Grading Tom Brady's Week 6 Performance vs. the Dallas Cowboys

Tom Brady is a future hall of fame candidate.  It was never more evident than in his heroic fourth quarter comeback drive to put the New England Patriots up 20-16 against the Dallas Cowboys with a few seconds left in the game.  

However, aside from the final two minutes, it was a pretty shaky game for the all-star quarterback who was dealing with a tricky and ferocious defense that mixed up its coverages well.  They forced Brady into two interceptions and multiple halted drives. 

Here is Tom Brady's grading per quarter as well as overall performance for the entire game.  

First Quarter Grade: B-

Tom Brady started off sluggish, throwing an interception right out of the gates in the first quarter.  However, against a tough Rob Ryan defense, Brady did not look too bad aside from his lone pick of the quarter.  Eventually, he led the Pats offense to two field goals giving them a 6-3 lead after the first quarter. 

Although the casual fan was expecting Brady to light up the Cowboys with this prolific offense, it has been proven that playing against Ryan's defense is no easy task.  Getting the ball into field-goal territory on two out of the three Patriot drives is decent, although probably a disappointment in Brady's eyes.  

Second Quarter Grade: A

Coming off a sluggish first quarter, it looked like the Pats had the old Tom Brady back.  He looked sharp in his drive down the field for the first of his overall two touchdown throws.

In his first drive during the second quarter, he manufactured a touchdown while tearing up the Dallas defense.  It looked like he had finally figured out what Rob Ryan’s defense was doing to him and adjusted accordingly.  Brady managed to pull off an effortless drive into the end zone resulting in a 5-yard touchdown pass to Wes Welker.

For his final drive, he handed it off to his running back and let the clock wind down to take the team into halftime with the lead.  

Third Quarter Grade: D

This was probably Tom Brady’s worst quarter all season long. He had two drives that led to one punt and one fumble. 

Against a Dallas Cowboys team that maintains long drives and possessions, capitalizing on opportunities to have the ball on offense is critical.  Unfortunately in the third quarter, Brady had no answer for the defensive shifts that Ryan made. Brady was under pressure for much of the quarter and the secondary did a good job at limiting the looks Wes Welker and the rest of the receiving core received.  

In fact, the Dallas team did an excellent job at shutting down the tight ends as well who have been Brady's secret weapons for all of the 2011 season.  

Luckily, the Pats defense held the Cowboys to a field goal and punt giving Brady an opportunity for redemption in the fourth quarter.  

Fourth Quarter Grade: B+

Aside from Tom Brady’s usual fourth quarter heroics, the rest of the quarter was fairly mediocre.  The other two drives that the Patriots had in that quarter ended in an intercepted pass which was caused by Brady getting hit in the arm while scrambling to find an open receiver. 

The next possession ended in a disappointing punt.  Luckily the defense stepped up and forced the Cowboys, who looked like they were in an offensive groove, to go three and out, allowing Tom Brady an opportunity for redemption after a weak overall game.  The rest is history.

Brady led the Patriots in one of his vintage fourth quarter comebacks.  With around two and a half minutes left in the game, Brady had the ball in his hands back at his own 20 and had one thing on his mind: a win. He went eight of nine for 80 yards and a touchdown on his final drive.  Brady is proving to us once again why the Patriots always have a chance to win whenever he is in the game.

Overall Grade: B-

Tom Brady finished the game completing 27 of 41 passes for 289 yards, throwing two touchdowns and two interceptions.  

If we were to take out the last two minutes of this game, Brady would have had the stats of an amateur quarterback.  There is no denying that his final two minutes were special, but in reality, he threw two interceptions and only led this offense to 13 points.  From what the fans as well as himself and his teammates have come to expect, this is far from acceptable.

However, the Patriots came out with a win and in true Brady fashion had another last minute drive with himself at the helm. 

Against a defense run by Rob Ryan who has typically had a good track record against Brady, kudos to the Pats for bringing home the win whatever way possible.  Once again, overall stats do not do Tom Brady justice this game.  While talking about Tom Brady’s final drive during the post game interview, Bill Belichick stated, “There is no other quarterback that I [Belichick] would want…”

Next week should be interesting when the Pats go on the road to face the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Although the defense of the Steelers have been shaky at times this season, the Pats should not underestimate the skills and determination of a Pittsburgh defense.