Tom Brady got the job done for Patriots in AFC title game – The Boston Globe
Must read as always from Bedard, here’s a great little nugget:
Brady was efficient, he made smart decisions for the most part, he adjusted plays well and put the ball – even on his two interceptions – where either his teammate was going to catch it or the defender was going to make an outstanding play.
He averaged 6.64 yards per attempt – the stat that usually is the truest indicator of how well a quarterback plays (or how poorly a defense does). In the regular season, that would have been Brady’s third-lowest YPA, behind the loss to the Steelers (5.54) and the late-season win over the Dolphins (6.61). Brady’s YPA for the season was 8.60.
The fact is, Brady has now played in 21 playoff games. His average YPA in those games is 6.81. In the Patriots’ 16 victories, it’s 6.94. In the five losses, it’s 6.43.
The difference is negligible. What you saw on Sunday is how playoff football is played, especially against the type of scheme that always has given Brady and the Patriots trouble.