2 Playoff Questions for those with some time

[Deus Irae]

Good thoughts. I would also add -- like you pointed out already before -- that the opponents in the playoffs generally have a higher level of talent and better execution than your average regular season opponent. So you rarely see #2 happening in he postseason.

Does the few times we had Gronk healthy in the offseason give a little insight into #3 ?

It's really tough to tell, because Gronk's so rarely been healthy in the playoffs:

2010 - Gronk not yet Gronk
2011 - 6:1 against the Tebows, 0:2 against the Ravens, Gronk injured and a decoy against the Giants
2012 - Gronk injured
2013 - Gronk injured
2014 - 3:1 against Ravens, 3:1 against Colts, 4:2 against Seahawks
2015 - Gronk ok, but the rest of the offense was in the M*A*S*H unit, 2:0 against Chiefs, 1:2 against Broncos

It seems clear (to me) that Gronk makes a pretty big difference to the positive, but it also seems clear (to me) that it's not the sole determining factor. This would make sense, if we just apply the BB logic from the 2009 video (If they can stop Moss and Welker, we've got nothing) to the later years with Gronk/Edelman.

But, to really be sure, someone would need to talk with Brady and BB about it, and get complete and honest answers from both, and I don't expect that to happen anytime soon.

 

[zydecochris]

I'm busy this evening, so I don't have the time to check this right now, but it's important to a discussion I've been having with someone:

In the playoffs, what is Brady's record against (mostly) zone defense teams?
In the playoffs, what is Brady's record against (mostly) man defense teams?


Thanks in advance

Great thread, very interesting, thanks Deus.

 

[Deus Irae]

So, the theory held up for another playoff game.