Tom Brady: Story of 2018 Patriots 'is still being written'

FOXBOROUGH — It was a locked-in Tom Brady at the podium in the Patriots’ media workroom on Thursday. The quarterback, making a surprise appearance (he dubbed it “bonus Brady” to reporters on the way in -- he was under no obligation to talk during the bye week), reminded everyone the game changes when the calendar flips to January.



“It is naturally a level of intensity that you can’t really emulate at any other point in the season, and really for us, any other point in our life,” Brady said when asked about the playoffs. “We all work hard to get to this point, and to have an opportunity like we have I don’t think you take them for granted. There’s been so many plays that I have seen in my career that have we not made that one play, which could just be an extra effort, could be an arm tackle, could be just one extra push of the pile that ends up being the difference of an entire game, and really an entire season.

"That is what it’s all about,” he added. “It’s great when it comes out for us, and I think you just try and express that I don’t think you can compete any less than what you are ultimately capable of competing at — that level. It is intense. It’s every play and it is just you max out. You can’t leave everything behind. You just give everything you've got.”

Brady was asked what might differentiate the 2018 team from its predecessors.

“Every team has its own unique identity,” he said. "This team cares a lot about each other. We play for each other and we’re playing to win. I think that is what we’re here for. We have shown we can compete, we’ve shown we can overcome some adversity. We have been counted out a few times and showed back up with a lot of resolve. We have great character on this team.

“Our story is still being written, and fortunately, we have an opportunity to write it,” he added. “We have to go out there and play our best. Every team we play — next week and beyond, hopefully, is a great team. They’ve earned it. The team we play will have won a playoff game. We’re going to have to play our best game of the year.”