New stat shows how Tom Brady became the Wayne Gretzky of the NFL
By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Tom Brady is already the greatest quarterback and most prolific winner in NFL history, with 31 career playoff wins. Now he’s just lapping the competition.
Brady added a new victim to his list of teams he’s beaten in the playoffs over the course of his transcendent career, after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Washington Football Team 31-23 in the wild card round on Saturday. Brady is now 31-11 in the playoffs in his career. He threw for 381 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, humbling a Washington defense that ranked second in total yards allowed and fourth in points per game.
To people with brains and eyes who have watched Brady play and comprehended his greatness, that performance wasn’t the least bit surprising. But perhaps you need a fresh stat to change your mind.
The win made Washington the 17th different team that Brady has beaten in the playoffs in his career. That means that Brady now has beaten more teams in the playoffs than any other quarterback has total playoff wins. Joe Montana is second all-time with 16 playoff wins. Brady can give you 17 without naming a team twice.
Tom Brady already had by far the most playoff wins. Now he’s just lapping the competition. (Geoff Burke-USA TODAY)
In case you didn’t already consider Brady the Wayne Gretzky of the NFL (you should), this stat pretty much seals it. Gretzky is famous for holding pretty much all of the NHL’s major scoring records, including career points, goals, and assists. In fact, Gretzky has more career assists (1,963) than any other player has career points (Bruins legend Jaromir Jagr is second all-time in points with 1,963).
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Obviously it’s not a perfect analogy. Point-scoring in hockey to playoff wins in football isn’t exactly apples-to-apples. But it’s just an apt illustration of why Brady has seoarate himself from the field. He’s made all “best quarterback” discussions utterly meaningless. You’d have to pull a Tony Dungy to get any attention for such a discussion.
If you’re still doubting Brady today, just please open your eyes and pay attention and think, one time.
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff or send him a nasty email at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.
