2011 NFL Schedule: Predicting Tom Brady's Game-by-Game Stats
Tuesday night at 7 p.m. the NFL announced it's 2011 planned schedule—if there is a season.
By just taking a quick look at the New England Patriots' schedule, it appears to be a challenging one.
Last season, the Patriots had one of the league's more difficult schedules, facing off against the Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers at Gillette Stadium and traveling to San Diego and Pittsburgh to take on the Chargers and Steelers. Somehow, the Patriots prevailed in all four games and went on to post the league's best record at 14-2.
Most of the team's success in 2010 is thanks to their signal caller and NFL Most Valuable Player, Tom Brady.
Brady was practically unstoppable last year, posting arguably the best season of his career while throwing an NFL-record 335 consecutive passes without an interception, a streak he carries over into next season.
Along with Brady's record, he recorded a 111.0 passer rating and threw for 36 touchdowns and 3,900 yards.
Entering the 2011 season, the Patriots need Brady to remain as an elite quarterback and put up some more big numbers.
Here are my game-by-game predictions of Tom Brady's stats for the 2011 NFL season.
This article was first seen at PatriotsPlus.net. Be sure to follow Tony Santorsa on Twitter @ TonySantorsa.
Week 1: Monday, Sept. 12 at Dolphins (7 PM)
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As of late, Tom Brady has just owned the Miami Dolphins.
The Patriots will open up their 2011 season on Monday Night Football.
In Brady's last two meetings against the Dolphins, he recorded 107.1 and 145.6 pass ratings and just shredded Miami's secondary.
Even if Miami manages to upgrade their pass defense in the offseason, Brady should have no problem in Week 1.
Predicted Stats: 225 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 18 vs. Chargers (4:15 PM)
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Tom Brady and the Patriots traveled to San Diego last season, winning by the skin of their teeth with a 23-20 score.
Instead of making the difficult cross-country trip, the Patriots and Chargers will swap sides in Week 2 with the Chargers traveling to Foxborough.
Brady's track record against the Chargers hasn't been so great. Last season, he only recorded an 82.7 passer rating and in the 2007 playoffs against San Diego, Brady threw three interceptions.
Predicted Stats: 175 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions.
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 25 at Bills (1 PM)
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This one should be a walk in the park for Brady—playing against the Buffalo Bills is like target practice for the New England gunslinger.
Brady hasn't had any trouble against the Bills in his career, and should put up some huge numbers in the team's Week 3 matchup in Buffalo.
Predicted Stats: 230 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions.
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Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 2 at Raiders (4:15 PM)
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The last time the New England Patriots traveled cross country to visit the Oakland Raiders was back in 2002.
With still much hatred towards the Patriots from the "Black Hole" in Oakland due to the infamous tuck rule, the Raider Nation will be sure to make it a tough one for Brady and the Pats.
Along with the tough environment in Oakland, and the Raiders' improving defense, Brady and the Pats may struggle and hit a speed bump on their 2011 west coast road trip.
Predicted Stats: 150 yards, one touchdown, one interception (ending Brady's streak of no interceptions).
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 9 vs. Jets (4:15 PM)
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The game everyone in New England and New York is circling on their calenders—Jets vs. Patriots.
In the team's recent meeting in the playoffs, Brady spent most of his time on his back and looking almost lost. I described Brady's performance in the playoffs as if he was seeing ghosts and just never looked comfortable.
The Patriots will look for revenge, and Brady will do whatever it takes to emerge victorious.
Predicted Stats: 225 yards, three touchdowns, one interception.
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 16 vs. Cowboys (4:15 PM)
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The last time Brady and the Patriots faced off against the Dallas Cowboys was on Oct. 14, 2007, when Brady demolished the Cowboys by throwing an amazing five touchdowns.
As the Cowboys were one of the worst defenses in football last year allowing an average of 27.2 points per game, I don't see their defense improving that much to stop Brady.
Predicted Stats: 300 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions.
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 23: BYE
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Brady and the Patriots will take a much needed week off during Week 7 as they use some extra time to prepare for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Predicted Stats To Date: 1305 yards, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions.
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 30 at Steelers (4:15 PM)
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In 2010, the New England Patriots turned a lot of heads when they man-handled the Steelers in Pittsburgh, 39-26.
Brady was amazing in their Week 10 matchup in the Steel City. Brady threw for 350 yards and three touchdowns while adding a rare rushing score.
