Elephant in the Room -- Tom Brady's Mental block in big games

[MrNathanDrake]

Like all sports, Football is very much a mental game.


Patriots offense has been huge in the regular season since 2007. But not so good in post-season.

I was looking at patriots.com video section and Brady post-game interviews before the Ravens this year. He keeps saying "its going to be a close game" and "Its going to come right down to the end". We ended up only scoring 13 points. Far below our average on the year, and the least points we scored all year.

It was a self-fulfilling prophecy. The body achieves what the mind believes (to a certain extent).

Brady wasn't his usual fiery self. He wasn't being a vocal leader. He wasn't pacing around the sidelines, yelling at team mates like he does in regular-season. He gets a different look in these big games. He's shrinking under the spotlight.


Even when we beat the Ravens in last years AFCCG, Brady played terrible. The defense really won that game for New England.

In last years SB, Brady played poorly as well. He panicked and hurt the team by taking a Safety in the end zone. He tossed up a bad INT to Chase Blackburn of all people. And New England failed to put up 20 points again.



It started in 2007. When all the talk of "best QB ever" and "best team ever" began. The pressure was too much for Brady. Now every year when the playoffs roll around and the Pats stomp someone, the media goes on about the Pats elusive 4th ring, and Brady crumbles.


Bash me all you want. ***** about the defense all you want. We have most of our money tied up in Brady, OLine, and Tight Ends. It's THEM who should be winning us games, not the defense. It's the offense who is failing to show up in big games, not the defense. I really really want BB and Brady to get one more ring. But I don't think we get another Superbowl win unless Brady sorts this crap out.


BTW - This should've been "the year" for New England. The stars aligned perfectly. We got a 1st rd Bye after it looked unlikely. We got Home Field throughout after it looked unlikely. The defense played well against BMore, forcing 3 and outs and holding up until the middle of the 3rd qtr. Our offense put up 0 points in the entire second half.

Deny it all you want. Brady choked.... again.

 

[Joker]

maybe if Brady can throw and then run out there and catch it himself,he'll finally win another big game.

 

[manxman2601]

Only one QB has won a SB over the age of 35 since Jim Plunkett won it at age 36, namely John Elway. It's a tough ask but Brady is the GOAT so if anyone can...

 

[MrNathanDrake]

maybe if Brady can throw and then run out there and catch it himself,he'll finally win another big game.

He needs to be the same player and same person that he is in regular season.


He comes out in playoff games NERVOUS and jittery.


The young Tom Brady came out fearless and enthusiastic... Kind of like Colin Kaepernick this year.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Only one QB has won a SB over the age of 35 since Jim Plunkett won it at age 36, namely John Elway. It's a tough ask but Brady is the GOAT so if anyone can...

Kurt Warner came pretty damn close a few years ago.





It's not an age thing with Brady. It's entirely mental for Brady. Just like it was in 2007, 2010, 2011, and now in 2012.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

maybe if Brady can throw and then run out there and catch it himself,he'll finally win another big game.

This blaming the receivers and the oline stuff has got to stop. Brady has made plenty of mistakes that cost the pats games. everyone wants to blame wes for drops or lloyd for running wrong routes. the truth of the matter as the OP stated is Brady is not crisp in the biggest games. Also, he doesn't have as much fire as he used to. I mean Brenden Abendegeo basically said before the AFCCG the pats were a gimmick offense, so you would think that would anger brady and inspire him to a big game against the ravens but it didn't. All i heard from him and others on the team was "we don't pay any attention to that kind of stuff." Last year the Giants did the same thing - making fun of Edelman as a DB and basically guaranteeing victory. It seems like this team is letting others walk all over them.

Brady is 2-4 in AFCCGS/SBs since 2004. What the OP is stating is spot on.

 

[TriplecHamp]

I have yet to see a single intelligent, X's and O's breakdown as to how Brady "choked". At this point I don't think I'm going to see one.

 

[Tunescribe]

People who start threads like this are shouting to the world how little they really know about football in general, and the pro game specifically. We already had a similar thread by Fencer titled "Is Brady choking?" or something like that. Do yourself a favor, Nathan, and delete this nonsense while you still can to save further embarrassment. You simply have no clue what you're talking about.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Yep, he choked. Spent half the game in sb42 on his back. Takes his team down for the could of been winning score and throws a td to Moss with less then 3 minutes left. Sorry, defense choked that one away.

A dropped Wes Welker pass away from winning the Super Bowl last year. Defense gives up the winning score again.

I'm far from a homer and consider myself a realist. Win some you lose some. If the opposing defense has a great game plan and holds you to less points then what their offense scores you always lose.

I'm surprised by this thread. Especially the choke part.

 

[Jackson 2]

Attempting to respond to drivel like this is a fool's errand, and God knows I've been on enough of those in my life.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Yep, he choked. Spent half the game in sb42 on his back. Takes his team down for the could of been winning score and throws a td to Moss with less then 3 minutes left. Sorry, defense choked that one away.

A dropped Wes Welker pass away from winning the Super Bowl last year. Defense gives up the winning score again.

I'm far from a homer and consider myself a realist. Win some you lose some. If the opposing defense has a great game plan and holds you to less points then what their offense scores you always lose.

I'm surprised by this thread. Especially the choke part.

he wasn't on his back in SB 46. in fact brady had only 1 scoring drive in the second half of that game - at the very beginning of the third quarter. the giants shut him down the rest of the way. and the throw to welker was not great, catchable but not great.

