Meaning, it starts with defense. When Brady plays, he knows he can take a three and out and be fine. He will get the ball back.

When manning played, if he didn't do something with the ball, he may never see it again. Take 2004. Close game. They come out in the second half and are driving. Reggie Wayne fumbles, and he basically doesn't see the ball again. Corey Dillon sat on the ball the rest of the half. That forces a QB to take more chances than he can or should.

On offense, the Pats put money where it mattered-on the line. The colts were unwilling to do so, and paid for it when they played physical teams, and playoff teams. Well, manning paid for it. Let's also not forget that Brady has played with quite a bit of talent. Welker, Edelman, Gronk, Dillon, Blount, Moss. The list is long. David Patten was short lived.

I would also argue that Manning made his guys better than they were. You weren't seeing guys take slants for touchdowns. It was him making a great pass. The two guys I think would have been great regardless were Clark and James, pre injury. But I can't prove that, obviously.