This year, however, will be a bit more of a challenge as these two teams usually bring the best out of each other.
Predicted Stats: 275 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions.
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 6 vs. Giants (4:15 PM)
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In the last meaningful game between these two teams, Brady and the Patriots walked off of the field as the Giants completed the greatest upset in Super Bowl history. The Giants stopped New England's 18-game winning streak and strive for perfection by physically dominating Brady and New England's offensive line.
Brady, who already plays with a chip on his shoulder, will come on slinging in this one as he looks for as much revenge as he can get.
Predicted Stats: 335 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions.
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 13 at Jets (8:20 PM)
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The Patriots, led by Brady, will pay their second visit to the New Meadowlands Stadium in Week 10 as they take on their hated rivals, the New York Jets.
Playing in New York has not been easy for Brady as of late, and this has the possibility to be a tough one considering how good New York's defense is.
Predicted Stats: 200 yards, one touchdown, one interception.
Week 11: Monday, Nov. 21 vs. Chiefs (8:30 PM)
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Once teammates and still good friends, quarterbacks Matt Cassel and Tom Brady will face off against each other on Monday night for the team's Week 11 battle.
Brady will outduel Cassel in this game and likely put up some big numbers despite playing against Bill Belichick's former defensive coordinator, Romeo Crennel.
Predicted Stats: 220 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions.
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 27 at Eagles (4:15 PM)
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The team's Week 12 battle against the Philadelphia Eagles is going to be a shootout in my opinion.
The teams' high-powered offenses led by quarterbacks Tom Brady and Michael Vick will try to outgun one another in Philly, leading to big numbers from both quarterbacks.
Predicted Stats: 250 yards, two touchdowns, one interception.
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 4 vs. Colts (8:20 PM)
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This year's Brady vs. Manning bowl will be shown in primetime on Sunday Night Football on NBC.
The two quarterbacks will face off against each other for the first time since Brady's Patriots beat Peyton's Colts last season by a score of 31-28
Both Brady and Manning will do whatever it takes to put the team on their shoulders and lead their team to victory.
Predicted Stats: 350 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions.
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 11 at Redskins (1 PM)
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Tom Brady and the New England Patriots will be making their first visit to the nation's capital since 2002 as they take on the Washington Redskins in Week 14.
Brady will likely flourish against the lowly Redskins, as Washington will be struggling next season to find their identity under head coach Mike Shanahan.
Predicted Stats: 400 yards, five touchdowns, no interceptions.
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 18 at Broncos (4:15 PM)
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Tom Brady and the Patriots will be spending their Week 15 road trip in a place where they haven't fared too well under Bill Belichick: Denver, CO.
Even though the Denver Broncos will likely be one of the league's worst pass defenses, the Patriots will find a way to struggle, as they always do when they're in Denver.
Predicted Stats: 275 yards, two touchdowns, one interception.
Week 16: Saturday, Dec. 24 vs. Dolphins (1 PM)
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The Patriots will be spending a weekend in Sunny Miami to face off against the Miami Dolphins for the team's Week 16 battle.
Even though the Patriots will be enjoying the warm weather, this has been a place where Brady and New England's offense have infamously struggled.
Predicted States: 150 yards, one touchdown, one interception.
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 1 vs. Bills (1 PM)
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Tom Brady and the Patriots will conclude their 2011 NFL season with a home game against the Buffalo Bills.
The Bills should be an improved team from 2010, but they wont be presenting too much of a challenge for Brady and New England's offense. In fact, with the change of New England already having a playoff spot locked up, the Patriots will likely be resting Brady along with the team's starters in this game.
Predicted Stats: 100 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions.
Conclusion: Tom Brady Could Win Back-to-Back MVP Awards
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In my opinion, Tom Brady will make a strong case in 2011 to be the NFL's Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row.
The Patriots, led by Brady, will be on a mission in 2010 to prove everyone wrong by making a bold statement that they're still the team to beat in the AFC East, not the New York Jets.
Brady will be playing with an even bigger chip on his shoulder, due to the fact that he's "choked" in the team's last three playoff losses.
Expect Brady and New England to come running out of the gates in 2011, as they'll be one of the Super Bowl contenders.
Predicted 2011 Final Stats: 3,860 yards, 39 touchdowns, nine interceptions.
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