NFL by the Numbers: Tom Brady Is Mr. Clutch No More

When comparing the NFL's top quarterbacks, analysts and fans often bicker back and forth until one of them plays the trump card and Tom Brady tops their list based on Super Bowls and playoff performances.

Well, that may have been the case early in his career but if you dig into the numbers, you will discover that Mr. Clutch hasn't been living up to his moniker.

During Brady's first four seasons in the NFL, he made three trips to the playoffs and managed to win a Super Bowl in each of those three appearances. His numbers in those nine playoff games are impressive: 1951 yards passing, 11 touchdowns compared to just three interceptions, 63.1 completion percentage and a passer rating of 91.5. I will even toss in his two rushing touchdowns and did I mention he was 9-0 to start his NFL Playoff career?

But that's not what earned him his nickname. He gets that honour based on the five game-winning drives and two fourth quarter comebacks that he orchestrated during the Patriots' Super Bowl runs.

Nobody can take that away from Mr. Brady, but when you turn the page to the next half of his playoff career, it's a different story.

Since New England's 2005 Super Bowl victory, the Pats have failed to take home another title and Brady hasn't been able to rekindle the magic that made him a household name.

During his last nine playoff appearance, Brady has compiled 2157 yards passing and 17 touchdowns but he has also tossed 12 interceptions. He has not gone over 300 yards passing in eight straight playoff games and has seen his career postseason passer rating dip from 91.5 to 85.4.

In the four games that resulted in New England's exit from the postseason since 2005, Brady averaged 248 passing yards, threw more INT's than TD's and had a passer rating of 71.3. 

Now, the most important statistic of all when measuring the so-called clutch factor: Brady has just one game-winning drive and one fourth quarter comeback in the postseason since New England's last Super Bowl. Both of which came in a 2007 Divisional Round playoff game against the San Diego Chargers, where Brady also threw three interceptions and posted a passer rating of 57.6.

The fashion in which Tom Brady entered the NFL scene most definitely earned him the title of Mr. Clutch. But based on his most recent performances, the trump card that is often used to swing an argument in Brady's favour has appeared to change suits.

Looks like NFL analyst and fans are going to have to find a new hook to hang their Brady Praising hats on.