Fansided
Fansided

New England Patriots: Tom Brady Gets Way Too Much Credit

By Erik Lambert

Apr 3, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady throws out the first pitch before the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady throws out the first pitch before the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Apr 3, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady throws out the first pitch before the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady throws out the first pitch before the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

Look this article is not in any way meant to rain on the legacy of Tom Brady. He’s arguably the greatest quarterback ever and has the rings to prove it.

This is less a slamming of him and more a slamming of the people who continue to inflate his overall impact on the success of the New England Patriots. Is he a vital cog? Of course. That’s showcased by the endless string of highlights and big games he’s had over the years. His numbers rank about the very best in history. Yet at the same time most people don’t realize how easy he’s had it. No seriously. I said it. Brady would not have five rings without the consistent, superior play of the Patriots defense.

Let’s start with this little factoid. In each of the years the Patriots have won the Super Bowl, their defense ranked in the top 10 for points allowed. More often in the top five. Here’s a quick breakdown:

  • 2001:  6th
  • 2003:  1st
  • 2004:  2nd
  • 2014:  8th
  • 2016:  1st

It goes even deeper than that. To date the Patriots have won 24 playoff games with Brady at quarterback. The defense allowed a total of 450 points scored over that span. This averages out to just 18.75 points allowed per game. That certainly makes life easier for any quarterback. Eight of his nine career losses in the postseason came when the defense allowed 20 points or more.

Keeping perspective

The point of all this being that it’s never wise to put the success of an entire organization on the shoulders of one man. The primary reason Brady is being called the greatest QB ever is because he might be playing on the greatest team ever. Or more accurately for the greatest coach ever. Keep this in mind. Five of the six highest rated seasons of Brady’s career did not end in a Super Bowl championship. The only one to do that was the most recent in 2016 and by all rights they should’ve lost that one too.

Football is a team sport and the Patriots are the greatest team of the past two decades. Brady may be the captain of the ship, but it needs the entire crew to function at peak efficiency.

Home/NFL Hot Takes