Tom Brady Owns Almost Every Playoff Record Imaginable

He further cemented his status as the greatest postseason quarterback ever Saturday.

The Patriots appeared to be vulnerable heading into their matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs Saturday: They had lost four of their final six regular-season games, their roster was ravaged by injuries and they had just experienced one of the more bizarre weeks in recent franchise history—featuring Bill Belichick’s swollen left eye and Chandler Jones’ shirtless visit to the Foxborough Police Station because he reportedly smoked too much synthetic marijuana.

But from the moment the Patriots took the field, it was apparent they came ready to play. Tom Brady completed eight passes during the first drive of the game, setting the tone for the Patriots’ 27-20 victory over the Chiefs at Gillette Stadium that will send them to their fifth straight AFC Championship.

It was a sensational afternoon for Brady, who went 28-for-42 for 302 yards and two touchdowns. Julian Edelman caught 10 passes for 100 yards in his first game in two months since breaking his foot and Rob Gronkowski, whose health was a question mark at the end of the week, added seven catches for 83 yards while reeling in both of Brady’s touchdown throws. Brady now has 55 career playoff TD passes, which is the most in history, as well.  He also owns the records for completions and yards.

With Edelman and Gronkowski back in the lineup, Brady was able to turn in arguably his best performance in two months. He unleashed a number of surgically precise throws, such as a back knee pass to Edelman and first quarter touchdown to an outstretched Gronkowski.

But perhaps the highlight of the day for Brady came during a drive midway through the second quarter in which he scrambled for a 10-yard gain and later dove into the end zone for a score. He also wrapped up offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels with one of the most aggressive hugs you’ll ever see.

Brady will play in his record-setting 31st career playoff game when he takes the field for the AFC Championship next Sunday, breaking a tie with former teammate Adam Vinatieri. It will be Brady’s 10th conference championship game, which is three more than any other quarterback in history. If the Patriots win, Brady will play in his seventh Super Bowl. He already owns the record with six Super Bowl appearances.

This is the second wind of the Patriots dynasty, with Brady being the only player on the roster who remains from those championship teams in the early portion of the millennium. And as his performance Sunday shows, he’s still at the top of his game when the Patriots need him most.