Ranking Tom Brady's 5 Greatest Playoff Performances

Tom Brady, arguably the best quarterback of all time, has enjoyed tremendous success in the playoffs. With a playoff record of 21-8, Brady has the most postseason wins in league history. Yet of these 21 victories, five games stand out above the rest.

Some quarterbacks shrink when the lights get too bright, while others rely on a great defense or a stellar running game. It's the great ones that can handle the pressure and lead their team to victory. Time and time again, Brady has been an integral part of the teams win, dominating on the big stage and putting up impressive numbers.

Of course, this list is incomplete, as Brady and the Patriots seem poised for another deep playoff run next season.

Honorable Mentions

(Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Super Bowl XXXVI: Patriots vs. Rams
16-27, 1 TD, 0 INT, 145 YDS

With the game on the line, Tom Brady led the Patriots to an improbable Super Bowl victory ending on an Adam Vinatieri field goal. The rest of the game, however, Brady wasn't that impressive. He finished the game with one touchdown, and the Patriots scored just six points in the second half.

2004 AFC Championship: Patriots vs. Steelers 
14-21, 2 TD, 0 INT, 207 YDS

People will remember the next game against the Eagles, when the Patriots won their third Super Bowl in four years, but we can't ignore Brady's performance against the Steelers. Despite facing the best defense in the league on the road, Brady and the Patriots still found a way to put up 41 points.

2007 Divisional Round: Patriots vs. Jaguars
26-28, 3 TD, 0 INT, 262 YDS

Believe it or not, at one point the Jaguars were good at football, but when they came into Foxborough, they witnessed a clinic by Brady. He missed just two passes the entire game, going 26 of 28 with three touchdowns.

5. Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots vs. Eagles

(Jeff Haynes/Getty Images)

23-33, 2 TDs, 0 INT, 236 YDS

Tom Brady didn't have a heroic game-winning drive, and his numbers don't jump off the page, but he was efficient and made the plays he needed to. Brady ran a much different offense back then than he does today, and he had the luxury of having a pro bowl running back in Corey Dillon in the backfield.

Both New England and Philadelphia had lethal defenses that year, each giving up just 16.3 points per game in the regular season. But while Donovan McNabb had future Hall of Famer Terrell Owens to throw to, Brady made Deion Branch a Super Bowl MVP.

Unlike his first two Super Bowls, Brady didn't need to lead a game-winning field-goal drive. Instead, he handed his defense a 10-point lead with just over nine minutes to go, and they did the rest.

4. 2011 Divisional Round: Patriots vs. Broncos

(Elsa/Getty Images)

26-34, 6 TDs, 1 INT, 363 YDS

I realize that Tom Brady was going up against Tim Tebow, but it's always impressive when you throw six touchdowns, especially in the playoffs.

This game will be forgotten because it was a blowout and nobody expected Denver to stand a chance, but Brady had five touchdowns in the first half alone, and he opened the third quarter with another one. If not for mercy for the Broncos, who knows what else Brady could have done?

Statistically, this game should be right near the top, but the degree of difficulty was non-existent. The game was essentially over when the Broncos listed Tebow as their starting quarterback.

3. 2014 Divisional Round: Patriots vs. Ravens

(Elsa/Getty Images)

33-50, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 367 YDS

Yes, this was just the divisional round, but without Tom Brady's brilliance the Patriots would never have won their fourth Super Bowl. Brady and the Patriots twice found themselves in a 14-point deficit, but they still managed to get the win.

With almost no running game to rely on, Brady had to shoulder the load for the offense. Brady didn't hand the ball off once in the second half. The Patriots needed their quarterback to come through, and he delivered.

Other than an uncharacteristic interception late in the first half, Brady was lights out. Brady fittingly broke Joe Montana's playoff touchdown record on his final throw of the game, on a perfect pass that fell right into Brandon LaFell's lap.

2. Super Bowl XXXVIII: Patriots vs. Panthers

(Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

32-48, 3 TDS, 1 INT, 354 YDS

With 14 seconds remaining in a tied Super Bowl, Tom Brady found Deion Branch on a 17-yard completion that put the Patriots in field-goal range. That was easily Brady's biggest throw of the game, but he carved up Carolina's defense the entire night.

The Patriots asked Brady to do much more than in his first Super Bowl, as he threw it 21 more times this game. Brady proved he could handle the extra responsibility, passing for more than twice as many yards against the Panthers as he did versus the Rams.

Throwing for three touchdowns, Brady led the Patriots to 32 points. He spread the ball around the entire night, throwing to six different receivers, including a touchdown to linebacker Mike Vrabel.

1. Super Bowl XLIX: Patriots vs. Seahawks

(Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

37-50, 4 TDs, 2 INTs, 328 YDS

I promise that I'm not being prisoner of the moment. Facing a historic defense in Seattle, Tom Brady consistently led the Patriots down the field.

Against the "Legion of Boom", Brady set a Super Bowl record with 37 completions. He did have his fair share of mistakes though, throwing two interceptions.

However, when it mattered most, Brady was near perfect. No team had ever come back from a 10-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter in a Super Bowl, but Brady found a way. In the fourth quarter, Brady went 12 of 14, and threw for two touchdowns.

On the Super Bowl winning drive, Brady didn't miss a pass. He didn't have any amazing, highlight-reel throws, but Brady calmly, methodically moved the chains. Brady made it look easy, and he finished the drive with a touchdown to Julian Edelman.