How Eagles are preparing for ‘greatest quarterback of all time'

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At 40 years old, Tom Brady had one of his best seasons ever this year. 

He completed 66.3 percent of his passes — third-highest of his career — had a 102.2 passer rating — fifth-highest of his career — and threw four times more touchdowns (32) than interceptions (8).

He's now had four seasons with 4,500 or more passing yards and fewer than eight interceptions. Every other quarterback in NFL history combined has had two.

That's what the Eagles are up against next Sunday.

Brady may be 40 and in his 18th season, but he's still every bit as brilliant as ever.

"Greatest quarterback of all time, but that doesn't mean that he's unbeatable," Malcolm Jenkins said.

"We've got a destination that we're geared to. No matter who's in front of us, we've got somewhere to go. We're not worried about what's in front. We're going to run through what's there."

Brady has been better the second half of his career than the first. Since 2010, he has a 99-25 record and 263 touchdown passes and 61 interceptions.

On Sunday, the Eagles will try to join the Giants as the only team to beat him in a Super Bowl.

"What the Patriots do better than probably anybody is they create the matchups that they want," Jenkins said. "They get creative with their personnel and their formations and they'll spread you out to take advantage of a wide receiver on a linebacker, a tight end on a linebacker or a corner-receiver matchup. 

"So for us, we feel good about that. We do a good job of matching personnel, regardless of who we put on the field, but Brady's one of those quarterbacks that you've got to continue to be able to adjust.

"They'll go back at halftime and they'll make the proper adjustments. They'll do it mid-drive, mid-quarter, so you've always got to be on your P's and Q's being able to adjust. So everything that my book might say going into the game, three drives in you've got to throw it out because they've already changed, so you've got to have that flexibility on defense."

Brady did get sacked 35 times this year, the third-highest figure in his last 14 seasons and ninth-most in the NFL. This is not a great Patriots offensive line.

If the Eagles' vaunted defensive line can get to Brady, the Eagles will have a chance.

"What makes them so unique is (Brady) gets rid of the ball fast," Fletcher Cox said. "He’s not going to take a lot of hits. He knows where he’s going when the ball is snapped. 

"It's going to come down to the front four guys getting after the quarterback, making him uncomfortable in the pocket.”

The Eagles' defense has been hot, allowing just 17 points in two postseason wins.  

But the secondary has been very good much of the year. In 11 games since Week 8, only Russell Wilson, Jared Goff and Eli Manning have thrown more than one touchdown against the Eagles. During that span, the Eagles have allowed just 14 touchdowns and have 14 interceptions.

"I think we match up well," Jenkins said. "They've obviously got a great system, great offense, probably the best quarterback of all time, a great tight end, speedy receivers. 

"They've got a real good scheme, and they isolate people, but if there's any defense out there that can match up with every single person, I think it's this defense."

Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who began his coaching career under Bill Belichick in Cleveland, said it's a mistake to simply focus on Brady because the Patriots have so many talented players on offense.

"No player stands on his own," he said. "(Rob) Gronkowski, (Brandin) Cooks, (Danny) Amendola, (Chris) Hogan, (James) White, (Dion) Lewis — there are a million different guys in there. 

"The NFL in general, but particularly the Patriots, you can't scheme for one player. If you do, then they have plenty of other players that can make plays. You have to do a good job against their entire offense, and you can't really make it about one person.”

Brady was 23 for 33 for 236 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions against the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX. 

In seven Super Bowls, he's completed 67 percent of his passes and averaged 296 yards per game with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions.

“Everything runs through No. 12 (Brady) and 87 (Gronk)," Chris Long said. "In my opinion, those are two of the greatest to ever play at their positions. You can make an argument that they are the greatest.

"They work well as a team. Everything they do, they do on the same page. They have four or five really good running backs. Their offensive line, they’ve got one of the best-coached units in the league. 

"They just have a ton of weapons. You have to do everything well to beat them."

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