With 49,547 passing yards, Tom Brady ranks as one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks in history. Up until last season, he had been the ultimate model for consistency in a passer once logging a touchdown pass in 52 consecutive games. He has been to the Pro Bowl 9 times, been to the Super Bowl 5 times, won it thrice and twice won the game’s MVP. His 18 playoff wins are rivaled only by the great Joe Montana. Yet as his career nears its end, these statistics, these records that, in being broken have made Brady great have begun to fade away; and as they do so, they are replaced with incompletions, harsh losses and media attacks on his place in football.
Tom Brady's career is drawing to a close, that much is clear. At 37 years old, his body victimized by hundreds of sacks allowed by a sometimes incapable offensive line are simply causing him to slow down.
Yet still, Brady remains a great who holds the skills and work ethic to treat us to a few more great moments or at least reminders of great moments to satisfy us for the next few years. This Week Two match up against the Raiders is a stunning reminder of the officiating blunder that served as one of the biggest moments in his then young career. That game, though lacking really any skillful exploits done by Brady, is remembered in history as the tumultuous "Tuck Rule" call at the end of the equally memorable "snow bowl" AFC championship game in 2001.
In one of the few games against the Raiders since then, Tom Brady and his wonderfully driven ego are on pace to maul the Raiders. However, in this week three game, this clash of old and new, Brady who still will likely crush the Raiders, is put in an unfamiliar position.
So far, having played two games in his 15th NFL season, Brady has amassed worse statistics than his rookie opponent.
Raiders' 2nd round draft pick Derek Carr is 23 years old and currently working to fill the void left by former Oakland star Terrell Pryor. He possesses a thick case of trophies won as the starting QB for Fresno State Bulldogs that includes being a two time All-American selection as well as a two time Mountain West Conference offensive player of the year lock in his Junior and Senior years.
In 2014, his prof to why his being drafted 36th overall was worth it, he has for one thing been better than Tom Terrific himself.
Though they were logged mainly on a 40 yard carry in week one, Carr has shown some strong versatility in the pocket scrambling for 5 rushing attempts while gaining 57 yards on those carries. Even without those extra yards, Carr has actually tossed 16 more yards than Brady on 3 fewer passing attempts.
Carr has a statistical edge on Brady in terms of total rating (80.6) as well as QBR (43.7) while perhaps his biggest edge comes in terms of completion percentage. Tossing 77 attempts, Brady's completion percentage of 55.8 is 3rd worst in the NFL this season while Carr's 63.5 percentage ranks an impressive 20th. The sheer statement of being unable to hit receivers is perhaps the most worrying among these Brady statistics. The reason for worry is only worsened when you see that Carr, a quarterback whose top receiver is limited to the name of Vincent Brown is completing more passes than Brady whose top receivers include Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman.
That stings.
But in the end, does anybody really think that these statistics are yet bad enough to undermine the potential to succeed that Brady still has? No; in no way are these statistics dictating of such. Tom Brady remains one of the greatest quarterbacks in history, Derek Carr remains a mere rookie on the NFL's worst team.
These statistics are merely a glimpse into a shallow drop off in Brady's performance shown by a stunning numerical cliff off of which Brady has fallen. But I assure you this much, Tom Terrific can recover.
Tom Brady | Derek Carr | |
Total yards (Passing and rushing) | 400 | 471 |
Completion percentage | 55.8 | 63.5 |
Rating | 78.8 | 80.6 |
QBR | 48.4 | 43.7 |
Interceptions | 0 | 2 |
Fumbles | 2 | 0 |
Total pass attempts | 77 | 74 |
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