BIG GAME 2017 | BATTLE OF THE ELITES
Quarterback
Face-Off
D
rafted eight years apart, Matt Ryan and
Tom Brady exemplify the evolution of the
NFL quarterback. Brady is the ultimate system
quarterback, thriving within every game plan
masterminded by coach Bill Belichick.
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He also has been wildly consis-
tent throughout his career, no
matter the caliber of talent that is
placed around him. Brady relies
on short, underneath routes for
offensive success but can certainly
still launch the ball downfield for a
long pickup.
With a big arm and a loaded
wide receiver corps, Ryan is the
new gunslinger to Brady’s veteran
savvy. Ryan is the first quarterback
with at least three touchdown
passes in four consecutive playoff
games and posted a 117.1 QB rat-
ing for the season (fifth highest in
NFL history).
game, more than any other pair of
conference champions have aver-
aged through that stretch since the
1970 AFL-NFL merger.
DIFFERENT WEAPONS
Despite missing two games and
battling injuries all season, Julio
Jones was Ryan’s favorite target
this season, finishing second in
the league with more than 1,400
receiving yards.
In the last two seasons, Matt
Ryan has a 100.1 quarterback rat-
ing when throwing deep (over 20
yards) to Jones, tabbed by many as
the best wideout in the league.
Brady, on the other hand, has
HIGH-FLYING OFFENSES
relied on a deep crew of receivers,
While their styles may be differ- tight ends and running backs on
ent, both quarterbacks have led
his road to the Super Bowl. Wide
outstanding offenses this season.
receiver Chris Hogan has gained
The Falcons and Patriots ranked
popularity among Patriots fans,
first and second in many offensive especially his breakthrough per-
categories this season, advancing
formance in the AFC champion-
to the Super Bowl despite finishing ship win over the Pittsburgh
Steelers.
in the bottom half of defensive
A collection of position players
statistics.
During the postseason, Brady
have stepped up in the absence of
and Ryan have led their offenses to tight end Rob Gronkowski, who
was placed on injured reserve in
150 combined points across four
games. This equals 37.5 points per December.
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