Although the New England Patriots are coming off a disappointing loss in Super Bowl 52, there is no doubt that they are heavy favorites to return to the big stage next year. The main reason is that quarterback Tom Brady is still performing at a high level despite entering his 40s.

Brady has made it clear that he still intends to play for several more years. He may have even given a more precise prediction in the comments of an ESPN post regarding his retirement, via Nick O'Malley of MassLive.com:

Brady's comment may have gone over the head of most of his fan base, however, it is Spanish for “45,” That would fall in line with his prior predictions of playing into his mid-40s. This means that the Patriots could potentially have their franchise quarterback for another five years barring injury.

It goes without saying that fans would be delighted to have Brady under center for as long as possible. However, it remains to be seen whether or not the Patriots want the same.

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New England endured its fair share of controversy during the 2017 campaign when reports rose about a rift happening within the organization. At the forefront of the disputes was Brady's long-term security with the team. With quarterback Jimmy Garappolo now out of the picture, there is no debate about which player they will rely on.

At this point, it is clear that Brady is simply playing for the love of the game. He has achieved the pinnacle of his profession and is widely considered the greatest quarterback of all time. Now it seems his only challenge left is to beat “Father Time.”