Has Tom Brady lost his magic?

I thought he looked awful last week. Extremely un-Brady like.

BradyManny said:

I think situationally, this offense is still trying to find an identity when it is trying to close games.

When it's objective is to score, it does.

When its objective is to use clock, it doesn't.

McDaniels, Belichick and Brady have to figure this one out, because it will likely be the difference in their season. You can point to the defensive struggles, obviously, but the team overcame those last year to come within a couple plays from winning the Super Bowl.

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Why not just keep scoring?

Blame can be placed on both sides of the ball but I had no faith in our D to stop Baltimore, New York (last year), or Seattle when the game was on the line.

As I pointed out in another thread, no team has fewer losses in the time period mentioned (2009-2012) than the Patriots. Also, at least 3 of the 7 losses being talked about happened in 2009, which was the year that Brady was coming back from his ACL surgery.

Teams lose games. They lose them at all times of the games, and in a number of ways. In New England, teams that stay close enough late have a great chance against the Patriots because the Patriots defense sucks.

This isn't really news.

Here's what I find more interesting:

Since the end of the 2009 season, the Patriots have lost 8 games in 2+ seasons. The scores:

2010 - 28-14, 34-14
2011 - 34-31, 25-17, 24-20
2012 - 20-18, 31-30, 24-23

What's happening more than a late quarter collapse is a failure of the defense to pick up the offense when it scores fewer than 25 points.

In fact, the team's record when scoring fewer than 30 points, from 2010-today, is just 5-6.


If you want to find a problem, let's start there.

TinhWoodhead said:

when's the last time he had a 4th qtr comeback?

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I'm thinking last year against the Cowboys.

To be fair, he DID lead a drive that resulted in a lead-changing touchdown in the final two minutes of the regular season game against the Giants. (Of course, the defense relinquished that lead).

EDIT: Disregard my comment, VERY late to the party on this one. Seen it mentioned like 10 times already. Apologies

Deus Irae said:

In fact, the team's record when scoring fewer than 30 points, from 2010-today, is just 5-6.


If you want to find a problem, let's start there.

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Good post Deus. The problem here is it's proving very difficult to improve this defense. This team has been very successful the last half decade with a great offense and a defense that teeters on either side of mediocrity, but makes up for its deficiencies with playmaking ability. I would say this season's defense is, for right or wrong, proving no different.

But if the offense continues to perform the way we believe it is capable of performing, we'll still be in the hunt for the Lombardi. In order for the offense to continue to carry the defense, it will need to perform better situationally, specifically when it has the lead.

It's a tough task - and a hugely underrated challenge by the fan base - but between Belichick, Brady & McDaniels, I would hope we enough football brain power to figure out how the offense should approach these situations. From there, it's up to execution.

Seems like sometimes your hot in the 1st half and cold in the second and vice versa, sometimes your hot in the middle and sometimes all 4 quarters. In the end it doesn't matter if you lose, waking up in the 4rth only to win or lose consistently would be just as frustrating, to little to late.

he put us within 2 against the cards in the very end with an impressive drive, missed the 2 pointer but still gave us a better shot. Barfallo, was destroyed in the second half, the 2nd half of the Miami and Barfallo game coming down the stretch last year to get us the #1 seed as well were pretty clutch performances, The dallas game was a classic last minute 4rth qtr comeback.

I don't see any magic lost, he seems to rally the troops nicely when the chips are down. Maybe when trying to nurse a lead it's a problem IDK. Looks good to me but then again I'm biast.

I think it's a combination of conservative and vanilla play calling and lack of execution. It almost looks like they let off the gas and try to just run straight up the gut to kill time or try a stupid reverse and have it blow up in their face. Then it's 3rd and long and Brady can't covert. I think they need to focus less on taking time and more on moving the chains and keeping momentum. Their strong suit is the fast-paced offense. I don't see a good reason to slow down if it means less scoring efficiency.

Others have mentioned that they seem to want to morph into something they are not come 4th quarter lead. In years past they seemed to keep up the tempo on offense rather than trying to kill clock. It has also been mentioned that they appear to get too cute in some of these situations and over think things. Just stick to what built you up the lead and keep trying to score points. Let the clock work itself out. That doesn't mean just sling it around, but you don't have to become extremely conservative.

