Falcons: Mike & Mike (and Shefter) talk about the Falcons and Matt Ryan

[AUTiger7222]

(08-28-2012 09:43 AM)Peyton Wrote:  I agree that Ryan's career trajectory is extremely similiar to Peyton Manning's. Ryan has one big challenge that Manning didn't have 10 years ago though. When Ryan makes it to the playoffs, he is virtually guaranteed to go up against a GREAT QB on the other team. It makes it much harder for Ryan to make a run than it was was for Manning for a time.

Yep. There wasn't nearly as many great QBs back in the day. That was a period of transition in the NFL with guys like Troy Aikman, Steve Young, Warren Moon, John Elway and Dan Marino on their way out. It took a long time for the NFL to replace that kind of star power and greatness. That's one of the reasons you had Super Bowl's being won by teams with QBs such as Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson. And look at the QBs of the teams that lost Super Bowls in those days, guys like Chris Chandler, Steve McNair, Jake Delhomme, Kerry Collins and Rich Gannon. Really? No way in hell any of those guys would get a ring now a days or even get a sniff of one. Wow. Talk about easy compared to now.

The same goes for Tom Brady. No way the Patriots of 2001 win that Super Bowl in 2011. No way in hell. That team wasn't that good and Brady was nothing but a don't lose the game guy. Look at Brady's stats from 2001. 264-for-413 (63.9), 2843 YDS (6.9 avg), 18 TD, 12 INT - 86.5 QB Rating. Just keep looking at Brady's stats. I hate QB Rating but look. 2002 - 85.7. 2003 - 85.9 with only 23 TDs and 12 INTs the during the 2nd Super Bowl year. Brady barely completed 60% of his passes that year. It wasn't until 2007 when Brady got Randy Moss and started throwing jump balls to him that he got great. His numbers up until that point were just good but nothing special.

96 G, 1896-for-3064 (61.9%), 21,564 (7.0), 147 TD, 78 INT - 88.4 QB Rating

I just posted an "Who Am I" thread for over on AFMB using those numbers for Brady. Can't wait to see the responses.