No. 3: Tom Brady, Patriots pull off thriller over Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX
Some could argue this was the finest Super Bowl win Tom Brady has ever had.
It’s a good argument. After all, the Patriots were facing the defending champions, the Seattle Seahawks, who had dominated the Denver Broncos the previous Super Bowl and were riding high behind the likes of quarterback Russell Wilson, running back Marshawn Lynch and the vaunted “Legion of Boom” defense that ranked No. 1 in the NFL that season.
Perhaps the only thing that keeps this game from being No. 1 on this list, though, is the fact cornerback Malcolm Butler’s goal-line interception off Wilson ensured New England’s victory. If Lynch got the ball and scored with seconds remaining, this game would have to be ranked much, much lower:
That said, Brady was still excellent. Especially considering Seattle took what was then considered a commanding 24-14 lead late in the third quarter. Against that Seahawks defense, Brady and Co. faced an extreme uphill climb.
But Brady delivered, tossing two fourth-quarter touchdowns to wide receivers Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman en route to the 28-24 victory and Brady’s fourth ring.
Brady’s fourth Super Bowl MVP award in the wake of him passing four touchdowns against that vaunted defense will stand forever as him securing the GOAT moniker.