INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Spotlighting Tom Brady's Interception Targets
 Gronkowski may be the player who Brady has been picked off when targeting him in each of the team's first two postseason contests, but he wasn't the player with the highest total during the 2014 regular season. (USA TODAY Images) |
After seeing Tom Brady throw an interception in each of New England's postseason games, the fact that both came on targets to Rob Gronkowski prompted an internal discussion here that had us wondering how many times that's happened during the regular season, and if it was, in fact, Gronkowski who was Tom Brady's biggest vice in 2014.
As it turns out, Brandon LaFell edged him out during the regular season, with four of Brady's nine interceptions coming when he targeted the veteran wide out. Gronkowski accounted for three of them, while Danny Amendola and Brian Tyms each were on the other other end of one throw each.
Here's a look as well as what week each happened in:
9/29 at Kansas City Chiefs - Brandon LaFell (2)
11/2 vs Denver Broncos - Danny Amendola
11/16 - at Indianapolis Colts - Brian Tyms
11/16 - at Indianapolis Colts - Rob Gronkowski
11/23 - vs Detroit Lions - Rob Gronkowski
12/7 - at San Diego Chargers - Rob Gronkowski
12/14 - vs Miami Dolphins - Brandon LaFell
12/21 - at NY Jets - Brandon LaFell
Gronkowski so far has been the receiver targeted over New England's first two postseason games when Brady's been picked off. Interestingly enough, prior to the interception he threw to him just over a week ago against the Ravens, Brady hadn't been picked off targeting Gronkowski since back on December 7th against the Chargers.
Notice one name that's missing? That would be Julian Edelman, who has been the guy that Brady had the most success targeting during the regular season. Edelman had the highest completion percentage from Brady at 69% of the team's' five leading receivers, with Brady targeting him 134 times with 92 completions.
