The Legitimacy of Tom Brady’s (Potential) Record
Tom Brady is on pace to shatter the single-season touchdown mark. He’s thrown 30 through the first half of the season, putting him on pace for 60, 11 more than the record set three years ago by Manning.
Here’s the difference: Peyton Manning broke the record mostly out of necessity — the Colts had a bad defense that season — whereas Tom Brady is breaking this record by running the score up on opponents who just don’t have a chance. In other words, he’s breaking the record for the sake of breaking the record.
The Patriots won yesterday, 52-7, and Tom Brady threw 38 passes. In fact, the ball was in his hands 60% of the time. They won last weekend 49-28 (after having a 42-7 lead at halftime). The team’s leading rusher had 6 carries. Tom Brady scored every single offensive touchdown through the air, including a last minute drive before halftime — a drive that could have been resolved by keeping the ball on the ground to run out the half, leaving the Patriots with a 35-7 lead at halftime — that saw the Patriots drive 71 yards in 1:06 to score. Five of the drive’s six plays were run from shotgun and the entire drive was no-huddle offense.
The evidence is there, clearly apparent. The Patriots aren’t just winning to make the postseason. They’re running scoreboards up with the explicit intention of breaking the single-season touchdown record. The fact that it’s held by Peyton Manning may or may not be the singular reasoning behind it.
Brady’s playing with a juggernaut that doesn’t need more than 20 points per game to win on most any given weekend, yet the team averages 41. The Patriots aren’t just beating opponents. It’s a humiliation, a massacre on the field. Now it’s for the fans to decide, does it really matter to anyone other than New Englanders if the record is broken by Tom Brady?
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26 comments
Excellent write up this time. I do agree that the Patriots are doing this because in years past people would say the Patriots can throw together who they want and can win. Now with their additions mainly on offense with Randy Moss ‘The Cheat’ wants show he is the ultimate coach by crushing every team.
If Brady and Belicheck’s sole goal was to run up the score and get the record then I doubt that Brady would have RUN for 2 TD’s at the goalline… on the first run he had Randy Moss wide open in back of the endzone, he could have thrown a TD easily, he didnt, he ran it in.
Bold post! I am by no means a New England fan, but I have to speak up on this one. I first must confess that I did not watch the game against the Redskins. From what I heard, it sounds as though they dominated a well-coached, decently talented football team. By looking at the score it looks as though they are trying to make a statement. SAVE IT FOR NEXT WEEK. If you are crushing a team, not in your division(much less conference) rest your stars ealier, give your backups more time. You can see from last week the backups need the reps! The Patriots are 1 or 2 injuries from being an average team, why risk it?
Im not from New England but i have no problem with them running up the score. How come a team has to stop scoring to be nice? Seems it would be really humiliating for the opposing team if the patriots just starting giving up once they got a big lead. I think the Patriots should go out there every game and put as many points on that score board as they can and declare they are the ultimate team. Id also say it puts fear in the next weeks team’s mind knowing they are averaging 30 points or more a game. Good job Brady!
Justin,
What is the point of going for it on 4th and one TWICE when the game is in the 4th and out of reach, and he is in field goal range. Can’t wait for the Colts to punk the Pats
“How come a team has to stop scoring to be nice? Seems it would be really humiliating for the opposing team if the patriots just starting giving up once they got a big lead.”
I think it’s an unwritten rule that when you take a big lead (I think everyone can agree 3+ touchdowns is a big lead), you put the ball on the ground for good. It’s not “giving up.” I think it’s a heckuva lot more humiliating to watch a team drive 71 yards in a minute just to show you they can.
And good call, Jeremy, to point out the 4th and 1 instances.
Jeremy and Tom,
i guess i just don’t see a big problem in him going for some records. I play basketball and i know i hate when a team with a big league starts holding the ball back and waisting time on the clock and just letting the game wind down… I want them to keep on playing! But i do see your point about the 4th and 1 calls. Maybe they were rubbing it in the redskins face too much. But this next sunday should be a good game and i doubt either team will even have the opportunity to use the “unwritten rule” Its probably gonna be a high scoring game but i definitely see the Patriots coming out on top of this one.
“i know i hate when a team with a big league starts holding the ball back and waisting time on the clock and just letting the game wind down”
I can understand that, but I’m guessing it’s not much fun when a team beats you by 40 and never takes their starters out.
Seems to me you’re making a lot of unspoken assumptions here. Fundamentally: Is there a reason why we should value Manning’s TDs more because they came in closer games? Sure you don’t want to see a guy’s stats inflated due to garbage time, but it plainly obvious that Brady’s getting numbers at will pre-garbage time, so that argument holds no water. Beyond that, you’re simply arguing we should promote Manning over Brady for having been given more opportunity to score points in close games, despite the fact that he was less effective per possession than Brady is. It’s silly.
