Dan Wetzel:Brady suddenly struggling in Pats’ biggest games

[SVN]

Brady suddenly struggling in Pats' biggest games - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

 

[Patriots Nation NY]

Pretty accurate... no need to tippy toe around it, Brady hasnt been Brady for years in the playoffs

 

[Uncle Rico]

Funny, I came from that story (via Reiss link) right to PatsFans because I figured there'd be a link.

Overall a pretty balanced and fair take. Not snipy or snippy or whatever.

 

[Ron Sellers]

This would have made a lot more sense had it been published prior to the game against Denver.

 

[reflexblue]

Over the last week ive been thinking of this myself, TB has been inconsistent for a few years now when it comes to playoff games. He built his rep on being cluth, being his best in the most intense situation. But in the last 3-4 four years it seems that he has struggled. IMO its a combination of playing against defenses that are very good and over time have figured out his weakness's, and his trying to live up to his own legend.

Brady suddenly struggling in Pats' biggest games - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

"The man who has built his brilliant career on a propensity for clutch play in the most significant of moments has a recent history of being mediocre when the season is on the line."

"So the questions linger. Is he pressing too much? Is his desire for a fourth Super Bowl win so intense that he’s over-preparing or overthrowing? Is he trying too hard, such as his ill-advised and unnecessary deep pass against the Ravens that turned into a pick? Or are playoff defenses so focused on stopping him there’s a weak point somewhere else that can be exploited?

 

[Mike the Brit]

Funny, I came from that story (via Reiss link) right to PatsFans because I figured there'd be a link.

Overall a pretty balanced and fair take. Not snipy or snippy or whatever.

I agree.

If you're going to write a negative story about Brady (and, let's face it, in Superbowl week no editor is going to want just happy-smiley pieces, even if that's the overwhelming majority) this is the way to do it.

There really are a few disappointing games, though, as he says, it's a very small sample and may not be significant. And yes, he acknowledges the awesome performance against Denver.

 

[ivanvamp]

Pretty accurate... no need to tippy toe around it, Brady hasnt been Brady for years in the playoffs

It's simply this, folks: larger sample size. He was pretty good in the playoffs early in his career, but the stats show that he wasn't ridiculously good. Clutch? Yes. But don't forget, in that Carolina Super Bowl he threw a HORRENDOUS interception late that could have cost them the game. Fortunately, it didn't.

The more you play high quality opposition (which is what the playoffs consist of), the more likely it is that you will struggle. It's simply things evening out over a longer period of time. Every great QB that played in a lot of playoff games eventually had some real turds....even Joe Montana and John Elway. All of them have. Give Brady enough chances to play top-shelf defenses and guess what will happen? He'll have some bad games. His bad games recently in the playoffs have come against superb defenses: NY Giants (2007), Baltimore (2009), NY Jets (2010), and Baltimore again (2011). I mean, put any QB up against that lineup and it's going to be hard to have great game after great game. Since bad playoff games tend to = elimination, it sure feels a lot worse. But it's simply the law of averages catching up to him.

Brady career regular season: 63.8%, 7.51 y/a, 2.61 td/int, 96.4 rating
Brady career post season: 62.8%, 6.67 y/a, 1.89 td/int, 87.6 rating

It is normal and expected that, because he's playing harder teams in the playoffs, that his stats will be worse in the playoffs compared to the regular season. What I love, though, is his record: 16-5. :singing:

 

[Haterproof]

It's simply this, folks: larger sample size. He was pretty good in the playoffs early in his career, but the stats show that he wasn't ridiculously good. Clutch? Yes. But don't forget, in that Carolina Super Bowl he threw a HORRENDOUS interception late that could have cost them the game. Fortunately, it didn't.

The more you play high quality opposition (which is what the playoffs consist of), the more likely it is that you will struggle. It's simply things evening out over a longer period of time. Every great QB that played in a lot of playoff games eventually had some real turds....even Joe Montana and John Elway. All of them have. Give Brady enough chances to play top-shelf defenses and guess what will happen? He'll have some bad games. His bad games recently in the playoffs have come against superb defenses: NY Giants (2007), Baltimore (2009), NY Jets (2010), and Baltimore again (2011). I mean, put any QB up against that lineup and it's going to be hard to have great game after great game. Since bad playoff games tend to = elimination, it sure feels a lot worse. But it's simply the law of averages catching up to him.

Brady career regular season: 63.8%, 7.51 y/a, 2.61 td/int, 96.4 rating
Brady career post season: 62.8%, 6.67 y/a, 1.89 td/int, 87.6 rating

It is normal and expected that, because he's playing harder teams in the playoffs, that his stats will be worse in the playoffs compared to the regular season. What I love, though, is his record: 16-5. :singing:

Great post. I don't have to say no more. Who else is hoping Brady has a legendary game next Sunday?