 

[pherein]

Like all sports, Football is very much a mental game.


Patriots offense has been huge in the regular season since 2007. But not so good in post-season.

I was looking at patriots.com video section and Brady post-game interviews before the Ravens this year. He keeps saying "its going to be a close game" and "Its going to come right down to the end". We ended up only scoring 13 points. Far below our average on the year, and the least points we scored all year.

It was a self-fulfilling prophecy. The body achieves what the mind believes (to a certain extent).

Brady wasn't his usual fiery self. He wasn't being a vocal leader. He wasn't pacing around the sidelines, yelling at team mates like he does in regular-season. He gets a different look in these big games. He's shrinking under the spotlight.


Even when we beat the Ravens in last years AFCCG, Brady played terrible. The defense really won that game for New England.

In last years SB, Brady played poorly as well. He panicked and hurt the team by taking a Safety in the end zone. He tossed up a bad INT to Chase Blackburn of all people. And New England failed to put up 20 points again.



It started in 2007. When all the talk of "best QB ever" and "best team ever" began. The pressure was too much for Brady. Now every year when the playoffs roll around and the Pats stomp someone, the media goes on about the Pats elusive 4th ring, and Brady crumbles.


Bash me all you want. ***** about the defense all you want. We have most of our money tied up in Brady, OLine, and Tight Ends. It's THEM who should be winning us games, not the defense. It's the offense who is failing to show up in big games, not the defense. I really really want BB and Brady to get one more ring. But I don't think we get another Superbowl win unless Brady sorts this crap out.


BTW - This should've been "the year" for New England. The stars aligned perfectly. We got a 1st rd Bye after it looked unlikely. We got Home Field throughout after it looked unlikely. The defense played well against BMore, forcing 3 and outs and holding up until the middle of the 3rd qtr. Our offense put up 0 points in the entire second half.

Deny it all you want. Brady choked.... again.

I think your the elephant. Brady has done nothing more than be the best QB in history for his team.
You AGAIN have another playoff spot and a chance for a ring.
Brady performed brilliant again this year.
I mean what do you want 19 Super Bowls?
Brady to win the game EVER time? Thats crazy talk..

You think this is going to stop at 4 rings?
Hes trying his best. I can see that, but you rarely win a SB. I dont even know how he pulled off the 3 SB's in 4 years. Thats , like, impossible.

You have the best QB in the NFL, when you get sick of him please foward his resume to
500 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70112, we will trade you Brees

 

[kennyb]

His body language is bad. Plays hoping not to lose. Very different than Brady of old. Remember the jets game 2 years ago? Throws an early pick and sulks. Seemed to give up after that. It's very sad. Last year throws a pic in the balt game in the playoffs right after spikes pic. Doesn't seem like the same guy with ice in his veins from 01 to 04.

 

[pherein]

His body language is bad. Plays hoping not to lose. Very different than Brady of old. Remember the jets game 2 years ago? Throws an early pick and sulks. Seemed to give up after that. It's very sad. Last year throws a pic in the balt game in the playoffs right after spikes pic. Doesn't seem like the same guy with ice in his veins from 01 to 04.

nonsence, and clearly not supported by stats, just opinion.

 

[Tunescribe]

His body language is bad. Plays hoping not to lose. Very different than Brady of old. Remember the jets game 2 years ago? Throws an early pick and sulks. Seemed to give up after that. It's very sad. Last year throws a pic in the balt game in the playoffs right after spikes pic. Doesn't seem like the same guy with ice in his veins from 01 to 04.

Does your mother know you're up this late playing on the Internet? Just because the OP is passing out dunce caps doesn't mean you have to be first in line. Shut up and go to bed.

 

[manxman2601]

This seems to be a good place to post this:

Bye, bye Brady? » Merrimack Valley » EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA

Approval of the message should not be implied by the mere posting of it. Just setting off the firework.

 

[kennyb]

Does your mother know you're up this late playing on the Internet? Just because the OP is passing out dunce caps doesn't mean you have to be first in line. Shut up and go to bed.

No. Don't tell anyone to shut up you blind homer. He sulks. He even said he played terrible in the balt game. I want them to win but I'm not a blind imbecile homer about it.

 

[pherein]

No. Don't tell anyone to shut up you blind homer. He sulks. He even said he played terrible in the balt game. I want them to win but I'm not a blind imbecile homer about it.

he sulks, is that czechoslovakian for sucks, or your just drunk. At least you spelt imbecile right, and Im a complete moron at spelling.

 

[kennyb]

This seems to be a good place to post this:

Bye, bye Brady? » Merrimack Valley » EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA

Approval of the message should not be implied by the mere posting of it. Just setting off the firework.

He says Brady was outplayed by flacco twice? What is he? Playing on his moms computer?

 

[fair catch fryar]

He needs to be the same player and same person that he is in regular season.


He comes out in playoff games NERVOUS and jittery.


The young Tom Brady came out fearless and enthusiastic... Kind of like Colin Kaepernick this year.

Revisionist history is quite a phenomenon. Brady was also a few plays from losing his first 3 Superbowls as well or even making it there. A few plays also decided the Pats fate in the '06 AFCCG, '07 SB, and last year's SB. IMO the biggest difference WAS a few playmakers from the likes of Tedy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison and co. This D is young and hopefully a few players will emerge in the next few years, if not then we better settle for and enjoy watching Brady rack up more personal records.