Ravens vs. Patriots: Why Tom Brady Is as Focused as Ever

With how great quarterback play has been in the NFL this year, it's easy to forget that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was unanimously selected as the league's MVP last season.

While he was certainly fantastic last year, the 34-year-old quarterback may be as locked-in as ever right now.

This season, Brady completed 401 of 611 passes (65.6 percent) for a career-high 5,235 yards with 39 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. 

His passer rating of 105.6 ranked third in the league.

He built on his outstanding regular season by throwing for 363 yards and six touchdowns during New England's 45-10 win over the Denver Broncos in the Divisional round of the playoffs.

The win over Denver was the ninth straight victory for the Patriots, and in that stretch, Brady has been almost perfect. 

During that span, the Michigan product has thrown for 2,895 yards (321.7 yards per game) with 25 touchdowns and just three interceptions.

Part of the reason for Brady's success has been how well the players around him have played.

Receiver Wes Welker led the NFL with 122 catches, finishing second in yards (1,569), while Rob Gronkowski led all tight ends in yards (1,327), and set a league record for touchdowns at the position with 17. 

In addition to those two, Deion Branch added 51 catches for 702 yards and five scores, while Aaron Hernandez pitched in with 79 catches for 910 yards and seven touchdowns. 

Brady has confidence in all of his targets; that much is obvious just watching him work in the pocket.

He seems determined to get his team to the big game yet again and make up for his last trip there, when the Patriots were upset by the New York Giants at Super Bowl XLII.

As of now, I don't think anyone can slow down the league's reigning MVP as he carves his path to Indianapolis.