 

[PatsGirl2011]

Great post. I don't have to say no more. Who else is hoping Brady has a legendary game next Sunday?

I've been waiting for another "legendary" game in the playoffs from Brady. His last one was vs. the Rams,IMO!

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

he had bad games against 2005 Denver.... and the Colts 2006(2nd half)..... this isn't anything new. you need balance with running and passing. he'll be fine.

 

[andrewgarrr]

The NYG offense is by far and away better than the BAL offense.

Brady needs to be at his best for the Patriots to have a chance.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

Great post. I don't have to say no more. Who else is hoping Brady has a legendary game next Sunday?

I have a feeling he WILL have a legendary performance next week and his legend will grow. Hes over due for a great game in a big game and since everones thinking a close, tough, hard fought game means it will probably be a snoozer with the Pats scoring a lot. JMT (just my take)

 

[billdog3484]

win and this will go away. put the giants away. win the super. i cant take this, i live in NY. lets win

 

[BlueThunder]

Use the run more for a balanced attack. Keeping the Giants guessing will make TB even more effective....:rocker:

 

[ausbacker]

More positive press for the Patriots to add to the wall.

 

[Observer]

I don't need a legendary performance. I will be perfectly happy with a ho-hum, pats annihilate another team, business as usual type of performance.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

It's simply this, folks: larger sample size. He was pretty good in the playoffs early in his career, but the stats show that he wasn't ridiculously good. Clutch? Yes. But don't forget, in that Carolina Super Bowl he threw a HORRENDOUS interception late that could have cost them the game. Fortunately, it didn't.

....snip.....

Brady career regular season: 63.8%, 7.51 y/a, 2.61 td/int, 96.4 rating
Brady career post season: 62.8%, 6.67 y/a, 1.89 td/int, 87.6 rating

It is normal and expected that, because he's playing harder teams in the playoffs, that his stats will be worse in the playoffs compared to the regular season. What I love, though, is his record: 16-5. :singing:

This........

It's unrealistic to expect that ANY QB's post-season #'s approach there regular season #'s.... yet his are just below. The defenses are (in general) much better and you are facing better teams offensively as well (which may cause you take more chances if you are playing from behind). Over time (10-12+ games)....... you're just not gonna win them all. Competition is just too good.

I'll take Brady's 76% winning percentage in playoff games over the last decade any day.

The NYG offense is by far and away better than the BAL offense.

Brady needs to be at his best for the Patriots to have a chance.

I'll agree with the first sentence, but that's about it. Giants offense is better then the Ravens (not far and away though), but their defense is much closer statistically to the Broncos than the Ravens.

If he gets an outing from the defense like he did that other day, I think Brady can have an average to good outing and win comfortably. They were able to beat a BETTER Ravens team with a average to below average game from him. If he's at his absolute best (like he was against the Broncos)........... He will hang 40 on the Giants and the game will be a snoozer.

 

[Ring 6]

Frankly, I think its ridiculous.
First, all QBs are statistically worse in the postseason (over a large sample size) because the competition is better.
Second, lets really look at Bradys play.
Remember, the premise is he STRUGGLES.
This year:
Played well enough to put 23 points on the board vs a good Raven D with no benefit of turnovers. Threw for 239 yards. Not superhuman, which seems to be the standard for Brady, but far from STRUGGLING.
Denver. One of the best playoff games ever by a QB.

2010. Jets. Completed over 60% of his passes for 299 yards. The team lost, yet a 299 yard day is now considered struggling because of it.

2009. Ravens. Bad game.

2007. SB Drove to go ahead TD in the 4th quarter. Was hit while throwing at least a dozen times, and sacked 5 more. A QB who is a punching bad isn't struggling, he is getting no protection.
Rest of 2007 playoffs, led team to SB,

If the expectation is that Brady is supposed toi be perfect, he isn't. But to write articles like this, suggesting he is bad in the playoffs is simply wrong.
Please let me know about all the QBs who have a better playoff resume.

 

[Fencer]

Brady does a few things extremely well, and most things pretty well. The same is no doubt true of other elite quarterbacks.

With the intensity of playoff preparation and the quality of the defenses he faces, teams do a good job of preparing for Brady's great and not-so-great strengths alike. When the Pats win anyway, it's because:

1. The opposing team faces similar difficulties for similar reasons.
2. Even against those difficulties, Brady's pretty darn good.

That said, Brady has to get a bit over "Mind made up" issues, whether it's a long ball to Moss or Slater or a short one to Welker or Troy Brown.

 

[Theplayer]

legendary game is wishful thinking..no deep threat on the outside and Gronk not near 100%. I just want a win...any way they can get it.