Along with their other achievements, the New England Patriots have provided a welcome distraction from you-know-who. No, we aren’t talking about Roger Goodell, the NFL commissioner who suspended Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for the first four games of the season over accusations involving slightly soft footballs. Rather, we are talking about the Patriots fan in the White House who claims the Patriots owner, head coach and quarterback are his pals. We need not name him here — every other day in the media may belong to him, but Sunday did not.

Those whoops of joy that rose up over New England in general and the Upper Valley in particular Sunday night were the result of victory and surprise. Those who do not closely follow such affairs should know that the Patriots trailed the Atlanta Falcons 28-3 late in the third quarter. No team had ever come back from such a deficit in 50 Super Bowls, but Brady, who had been largely ineffective earlier, led the Patriots on five straight scoring drives to tie the game at the end of regulation. Throw in a miracle catch by wide receiver Julian Edelman, who improbably snatched a tipped ball off a defender’s leg inches from the turf, and the game only needed a soundtrack with soaring brass to become a Hollywood movie. In overtime, the Patriots won the coin toss — even gravity and physics were on their side — and drove to victory.

One source of satisfaction for Patriots fans is that in an era when everything seems open to argument, with each side advancing its own set of facts, here is one arena in which things are settled. Brady now has five Super Bowl rings, more than any other quarterback, ever. Belichick has five Super Bowl rings, more than any other head coach, ever. What more needed to be said but bring on the duck boat parade?

Perhaps most impressive was Brady’s victory on Sunday over the ravages of time, which seem to have bypassed him. At 39, plenty young for a hedge-fund manager or high school history teacher, but well into the twilight for pro quarterbacks, he set a record for pass completions in the Super Bowl. No NFL quarterback with his seniority has ever come close to his performance this season. It would be rational for him to retire now, on top, before the physical punishments of football curtail what should be a long and comfortable retirement. We would advise him to seriously consider it, but Brady seems beyond taking such guidance. Only Belichick might have the stature to offer it, but unlike the Patriots fan in the White House, he holds his counsel. In these noisy times, Belichick’s restraint seems an exceptional example, not just for Patriots Nation, but the larger one as well.