great experience. Every game, there are a couple of plays out there that I'd just say are made on experience, in just kind of sensing something or doing the right thing in the right situation. And he's got a lot of poise. Guys are flying around all around him, but he's able to keep his eyes downfield and keep his eyes on the target. He does a great job in the pocket, seeing the rush.
"Pretty long list," Belichick concluded. "I don't think you win over 200 games by just doing one or two things right. You do a lot of them. He does."
Julian Edelman, who caught eight passes from Brady for 101 yards on Sunday, discussed the achievement from his perspective.
"I've watched him play since I was in like, eighth grade. And I've been here for eight years. So that tells you something," Edelman said. "It's good to see him do this. It couldn't happen to a better guy or a better player. Everything he's done, he deserves. And he should be the face of this league with his story, how he prepares. He's a family man. It just couldn't happen to anyone better."
Cornerback Malcolm Butler, whose interception helped Brady and the Patriots earn that fourth Super Bowl title in 2014, said Brady has set the ideal example for how to work.
"We're in the locker room with a walking legend. He has the most wins in quarterback history in the NFL, but he still comes to work like he hasn't accomplished anything," Butler said. "I look up to that. Much respect and congratulations."
It was a mark that Brady most likely would have reached earlier this season, if not for the four-game suspension he was forced to serve. But he made his season debut in Week 5 and has since earned seven victories in eight games played. Despite the four-game absence, he remains a major contender for the NFL MVP Award.
Brady completed 33 of 46 passes on Sunday for 269 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions. On the season, he's now completed 68.9 percent of his passes for 2,470 yards, 19 touchdowns and just one interception.
Last week's win over the Jets was Brady's 200th career victory, which put him into a tie with Peyton Manning for most all time. But now, Brady stands alone as the winningest quarterback in history.
In addition to the cumulative total, Brady's win percentage remains the best among the all-time leaders in victories. He's now won 179 times in 231 games, good for a .775 winning percentage.
Brady also holds the record for most postseason victories by a quarterback (22) and most postseason starts (nine), and he's tied with Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw for the most Super Bowl wins with four.
Obviously, football games are won and lost based on the performances of more than one player. But equally as obvious is the significant role played by the quarterback, who gets the ball on every single offensive snap and is most responsible for both making big plays and avoiding crucial errors. While Brady has certainly had his share of games in which his defense or teammates contributed more to the victory, the fact that he's amassed more victories than any other quarterback in history is no mistake.
And clearly, the steadfast attempts of Roger Goodell to go after Brady ended up doing nothing to slow down the quarterback. He's won 21 of the 27 games since NFL officials botched an unprecedented measurement of air pressure in footballs during the AFC Championship Game of the 2014 season.
Though Brady owns the record for most regular season and postseason wins combined, he's still got a ways to go to capture the regular-season record. He currently has 179 regular-season wins under his belt. Up next on the list are Brett Favre and Peyton Manning, tied at 186 wins. So long as Brady remains healthy, he should be able to claim that title in the middle of next season.
