TAMPA, Fla. - It’s a matchup for the ages. Or the aged.

The older man. And the Brees.

A pair of 40-plus year olds defying NFL odds face off for a spot in the NFC Championship Game. Only three quarterbacks in their 40’s have won playoff games.

Tom Brady and Drew Brees are two of them. The 43-year-old Brady and the 41-year-old Brees meet for the third time this season.

“I’m very appreciative of the opportunity,” Brees said. “Listen, the minute that he signed with the Bucs and came to the division, you felt like that was going to be a team to contend with.

“That was going to be a team that had playoff aspirations and beyond, just like us. So, I guess it was inevitable.”

These living legends know how to put on a show. But this could be Brees’ final performance. He’s expected to retire at the end of the season. Brady, on the other hand, is showing no signs of stopping anytime soon.

“Nothing is given – you have to earn everything,” Brady said. “You get to this point in the year, you have to earn it. To win this game, you’ve got to earn it.”

Brady’s certainly earned a lot of respect. No quarterback has won more playoff games than the six-time Super Bowl champion. He holds the NFL record with 31. Joe Montana is a distant second with 16.

“Whatever happens for me as a quarterback is reflective of what our group does on offense,” Brady said. “I love playing with the guys I play with.”

Brady’s quick to pass the credit around. But when asked which player has stood out this season, head coach Bruce Arians called out his quarterback.

“There’s so many. I’d probably have to say Tom [Brady] for what he’s been through [and] what he’s done,” Arians said. “Forty touchdowns with a new team, learning all that verbiage – it was not easy. He’s done such a great job of leadership for us, also.”

New team, new offense, but same approach.

“When it comes to gameday, he’s going to be locked in and be that guy we all know and love,” receiver Chris Godwin said. “I don’t expect to see anything different, just because his attention to detail is so high. I’m looking forward to getting out there and rolling with him.”

To keep rolling, the Bucs will have to get past Brees and the Saints,  the team that’s won five consecutive meetings against their NFC South Division rivals.

But this is Tom Brady. He kind of knows how to do the postseason.

“Any time you make the playoffs, it’s a good feeling and it’s a great opportunity to be playing this weekend,” Brady said. “A privilege, I think, for all of us. I think we want to go make the most of it. Playoff football is pretty special to be a part of.”