"Things may or may not work out for him today, but this is the kind of afternoon Tom Brady lives for.

All last week, the focus was on Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. The Sports Illustrated cover was of Tebow, not Brady. The big pregame TV interviews were with Tebow, not Brady. For some time now, the implication has been that Tebow should be playing for the Saints because he is one. Brady couldn't care less about any of that, but it hasn't gone unnoticed.

Most of the weekly chatter has been focused on the streaking Broncos, winners of seven of their last eight since Tebow took over, rather than on the 10-3 Patriots, who are trapped in the middle of a dogfight with the Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers for a top seed and first-round bye in the AFC playoffs — a fight they can win only if Brady plays like a saint himself every week."