Tom Brady: Why Patriots QB Will Break Every Major Single-Season Record in 2011

Tom Brady is already one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in NFL history. A three-time Super Bowl champion, he already holds the record for touchdown passes in a single season with 50. He is one of only two players in NFL history, along with Joe Montana, to have been named the NFL's Most Valuable Player and the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player multiple times.

Many would argue, and rightfully so, that Brady is already the single greatest quarterback of all time. But even with all the accolades he has already earned through 10 seasons as a pro, Brady's star continues to ascend in his 11th NFL season. With five games already in the books, Brady stands poised to have the single greatest season ever by an NFL quarterback.

The single-season record for passing yards in a season is held by Dan Marino, who accomplished the feat in 1984, passing for 5,084 yards. Over 16 games, that equates to about 318 yards per game. Through five games in 2011, Tom Brady has already thrown for 1,874 yards, an eye-popping average of 375 yards per game.

As previously mentioned, Brady already holds the single-season record for touchdowns with 50. He is currently just barely off matching that pace in 2011.

What is driving Brady's dominant season? The reasons for Brady's success and, more directly, why he will rewrite the record books in 2011 are numerous.

First and foremost, the Patriots offense is built specifically to allow Brady to control the game. His decision-making is his greatest strength, and the Patriots offense exploits that strength by constantly providing Brady with mismatches all over the field.

Wes Welker is quickly becoming one of the most prolific slot receivers of all time. Often matched up with a linebacker or safety, Welker uses speed and precise route-running to get open, and Brady often finds him.

If defenses try to take Welker away as an option, Brady has plenty of other options. Deion Branch has the speed to stretch defenses, and tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez exploit holes created when defenses key on Welker or Branch. With so many dangerous weapons available, Brady often simply needs to just find the open man, and his ability to read defenses and anticipate where he will find the open receiver often allows him to do just that.

The Patriots' lack of a consistent running game also contributes to Brady's numbers in 2011. BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Stevan Ridley are solid backs, but neither has asserted himself as a go-to option. This creates a situation where, often, the Patriots' best, most effective option on offense is to leave the ball in Brady's hands and allow him to do the work in moving the team down the field.

While the design of the Patriots offense and necessity certainly play a role in Brady's ridiculous numbers thus far this season, it would be foolish to discount the quarterback himself.

Brady is one of the most accurate passers in NFL history. His confidence in his accuracy affords him the ability to pull the trigger on passes that most quarterbacks not dare make, and his arm strength allows him to fire passes into small windows that are simply shut for quarterbacks with average arm strength by the time the ball arrives.

Finally, the Patriots defense has played, and will continue to play, a large role in Brady's 2011 numbers. The Patriots defense is weaker than it has been in years past, allowing opposing offenses to keep up with the frantic pace set by Brady and his offense. This forces Brady to keep the pedal to the metal for the entire game, as letting up will surely result in disappointment, as evidenced by an early-season loss in Buffalo.

Where prolific offenses are typically so far ahead that it makes sense to slow down late in games and grind out the clock, the Patriots must continue to pass and score to assure themselves victory, serving to push Brady's numbers to record-breaking heights.

2011 is shaping up to be the perfect storm of talent, situation and opportunity for Tom Brady. With so many weapons at his disposal, a running game that Bill Belichick would rather not entrust a game to and a defense that necessitates continuous scoring on offense, Brady stands ready to put up numbers in 2011 that have never before been seen in the history of the NFL.