Perhaps it's also a nerve issue. Is it possible that the offense realize how bad the defense is and it gets in their head come 4th quarter, knowing they have to keep the ball and kill clock and if they don't the defense will surely give up more points? Too much pressure to be perfect?

Not at all, It's secondary with a disappearing act. THAT puts much more pressure on Brady and Offense to score enough points to cover up 2'ndary.

... again with this crap :bricks:... is it me or there's a thread like this after each loss?!?! (thank god there aren't that many .... losses that is :rocker

Kid~Brady said:

Man, between the radio, analyst and talkshows people are really thinking that Brady has finally taken that step down and has started to show his age. I personally don't think he's taken a step down but he hasn't been that same guy we all remember. Now, to be fair, he is getting older and its natural to slow down a bit. What are your thoughts on this?

Tom Brady is among the league's worst-rated quarterbacks while trying to protect a late-game lead in recent seasons.




Lowest Total QBR With 1-Score Lead
Final 5 Min. of 4th Qtr Since 2009

Chad Henne 1.1
Alex Smith 3.5
Kevin Kolb 4.0
Matt Cassel 12.9
Tom Brady 15.0 <<




link: Have Tom Brady and the New England Patriots lost their fourth-quarter magic? - ESPN Boston

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it was never "magic"- it was a team working together to get it done. this is a different team that needs to work harder to correct their mistakes and finish the job. i'll bet they succeed.

Deus Irae said:

... In New England, teams that stay close enough late have a great chance against the Patriots because the Patriots defense sucks.

This isn't really news.

Here's what I find more interesting:

Since the end of the 2009 season, the Patriots have lost 8 games in 2+ seasons. The scores:

2010 - 28-14, 34-14
2011 - 34-31, 25-17, 24-20
2012 - 20-18, 31-30, 24-23

What's happening more than a late quarter collapse is a failure of the defense to pick up the offense when it scores fewer than 25 points.

...

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Great post!

Is it fair to say that BB gambled on purpose by keeping all his primary focus on the O - understandably so because he has one of the rare selfless, intelligent and talented QB who had already delivered three rings + the league's push towards making the game more offense-friendly - and not concentrating on the D that much?

Super bowls were won when Brady's offense and the defense full of savvy veterans like Bruschi,Vrabel,McGinest,Law & Milloy ect: complimented each other and the team was loaded on both sides.

The team since the savvy defensive players left,has not been able to compliment the offense and has literally relied on grabbing onto the coattails of Brady to bail them out and take them farther in the playoffs then they should have gone.

Brady didn't have to swap TD for TD all day long back in the glory days.

Don't blame Brady,its a lot for a 35 year old QB to take the team on its shoulders....

Blame Belichick and the front office for not having foresight to draft DBs/Ss who know how to turn their heads and more so by passing on vets at safety and CB in FA who could have provided leadership and talent the team totally lacks after the first 2 layers of defense.

In the three loses, Brady and the offense has given the team at least a two score lead in the 4th quarter:

An 11 point 4th quarter lead vs Arizona (20-9 w/ 14 minutes to go).

A 9 point 4th quarter lead vs Baltimore (30-21 w/ 14:10 to go).

A 13 point 4th quarter lead vs Seattle (23-10 w/ 9:21 to go).

And 52, 34 and 31 points in the games they won. Maybe more could have been done to finish out the games but to put these losses on Brady? Come on.

I would say the D is a bigger reason for the stat than TFB!

We are 3-3, it's not been pretty, but there are still 10 regular season games!

There's a sign that hangs over a door in Gillette stadium for the players.
I think the fans could benefit from the same sign right now, so here it is.
_______________________
IGNORE THE NOISE.
_______________________

between the radio, analyst and talkshows

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I think perhaps we may have found the root of the problem.

jmt57 said:

I think perhaps we may have found the root of the problem.

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The root of the problem, as I see it, is that these closet Jest fans and trolls are allowed to make threads like these.

@ OP If you don't want Brady anymore because he's "lost his magic", I'm sure there are many other teams who'd take him. Would you like to give him up?

Most, if not all, of the losses can be blamed on the defense. When was the last time Brady was not able to give us a lead, only for it to be completely blown by the D?

TinhWoodhead said:

when's the last time he had a 4th qtr comeback?

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When was the last time he was trailing in the 4th quarter with more than a minute or 2 on the clock? This team doesn't trail very often.