The reality is that Tom Brady is playing with more success right now than Manning ever has by a ton. That’s not debatable. Where there is room for debate, is in taking into consideration the effect of supporting cast. One can always argue that Manning’s performance was more impressive if one thinks his supporting cast was enough weaker than Brady’s.
Here’s the point I’m trying to make: New England is getting touchdowns when most teams wouldn’t, when they have a 20+ point lead, sometimes in the fourth quarter. That’s when most teams would put the ball on the ground and watch the clock wind down. I think it’s becoming very apparent at this point the team is padding Brady’s stats while Belichick takes out his vendetta on opposing teams.
The reference to Manning was to say that, when he did it, Peyton Manning had few other choices. The Colts didn’t have the luxury of a top NFL defense; the Patriots do.
Tom,
I’ll get to you being wrong in a MINUTE, but maybe before I finish the NFL will take you down for using their name for the purpose of making profit (time to get a different domain).
Now that a minute has passed, I just want to let you know that your are incredibly wrong about this. I am a Skins fan, I live in DC so I have no bias. You must understand a couple of things before you start making rash falsifications about honest statistics:
1. The score may seem ran up on the board, but what is the one thing you do in football, “You play to win the game!.” Just look at the Hou-Tenn game this weekend. Tenn is up 35-7 and Hou comes storming back. For as dominant as one team looked, momentum can change very quickly.
2. Tom Brady would have equaled Manning’s record in less time than Manning. Brady leaves at around the 8 minute mark of the fourth quarter where as Manning if the game was sealed he would leave at the 2 minute mark. Frankingly Brady is so dominating that he does not play the entire game.
3. Record Books don’t read, “Brady had the record, but decided not too.” They read “This person has the most TD passes.” If it was up to you it would read the former.
4. If a team is winning a game by passing, why should they start running, too appease you? You really want an untested Maroney who was banged up for a good portion of the year, a banged up Sammy Morris, and the always decent BACKUP Kevin Faulk to be entrusted with the lead. So what your saying is that the game should not be in the hands of those who can win it.
5.There you go again, saying that the Pats cheated. Well this is how Bilicheck by kicking ass and taking names, and you want him to A. apologize or B.stop. You really want him to stop proving to people what others said was a fluke. All so when he loses you can say “oh without the camera equipment he really does suck.” Grow up man. Pick one, if it is apologize well he already did do that (sort of), but if its too stop then you just have to admit that he is so good that you already know that superbowl is head if he didn’t stop.
Case point, good luck with stopping the Pats, and the league.
Point by point, here’s my rebuttal:
1. The example you note is a completely different scenario between two teams that are equally matched. I think we both can agree New England is miles ahead of Miami (as most of the league is) and there was no reason to make that 71 yard drive before halftime. Again, 99% of NFL coaches would have put the ball on the ground there to run time down to zero and head to the locker room.
2. Brady might leave earlier, but he would be throwing passes up to the moment of his exit. Manning, meanwhile, would probably be handing the ball off the majority of the time. It doesn’t matter who’s playing quarterback, I think the ball should be put on the ground.
3. My point is, Brady is setting the record to set the record; many of his touchdown passes don’t affect the outcome of games, they only pad the scoreboard (and his stat line).
4. You don’t start running the football to “appease” me. You run the ball to not run up the score. ” … what you’re saying is, the game should not be in the hands of those who can win it.” The game is already won, I don’t think you see the point: no running back, no matter how awful, will blow a 28 point lead.
5. Belichick didn’t apologize and he didn’t say he wouldn’t do it again. He only said he was sorry for getting caught. No one is going to say without cheating he sucks if the team drops one, but there’s no reason to make it a point of driving up the scoreboard to prove a point.
” … he is so good that you already know that superbowl is head if he didn’t stop.”
Does that mean you want me to praise him because he might still be cheating and thus he’s so good at it the team is destined for another Super Bowl? If so, I’m sorry to say I’ll never appreciate — or respect — a team or coach that resorts to cheating, regardless the ultimate outcome.
All that said, I’m having a hard time believing you don’t have a place in your heart for the Patriots.
Point by Point
1. “The example you note is a completely different scenario between two teams that are equally matched.”
So at a point during the game your up by the score 35-7, haven’t you already proven that a team is superior. Then when the game is over and the score is much closer, its only heincite to say that the two teams were equal.
2. “and there was no reason to make that 71 yard drive before halftime. Again, 99% of NFL coaches would have put the ball on the ground there to run time down to zero and head to the locker room.”
