Tom Brady's Most Shocking Super Bowl Moments

The New England Patriots are in yet another Super Bowl and a large part of that is thanks to their quarterback, Tom Brady.

When Brady and the Patriots take on the New York Giants on February 5th, it will be his fifth Super Bowl. Brady is 3-1 when playing in the season finale, having won two Super Bowl MVPs along the way. Since Brady and the Pats have played in so many Super Bowls together, they've made plenty of memories while trying to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Here's a list of some of Tom Brady's most shocking Super Bowl memories.

Brady-Vrabel Connection Proves Lethal

By the 2004-05 season, teams across the league knew that Tom Brady liked to throw to linebacker Mike Vrabel in goal-line situations.

So when Vrabel lined up as a tight end at the Eagles' 2-yard line in Super Bowl XXXVIX against the Philadelphia Eagles, everyone knew what was coming. But the Eagles still couldn't stop Vrabel from scoring.

Brady fed the ball to Vrabel even after he was held by the Eagles' Jevon Kearse. It put the Patriots up 14-7 and they went on to win 24-21. Brady threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns, but two of those yards were more important and surprising than the rest: his two-yard pass to his linebacker—I mean tight end—Mike Vrabel.

Mike Vrabel Lends a Helping Hand, Again

After being all defense in the first quarter of Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers, Tom Brady really got the offense going in the second half.

With 6:47 left in the fourth quarter, the Patriots took over at their own 32. Working out of the shotgun, Brady and his receivers picked apart the Panthers and marched down the field. In six completions on 11 plays in 4:02, the Pats scored to go up 29-22 on Carolina after a Kevin Faulk two-point conversion.

It was a classic Tom Brady drive.

But the most surprising part of the drive? 

Linebacker Mike Vrabel came into the game as an eligible tight end and caught Brady's one-yard touchdown pass.

Brady Unable to Close Out Panthers

The Patriots wound up winning Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers by a score of 32-29, but not before some dramatic moments.

Tom Brady has only ever thrown one interception during the Super Bowl and it came at a critical moment in his second appearance, against the Panthers.

After Vrabel's score, at the 7:48 mark of the fourth quarter, Brady threw into coverage in the end zone and got picked off by Reggie Howard. If it had been caught for a touchdown, it would have put the Patriots up by 12. Instead, the Panters capitalized on the turnover and scored a touchdown—but failed on the two-point conversion. The 13-point swing left the Panthers up 22-21 instead of a New England lead of 28-16. 

Luckily for the Patriots, kicker Adam Vinateri came through and kicked the game-winning field goal with four seconds left in the game.

Brady's Imperfect Season

The New England Patriots entered Super Bowl XLII 18-0 and ready to face the New York Giants en route to a perfect season.

All they needed was one win, and the 2007-08 New England Patriots were in the record books as the greatest team of all time.

While Brady didn't play badly, he was never able to close out the Giants and lost the game 17-14. He finished with 266 passing yards and one touchdown, but was sacked five times. The final drive of the game included three incomplete passes—one on 4th-and-20—and a sack.

Tom Brady has been so good throughout his entire career, it's almost more surprising when he fails than when he succeeds.

Almost.

Brady Takes Down the Rams

On February 3rd, 2002, just months after second-year quarterback Tom Brady replaced an injured Drew Bledsoe, the New England Patriots were in the Super Bowl.

It was only the Patriots' third Super Bowl appearance and they came into the game as 14-point underdogs to "The Greatest Show on Turf" and the St. Louis Rams, who were led by MVP quarterback Kurt Warner, wide receivers Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt, and running back Marshall Faulk. 

The New England defense played great and Brady threw for a modest 92 yards and a touchdown.

Until the final drive.

Tied at 17-17 and with 1:21 left in the game, Brady picked apart the St. Louis defense. The drive was highlighted by a 23-yard pass to wide receiver Troy Brown with 29 seconds to go to move the ball to the Rams' 36.

Three plays later, kicker Adam Vinateri hit a 48-yard field goal to win the Super Bowl.

Brady finished with 145 yards, a touchdown, a Super Bowl MVP and the start of a legacy.