New England looks to ride Brady's arm all the way to the postseason. (Wikimedia Commons)

The veteran quarterback proved he had plenty left to offer, though, with a record-setting performance that earned him recognition as the AFC Offensive Player of the Week. This marks Brady's 18th time receiving the honor, tying him for second place with Dan Marino, behind only Peyton Manning (20).

Brady went 32-for-48 against the Miami Dolphins while setting a Patriots' franchise record with 517 yards and four touchdowns. The performance places him at fifth all-time for passing yards in a game.

He also tied the NFL record with his 99-yard touchdown pass to Wes Welker in the fourth quarter, joining only 11 other quarterbacks who have accomplished the feat. The game marked Brady's 15th performance throwing for at least four touchdowns, ranking him fifth all-time in that category as well.

Looking forward to the Patriots' home opener against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday afternoon, Brady had some advice for fans.

"Start drinking early. Get nice and rowdy. 4:15 game, lot of time to get lubed up. Come out here, and cheer for the home team," he suggested.

Of course, the Patriots clarified this remark by explaining that Brady meant fans should "stay hydrated and drink a lot of water." Either way, Brady says he hopes to give fans plenty to cheer for.

San Diego also comes into the weekend off of a victory in week one, after boasting one of the leagues' best offenses and defenses last season. The match-up between these two teams usually proves to be a great contest, and this year should be no different.

Brady and the Patriots will try to continue their strong passing game, with receivers Deion Branch and Wes Welker as probable targets. The Bolts are known for their pass rush, though, led by outside linebacker Shaun Phillips. 

In response, the Pats will most likely try to target tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski. Twitter fanatic Chad Ochocinco, who has received criticism for producing more online content than in-game results, also hopes to have a more substantial performance. With so many targets available, Brady should be able to perform well as long as he has time to hit the open man.

The Patriots will also attempt to strengthen their running game, with Danny Woodhead and "The Law Firm" BenJarvus Green-Ellis leading the way. San Diego promises to have a strong defense against the run, though, particularly with newly acquired standout Takeo Spikes.

On defense, the Patriots will have to play a strong game to stop Philip Rivers, who remains one of the top quarterbacks in the league year after year. Tight end Antonio Gates will also be a threat, along with receivers Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd.

Overall, the game will most likely play out in true Patriots-Chargers fashion for a close result, but most predictions give New England a slight edge.

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