Shouldn’t a team score as much as they can in the first half, to run more in the second half. Secondly, when should a team start running the ball because that is exactly what happened last year to the Pats being up 28-3 in the AFC Champ, and guess what. They were beaten in the second half by a unbelievable comeback.
3.” It doesn’t matter who’s playing quarterback, I think the ball should be put on the ground.”
Your telling a 3 time SB coach how to run a team. Now, you can be the coach of the Fins.
3. “they only pad the scoreboard (and his stat line)”
Checking out Manning’s 04′ season there were a couple of games that just looked out of place. 49-14 beating the Texans, 41-10 beating the bears, 41-9 beating the Lions, and 51-24 beating the Titans.
Beyond those facts, NFL teams only get one chance a week to play opponents in actual NFL scenarios with NFL game speed and power. If a team is winning by that much shouldn’t they be using that time to practice in an actual NFL game. Especially seeing how the Pats have to play the Colts the week after, why not PRACTICE against the league’s 5th best defense.
4. “The game is already won, I don’t think you see the point: no running back, no matter how awful, will blow a 28 point lead.”
See 2006 AFC Championship as stated above. Check out the many games in the history of the NFL, including 2005 Skins vs. Dallas where we scored two TDs in the final two minutes for the win.
5. “Does that mean you want me to praise him because he might still be cheating and thus he’s so good at it the team is destined for another Super Bowl? If so, I’m sorry to say I’ll never appreciate — or respect — a team or coach that resorts to cheating, regardless the ultimate outcome.”
And guess what, that’s what Bilichek wants you to think, only so he can have the pleasure of beating respect into you…………………………..and I think he already has.
wow tom, if i didnt know any better i would say you have a love affair with peyton manning and can’t see the obvious facts that tom brady is just doing his just, spectaculairly. are you trying to say that tom brady should not throw a touchdown to randy moss in the first quarter simply because that will make the score go from 21-0 to 28-0. the second they start to mail it in and run the ball 24-7 from the second quarter on they will lose their competive edge and thus their advantage over anyone else. The patriots hadn’t had a chance to run their to minute warning drill all season and the game against miami was their first chance. what will you say when they have to drive the distance of the field in the two minute warning to win the game against the colts. to try to tell a team to stop scoring because their humiliating another team is ASSANINE. IF THEY HATE IT SO MUCH THEN STOP THEM, AND IF THEY CAN’T THEN ITS NOT THE PATRIOTS PROBLEM. and the idea that this somehow decreases the legitimacy of the record for tom brady if he does break it is probably the dumbest thing you’ve ever posted.
if your going to tell me that a professional athlete cries and complains becuase the other professioanal athletes are humiliating them, then they should just quit becuase they dont deserve their money. stop em if you want them to stop.
“are you trying to say that tom brady should not throw a touchdown to randy moss in the first quarter simply because that will make the score go from 21-0 to 28-0.”
No, I’m saying don’t go for it on 4th down in the fourth quarter when you have a 30-40 point lead. Don’t fake spikes to add to Brady’s touchdown total when the game is already out of reach.
“49-14 beating the Texans, 41-10 beating the bears, 41-9 beating the Lions, and 51-24 beating the Titans.”
In the Titans game, the Colts trailed 24-17 at the end of the first quarter. At the end of the half Indianapolis was up 31-24. That game seems a little closer than the final scoreboard puts it. In fact, you can clearly understand that that was a much closer game that required the Colts put points on the board. Also, Peyton Manning didn’t play the team’s final drives of the fourth quarter.
The Colts playcalling against the Texans was fairly balanced (57% pass) and two of the scores came on a fumble return and interception returned for touchdowns. Both those plays came in the second half.
Against the Bears, Edgerrin James ran for more than 200 yards while Manning threw for just 211. Again, the playcalling was balanced: 28 pass attempts for Manning, 35 carries for the team’s running backs.
And against Detroit, the running game-passing game were split evenly, 50-50. Once again, Edgerrin James had a 100 yard performance.
Clearly those games aren’t as cut-and-dried as you seem to think. Next time, dig a little deeper for examples.
“The reference to Manning was to say that, when he did it, Peyton Manning had few other choices. The Colts didn’t have the luxury of a top NFL defense; the Patriots do.”
Yeah, I just don’t see why you think this is particularly important. The record is only considered meaningful because it is thought to represent quality of performance. As such, coming up with reasons why it doesn’t represent that performance is absolutely fair game. Thing is you’re not attacking the performance, you’re attacking the number itself, and in doing so I think you’re missing the true importance of the issue.
