Time can’t touch New England’s magic man

TOM Brady and the New England Patriots will have a slew of records in their sights today as they aim to defend their Super Bowl crown against a Philadelphia Eagles side chasing a first ever win.

Brady (above) will become the oldest quarterback in history to win the Lombardi Trophy if he leads the Patriots to a record-equalling sixth title.

A sixth title for Brady would also give him more Super Bowl rings than any other player in history, taking him one clear of San Francisco 49ers great Charles Haley.

Win or lose, Brady will already become the oldest nonkicker to play in the showpiece when he suits up 16 years after guiding the Patriots to his first Super Bowl triumph, a 20-17 defeat of the St. Louis Rams in 2002.

More than 100 million households in the US are expected to tune in for Brady’s latest tilt with Father Time, ending a tumultuous NFL season rocked by player protests and a feud with President Donald Trump.

Trump triggered a furious backlash across the NFL last September after disparaging mostly African-American players who refused to stand for the anthem in a protest against social injustices.

Advertisers are expected to steer clear of politically charged TV ads, in contrast to last year, when issues such as immigration and women’s rights were tackled.

Pop star Justin Timberlake, who headlines the halftime show, will also aim to avoid controversy, 14 years after the TV-watching nation was scandalised by Janet Jackson in the “Nipplegate” furore.

The finale comes one year after Brady inspired New England to the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, when the Patriots overturned a 28-3 third quarter deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-28.