Agreed. This is likely what I’ll write about for B/R next week, but really nothing has gone Brady’s way this year and he still just keeps winning. Everyone wants to play the “decline” angle which would really only be valid if nothing had changed around Brady.
But let’s be honest. EVERYTHING has changed. “But he did fine in 2006,” some say, well this has been even more difficult. In 2006 he had Kevin Faulk and Troy Brown, not to mention Ben Watson and Daniel Graham. What can he hang his hat on this year? Reche Caldwell didn’t miss a game. Imagine if Brady had to rely on Chad Jackson extensively that season…
In 2013 there were departures, injuries and, to compound matters, like you pointed out, he’s had to basically get by with two rookie receivers with the dropsies, no tight end threat and no true receiving running back threat. His offensive line has given up the 10th most sacks in the league, and a lot of them came at key moments like on third down. Let’s also add in the potential hand injury that he is likely dealing with. And the fact that he’s played some of the best defensive fronts in the NFL.
So when you add it all up, I think this could possibly, when everything is said and done, be one of Brady’s most impressive seasons. Especially if they go on a playoff run. Might be hard to see right now, but the potential is there, especially as the Pats get healthy.
The “Brady’s lost it” takes bring int he page views, but it’s only true if you take his stats completely out of the context from what’s been going on with the 2013 Pats. I think we’ll look back on those articles in December and have a good laugh.
