Brady chases history

TOM Brady’s New England is the team to beat in the new NFL season. AFP

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is plotting another improbable chapter of his record-breaking career as the National Football League (NFL) kicks off its 100th season on Thursday.

Almost 100 years after the Dayton Triangles defeated the Columbus Panhandles in what is regarded as the first meeting between two NFL teams, the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers will launch the 2019-2020 campaign in a blockbuster season-opener at Soldier Field.

Thursday’s kick-off marks the 199th game between the two bitter NFC North rivals, who will play out the 200th instalment of their rivalry at Lambeau Field later in the season.

Brady and the Patriots meanwhile make their season bow in another eye-catching divisional clash on Sunday, when they face Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium.

The Patriots start the season as the team to beat, led by the age-defying 42-year-old Brady in what will be the quarterback’s 20th season in the NFL.

Brady completed the 2018-2019 season by winning a record sixth Super Bowl crown as the Patriots shut down the free-scoring Los Angeles Rams in Atlanta.

Once again, Brady will start the season looking over his shoulder at a crop of talented young rivals eager to knock the veteran quarterback and the Patriots off their perch.

If recent history is any guide, however, Brady will be relishing the challenge.

Last season Brady outduelled the Kansas City Chiefs’ young prodigy Patrick Mahomes in the American Football Conference Championship game, before nerveless vanquishing Jared Goff and the Rams in a low-scoring Super Bowl.

Brady, who signed a new contract with the Patriots last month, says his latest arm-wrestle with Father Time represents a journey into the unknown.

“I’m ready to go this year and that’s really what matters,” Brady said.

“It’s a unique situation I’m in. I’m in my 20th year with the same team. I’m 42 years old, so pretty much uncharted territory, I think, for everybody.”

After becoming the oldest quarterback to win the Super Bowl last season, Brady could become the second quarterback to reach four consecutive Super Bowls this year.

A successful defense of the NFL crown would make the Patriots only the second team in history to win back-to-back Super Bowls.