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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- There may be room for debate in some circles as to whether Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback to ever play the game, but following the New England Patriots' 26-10 dismissal of the dismal Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, there is no question as to the winningest passer in history. The win was the 201st of Brady's 17-year career, moving past longtime rival and contemporary Peyton Manning for the all-time lead.
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Playing his first game since All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowksi was placed on injured reserve with a back injury, Brady's record-setter was otherwise far from a career highlight. He completed 33 of 46 passes for 269 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions for a ho-hum 93.5 rating.
"I'm grateful for all of my teammates and my coaches and for my family and friends," Brady said. "There's been a lot of football over the years, so it's always been about winning and I've been very fortunate to be on a lot of great teams. I just feel very grateful."
On a day when New England celebrated the 15-year anniversary of the Super Bowl XXXVI team that was the first of four Brady led to Lombardi glory, the Patriots controlled the game throughout with balanced success if not preferred dominance.
LeGarrette Blount turned a first-quarter fourth-and-1 into a 43-yard touchdown to open the scoring. And the much-maligned New England defense took care of business against rookie Rams starter Jared Goff, holding L.A. to just 25 total yards in the first half while sacking the No. 1 overall pick four times and taking advantage of a pair of interceptions.
New England kicker Stephen Gostkowksi also tried to distance himself from a season-long slump, hitting all four of his field goals including three from 45-plus.
The win, best described as taking care of business against an inferior opponent, helped New England keep pace with the Oakland Raiders atop the AFC. But the story of the day was Brady's 201st victory, one his teammates were excited to take part in.
"I think probably the best part of it, seeing a guy like him, is he comes in and he wants no recognition for it. He's all about the wins for the team," safety Devin McCourty said. "He doesn't really see it as an individual stat.
"He echoed that in the locker room after the game and that's why he's a great leader. That's why we've been able to win a lot of games because of his leadership. The younger guys that come in and become leaders learn it from him and from passing that along."
Brady may deflect the attention paid toward his greatness, but that doesn't diminish what the 39-year-old legend continues to accomplish.
"We're in a locker room with a walking legend," cornerback Malcolm Butler said. "The most wins in quarterback history in the NFL, but he still comes to work like he hasn't accomplished anything. I look up to that; much respect and congratulations."
Butler helped out the cause with his second interception of the season.
Coming off three weeks against lesser teams in the San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets and Rams, the hope is that victory No. 201 can be used as a building block as New England prepares for the final month of action that gets going with key battles against the Ravens and then week later in Denver against the Broncos.
History was made, but now it moves into the past just like any other Patriots win or loss in Bill Belichick's the-next-one-is-the-most-important-one world in Foxborough.
"I think that's a record that probably won't ever be broken. He'll continue to build on it this season, and he's looking great while doing it," Blount said. "I was the first person today to say 201, so congratulations to him, that's not easy. It's not something a lot of quarterbacks can say, but you know him he's already onto next week."
