Great article on the unprecedented dominant stats when TFB is asked (too often!) to carry the team.
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...atriots/2015/09/tom_brady_nfls_top_gunslinger
"The Patriots are 15-7 (.682) when Brady passes the ball 50 or more times, including the postseason. Every other team in modern NFL history (since 1960) has combined to go 100-386-6 (.209) in this situation. The Brady Patriots have singularly won 13 percent of all the 50-attempt victories during the past 55 years of professional football. Lamonica, by the way, never attempted 50 passes in a game.
Victory in these bombing campaigns is difficult for two reasons: First, it’s usually a sign of desperation. Most NFL teams tend to pass the ball that often only when they’re down big. Second, desperate quarterbacks tend to throw interceptions, sometimes multiple. And teams simply don’t win when they throw interceptions.
Brady and the Patriots, however, are utterly unique in their ability to win these games: Brady is the career leader in 50-attempt games (22), 50-attempt wins (15) and 50-attempt winning percentage (.682).
Nobody else is close.
Peyton Manning is second with 17 50-attempt games, and he’s just 4-13 (.235) in those contests."
Aaron Rogers has never had to do this, not even once.
Considering what is on Brady's shoulders (the number of critical games where he is essentially the entire offense for 50 passes, lack of a run game, his quality of receivers during his career compared to that of other great quarterbacks), I don't see how there can be any argument that he is the greatest ever.
Here is some other information that I hope describes how truly special he is. Here is a list of the oldest Superbowl Winning Quarterbacks, how they performed, what the team rushing total was (to take pressure off of the quarterback), and the ratio of total plays that were passing plays and rushing plays (no punts, etc.):
1. John Elway, 38, Broncos Won SB XXXIII
PASSING 18/29,
336 yds, 1 TD, 1 int
TEAM RUSHING:
121 yds, 36 attempts
% PLAYS THAT ARE PASS/RUSH -
44% / 56 %
2. Jonny Unitas, 37, Colts won SB V
PASSING 3/9,
88 yds, 1 TD, 2 int
TEAM RUSHING
69 yds, 31 attempts
% PLAYS THAT ARE PASS (Unitas+Morrall)/RUSH -
43% / 57%
3. John Elway, 37, Broncos Won SB XXXII
PASSING 12/22,
123 yds, no TD, 1 int
TEAM RUSHING
179 yds, 39 attempts
% PLAYS THAT ARE PASS/RUSH -
36% / 64%
4. Tom Brady, 37, Patriots Won SB XLIX
PASSING 37/50,
328 yds, 4 TD's, 2 int
TEAM RUSHING
57 yds, 21 attempts
% PLAYS THAT ARE PASS/RUSH -
70% / 30%
5. Earl Morrall, 36, Colts Won SB V
PASSING 7/15,
147 yds, no TD, 1 int
TEAM RUSHING
69 yds
(see 2. for % plays that are PASS/RUSH)
6. Jim Plunkett, 36, Raiders Won SB XVIII
PASSING 16/25,
154 yds, 1 TD, no int
TEAM RUSHING
231 yds, 33 attempts
% PLAYS THAT ARE PASS/RUSH -
43% / 57%
Anything stand out to anybody?
This is why TB is the greatest ever, the way he delivers when virtually everything is on his shoulders (especially at his age) is truly remarkable.
