Tom Brady Can Cement Legacy as Greatest Ever in NFL Playoffs 2012

If New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady wins a fourth Super Bowl this season, he will go down as the greatest quarterback in NFL history.

A fourth Super Bowl ring will tie him with Hall of Famers Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw for the most in NFL history.

The difference? Tom Brady never had Jerry Rice, John Taylor or Roger Craig on offense, and he definitely didn't have a "Steel Curtain" defense to back him up either.

Not only will Brady's team accomplishments equal his predecessors, but his individual accomplishments will trump anything they've ever done as a result of playing during a pass-happy NFL era.

Brady seemingly sets a new record every time he steps on the field now after 159 career starts. By comparison, Montana has 164 career starts to his name.

When looking at the two side by side, there really is no comparison.

Career Record as a Starter

Brady: 124-35

Montana: 117-47

Career QB Rating

Brady: 96.4

Montana: 92.3

Touchdown-to-Interception Ratio

Brady: 300 to 115 (2.6:1)

Montana: 273 to 139 (1.96:1)

Completion Percentage

Brady: 63.8 percent

Montana: 63.2 percent

Game-Winning Drives

Brady: 34

Montana: 33

And of course, Brady owns the record for most touchdown passes in a season (50), second-most passing yards in a season (5,235) and his 2007 season remains one of the three best seasons by a quarterback of all time.

Yet, when it's all said and done, it always come down to rings when comparing the all-time great quarterbacks. This year, we will see Brady going for his fourth, Ben Roethlisberger going for his third, and both Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees going for their second.  

Historical legacies are on the line this year like never before, and if Brady is able to secure a fourth Super Bowl win (and likely third Super Bowl MVP), there will no longer be a debate regarding the greatest quarterback in NFL history.