Essentially, as far as I can tell, you’d advocate judging Brady by his attempts up through when the game is still in doubt, and thus his numbers would be less than Manning’s ‘04 numbers. However, once you have those numbers, to actually evaluate how successful the two guys are next to each other, you have to adjust for attempts, and so you end up right back where you started unless you can show that Brady is actually doing no better per attempt than Manning when the game is in doubt (by showing that his performance per attempt skyrockets in garbage time).
I understand where you’re coming from. I guess the point being made is, as far as records are concerned, Brady can and probably will break the touchdown record. Put it in the books. And that’s fine.
But ultimately, do fans care like they did when Manning did it? Does Brady have the same support Manning did? Manning captured the attention of the football world as he made the Colts a contender, seemingly singlehandedly.
It isn’t the same with Brady. He plays for the NFL’s Evil Empire. Fans aren’t reacting to his accomplishments the way we did when Manning was doing it.
Not really seeing the resistance to Brady, but I could certainly be missing something. What I see in Brady is a guy who was already considered the catalyst behind the team of the decade move from #2 in most people’s eyes, to a tentative #1.
I don’t know also about Manning seeming to do everything singlehandedly. I mean it’s a lot easier to pass effectively when you’ve got a running back going for 1500 yards. I never felt like Manning had anything but a world class offensive supporting cast. But of course there’s no doubt his team’s defense wasn’t great, so if that’s what you mean, I could see that playing into Manning’s reputation a bit more.
I have to ask, what is the difference between setting the record to set the record, and setting the record out of necessity? Either way the accomplishment is still the same. It’s not like Brady took steroids or cheated to set it. Maybe it’s not the most sportsmen like thing to do, but never the less it is still the same thing. He is still throwing touchdown passes against the same defense that was in during the first, second, third, and fourth quarter. If Peyton throws 10 touchdown passes in a 70-63 game against Houston, and Tom throws 10 in 70-7 game against Houston, statistically, and competitively, where is the difference? Don’t blame Brady, he just goes out in the huddle and runs the play that Bill calls. He isn’t breaking it to break it, if anyone is, it’s his coach. Breaking a record to break it, would be a 40 year old baseball player coming back for another season because he is five home runs away from breaking the all-time record, even though he is well past his prime and hit .180 the season before, with three homers. That’s breaking a record to break it, doing what your coach tells you, staying on the field when he tells you, that’s taking orders.
that is, if and when
Why get into all the tecnical stuff? Patriots are better than you. GET OVER IT
Silly Silly people. I see a good bit of you have been drinking the NFL’s Manning koolaid.
First to say that Brady has a better supporting cast is a crime to yourselves. Because it is all you koolaid drinkers who kept crying for the past couple of years that the Colts running game wasn’t getting enough credit, and that Marvin Harrison was the best receiver in the league. So stop with the better cast argument. Manning had a better running game then the Pat’s have. I will call the receiving core relatively equal. Brady probably has a better 3 receiver but, 1, 2, and TE all things are equal.
As for running up the score. If I had a dollar for everytime I saw any team in any sport go into “clock managment, or prevent defense” too early and end up losing or even almost losing a game that they were in command of I would be a rich man. That stuff only makes teams lose. So as the above poster said. If you don’t like another team scoring, STOP THEM. Isn’t that what you get paid to do. And according to the NFL, we are the league of parity.
As for the records, if it were Captain America(IE: Peyton), chasing a Brady record and running up scores, I bet you would all be standing up rooting and screaming for him. Talking about what a great player he is and how unstoppable he is. Just remember this, which I’m sure you do which is why you hate Brady so much, 3 rings verses 1, and now officially the single season TD record. And Peyton who was supposed to be Mr. Tennessee couldn’t win the NCAA champ either and he was favored to do it by all so called experts for 3 straight years. Then he graduates and a window washer named Tee Martin takes them to the promise land.
And last year the Colts were beat in the AFC champ game. Watch the game again a look at the BS calls. Be honest now, don’t look through your I love Peyton NFL koolaid glasses. The NFL wanted their golden boy to win one. Period.
And no I am not a Pat’s fan. I am a Cincy fan who also roots for Tampa since Sam Weisch went down there to coach after his Cincy firing in 91. I am just one of the few NFL fans who isn’t drinking the koolaid that they are feeding you people. Oh, and by the way Eli sucks too!
“I am just one of the few NFL fans who isn’t drinking the koolaid that they are feeding you people.”
Seems you are hooked on “hater-aide” though. (”Eli sucks too”; “the Colts were beat”; “Peyton couldn’t win the NCAA champ either”)
Tom Brady dosn’t care about the touchdown record. all he wants to do is win. he is the ultimate quaterback. he has won three superbowls, two superbowl mvp’s, one league mvp, and he threw 50 touchdowns this season. if you hate tom brady then you are just mad because he is better than you and any other quarterback in the league
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