Once upon a time a no-name, second-string quarterback led the New England Patriots to the franchise's first-ever Super Bowl title. It was the ultimate underdog story; one of a lanky 21-year-old 31 NFL teams passed on only to see him become the winningest player in postseason history.
Tom Brady's name wasn't announced until the sixth round of the 2000 draft. None of the 198 selected before Brady can say they've come anywhere near his five (soon to be six) championship games partly because they can't mirror his longevity. Sebastian Janikowski and Shane Lechler are the only other active players from that class. It's equally doubtful any can say they're lucky enough to have married a Brazilian supermodel.
Twelve years after Brady's selection, the Seattle Seahawks took a similar risk on a dexterous yet undersized quarterback out of Wisconsin. Sure he could run - averaging 4.3 yards per carry in his senior collegiate season - but how effective would be against NFL pass rushers, especially facing impenetrable defensive lines in the NFC West six times a year?
Well, he was good enough to lead Seattle past defending NFC champion San Francisco before steamrolling Peyton Manning's heavily favored Denver Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVII. Good enough to earn two Pro Bowl appearances. At a time when every PR move the NFL makes is scrutinized. Russell Wilson is good enough to garner national acclaim as one of the league's good guys.
Brady and Wilson's journeys to Super Bowl XLIX couldn't be more similar if they had auditioned for a sequel to "Invincible." Each hoisted the Lombardi twice in that timespan; Wilson can become the first quarterback in league history with two in his first three years with a win Sunday (Brady rode the pine in his rookie campaign).
Brady was 40-12 in his first three seasons as a starter in New England; Wilson went 42-13. Wilson notched 11,591 passing yards. Brady had just 68 fewer. Wilson has thrown 82 touchdown to 31 interceptions. Brady has 75 touchdowns to 41 picks.
Then the similarities end. The two couldn't be more different as playmakers.
Wilson is an elite quarterback in the non-traditional sense. He isn't a gun-slinger. He won't rile off 15 consecutive completions. But Wilson will throw defenses for a loop with both his legs and mind.
The 26-year-old raised his record against Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks to 10-0 with the inconceivable come-from-behind victory over Green Bay in the NFC title game two weeks ago. It was his second win over Aaron Rodgers this season, dating back to opening night. More than that, it came after three docile quarters where Wilson threw four interceptions, though two were inadvertently his fault. Jermain Kearse had two bounce off his hands.
Call it perseverance or, as he claimed after the overtime victory, divine intervention but Wilson finds a way to win. Playing alongside Marshawn Lynch doesn't hurt. Lynch is the main reason no quarterback has thrown fewer passes than Wilson over the last two years, and that's the way head coach Pete Carroll wants it. This isn't the right time to stray from the game plan. Whether Carroll lets Wilson take full control of the offense depends on whether Lynch returns next season.
Brady doesn't have any restrictions. Bill Belichick too his training wheels off over a decade ago. The only thing stopping Brady from tying Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw for Super Bowl wins is Seattle's defensive secondary, led by Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman who each nursed arm injuries following the win over the Packers.
The Patriots manufacture staunch talent of out wideouts and tight ends that would be outcasts otherwise. Brady made Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola household names in the New England area. LeGarrette Blount - who kick and screamed his way out of Pittsburgh - salvaged his season playing behind Brady. They had only two offensive players selected to the Pro Bowl - Brady and Rob Gronkowski - despite averaging 29. 2 points and over 365 yards per game during the regular season.
When it comes down to it, Brady is a better passer. He's never needed proven talent to make New England a winner. Without Lynch, the Seahawks may not even be a Super Bowl contender. If Lynch can't penetrate the d-line, the Patriots will assault Wilson to the point that throwing the ball out of bounds will seem like a relief, as Andrew Luck witnessed in the AFC championship.
Wilson nearly buckled under the pressure against Green Bay's defense, and that was with Lynch running for 157 yards. Come 6:30 p.m. Sunday night, the Patriots won't be as forgiving.
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