A Quick Look at Brady's Play - New England Patriots Forums

**Ian** · 02-05-2012, 11:44 PM

I've seen a lot of negativity toward Brady tonight. I agree the interception and safety were tough, but all in all he didn't do as bad as many people are thinking:

Here's a breakdown:

1st QTR: 3-of-4 for 41yds (75%)
2nd QTR: 12-of-14 for 106yds and a TD (86%)
3rd QTR: 6-of-8 for 65yds and a TD (75%)
4th QTR: 6-of-15 for 64 yds and an INT (40%)

So prior to the fourth Quarter he was 21-of-26. Looking at the fourth quarter he saw at least three drops and the Hail Mary, which obviously affected that stat line. As I wrote in the other post I questioned the decision to chuck it downfield on that first down play where he got picked off, and there were other analysts that said they'd never seen a ball in play down the middle of the field get called for a safety.

Let's face it, he and Manning played pretty even and it's just a tough loss. I think most people here probably are frustrated, but it's tough to pin this one entirely on him. They got outplayed by a team that was deeper on both sides of the ball. The only reason they lost is because they didn't play absolutely perfect. Plain and simple.

I know people are frustrated, but the more I watch this back (and I'm sitting here watching it again) the more I realize it.

GostkowSKI · 02-05-2012, 11:46 PM

I'll never kill Brady for the INT. I'll take my chances with Gronk one on one with a LB deep everytime.

mcgraw_wv · 02-05-2012, 11:48 PM

It's not about stats, it's about making the plays when the game is on the line, and each throw's importance is magnified. It wasn't all on Brady other perhaps some bad decisions, but in general, he failed to lead his team to win the game on the 2nd to last drive.

He failed to live up to expectations. He set the bar, and for more than a few years now, he has ye tto live up to that clutch status. His magic is gone, so when he doesn't deliver, it's a let down to us, for we expect that, and he didn't provide it.

Meanwhile, Manning won the game for his Team, driving his team for the winning drive like he has every other time we have faced him. He came up big.

Football is about intangibles, not stats. You can't always look at the stat sheet to see who played better.

sambam94 · 02-05-2012, 11:50 PM

The more I think about it, I don't like the intentional grounding rule the way it is enforced. Yes, throwing it 5 yards into the ground to avoid a sack is one thing, but throwing it deep down the field? So if the pass rusher wasn't so close it would be OK? What if the receiver ran the wrong route?...to arbitrary for my liking.

sambam94 · 02-05-2012, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgraw_wv

It's not about stats, it's about making the plays when the game is on the line, and each throw's importance is magnified. It wasn't all on Brady other perhaps some bad decisions, but in general, he failed to lead his team to win the game on the 2nd to last drive.

He failed to live up to expectations. He set the bar, and for more than a few years now, he has ye tto live up to that clutch status. His magic is gone, so when he doesn't deliver, it's a let down to us, for we expect that, and he didn't provide it.

Meanwhile, Manning won the game for his Team, driving his team for the winning drive like he has every other time we have faced him. He came up big.

Football is about intangibles, not stats. You can't always look at the stat sheet to see who played better.

he failed because of 2 straight drops..hard to blame the QB

**Ian** · 02-05-2012, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgraw_wv

It's not about stats, it's about making the plays when the game is on the line, and each throw's importance is magnified. It wasn't all on Brady other perhaps some bad decisions, but in general, he failed to lead his team to win the game on the 2nd to last drive.

He failed to live up to expectations. He set the bar, and for more than a few years now, he has ye tto live up to that clutch status. His magic is gone, so when he doesn't deliver, it's a let down to us, for we expect that, and he didn't provide it.

Meanwhile, Manning won the game for his Team, driving his team for the winning drive like he has every other time we have faced him. He came up big.

Football is about intangibles, not stats. You can't always look at the stat sheet to see who played better.

That may be, but as I wrote he also did it with deeper talent on both sides of the ball. They needed to play an absolutely perfect game and it didn't happen, but again, he played about as well as Manning did under the circumstances. Gronk being healthy would have evened it up and I'd be willing to bet it may have gone the other way because they were definitely a man short offensively tonight.

Palm Beach Pats Fan · 02-05-2012, 11:52 PM

A separated non-throwing shoulder will mess with your mechanics. We don't know the grade of the separation, but IMO he has one, explaining some slightly of throws late

mcgraw_wv · 02-05-2012, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sambam94

The more I think about it, I don't like the intentional grounding rule the way it is enforced. Yes, throwing it 5 yards into the ground to avoid a sack is one thing, but throwing it deep down the field? So if the pass rusher wasn't so close it would be OK? What if the receiver ran the wrong route?...to arbitrary for my liking.

I think it was a good call. He wasn't trying to complete a pass, he was intentionally getting rid of the ball to avoid a sack. It was called perfectly.

The problem was the playing calling for a first possesion in the biggest game of year starting on your own 4 yard line wasn't a run to settle the nerves and get into the game.

Instead they ran a play which obviously took too long to set up and Brady got sacked.

***PATSFTW*** · 02-05-2012, 11:54 PM

Anyone else blame Gisele Bundchen? I have a theory. Gisele has made Brady soft. Ever since Gisele came, Brady has become a metrosexual and has lost 2 consecutive Super Bowls.

mcgraw_wv · 02-05-2012, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

That may be, but as I wrote he also did it with deeper talent on both sides of the ball. They needed to play an absolutely perfect game and it didn't happen, but again, he played about as well as Manning did under the circumstances. Gronk being healthy would have evened it up and I'd be willing to bet it may have gone the other way because they were definitely a man short offensively tonight.

Everyone says Manning's talent was so much better, yet Brady threw for over 5k yards this year. Brady's weapons were all over the stats this year. Sorry, but only this week did everyone say Mannings weapons were better.

How many yards do our WR need to catch in order to be legitimate weapons?