Scenario: 2007-2008 NFL Season
Involved: Tom Brady and Randy Moss
Before the Season
During the 2006 NFL Season, the New England Patriots were a great team. QB Tom Brady and RB Corey Dillon led the team on offense, and DE Richard Seymour, LB Tedy Bruschi, and S Rodney Harrison led the team of defense. Their roster had several holes, specifically at WR and TE. The Patriots still managed to finish with a 12-4 record and placed 1st in the AFC East. They were the 4th seed in the playoffs. They went on to defeat the New York Jets and the San Diego Chargers, advancing to the AFC Championship Game. They blew at 21-3 lead to Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. They eventually lost 38-34. After the season, big changes were expected.
During the Season
In the offseason, the Pats traded a 4th round pick for none other than WR Randy Moss. Moss would immediatly be the #1 receiver and Brady's favorite target. His 6'4" frame and his 4.25 forty yard dash had been feared around the league. The Pats also signed Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth to add depth to the WR position. With all of the new additions, the season was all set up for greatness.
To start the season, Moss and Brady connected for the first of many touchdown passes. In Moss' Patriot debut, Moss finished with 9 receptions, 183 yards, and 1 touchdown. Things were off to a really hot start in New England. They were even early favorites to win the Super Bowl. In the following 3 weeks, Moss caught a total of 22 passes and 6 touchdowns, for a whopping 322 yards. Brady, on the other hand, had already thrown for 1,118 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Already, a quarter of the way into the season, the Pats were 4-0 and were on pace for many records.
In Week 5, Moss cooled down and had only 3 receptions for just 46 yards. Brady, however, kept his high level of play going with 3 touchdown passes. The following week, Moss got going again catching another touchdown pass. Brady, already an MVP candidate, threw for 388 yards and 5 touchdowns. In Week 7, Brady had another stellar performance, throwing for 354 yards and a season-high 6 touchdowns. Moss caught 2 off these touchdown passes, and was responsible for 122 of Brady's passing yards. That next week, Brady only threw for 3 touchdowns, but still managed to rush for 2. Moss caught 1 of those touchdown passes. The Pats were 8-0, with a big rematch against the Indianapolis Colts next week.
In Week 9, the Patriots would be up against their toughest game of the season, the Indianapolis Colts. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning would duke it out once again, this time in Indianapolis. Brady had a tough time finding his groove, throwing 2 interceptions. Brady had thrown only 2 interceptions coming into the game. Brady and Moss, however, would rally their team to a 24-20 victory. Brady finished with 255 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Moss would finish with 9 receptions, 145 yards, and 1 touchdown. Brady and Moss, already on record-setting paces, were mid-season MVP candidates. Entering their Week 10 bye, Brady had thrown for 2,686 yards, 33 touchdowns, and just 4 interceptions. Moss had 56 receptions, 924 yards, and 12 touchdowns. The New England Patriots were also undeafeated, holding a 9-0 record.
Coming off of the bye, Brady and Moss single-handily had their best games of the season. The Pats would rout the Buffalo Bills by a score of 56-10. Brady threw for 373 yards and 5 touchdowns. Moss' final statline would go like this: 10 receptions, 128 yards, and 4 touchdowns. The Pats would ride this moment into Weeks 11 and 12, with two close wins. Brady would combine for 637 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Moss would combine for only 9 receptions, 77 yards, and just 1 touchdown. In Week 13, both Brady and Moss would return to mid-season form, with Brady throwing 4 touchdowns, 2 of them to Moss. The following week, Moss and Brady would go through their worst game of the season, against Darrelle Revis and the New York Jets. The Pats would squeak out a 20-10 victory. Moss was quiet the whole game, only catching 5 passes for 79 yards. Brady would also struggle, throwing for 140 yards and 1 interception. They still found a way to win.
In Weeks 16 and 17, Moss and Brady would finish on high notes. Moss combined for another 11 catches, 150 yards, and 4 touchdowns. Brady would combine for 571 yards, 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. This would close out a perfect regular season, going 16-0. Brady would win the MVP award, with final stats of 4,806 passing yards, a once single-season record of 50 touchdowns, and a mere 8 interceptions. Moss would also finish an MVP candidate, with 98 receptions, 1,493 yards, and record of 23 touchdowns. Now, the Pats would enter the playoffs as the AFC's #1 seed.
After the Season
The Patriots would advance all the way to Super Bowl XLII. Moss was nowhere to be found in such playoffs, only totaling 7 receptions, 98 yards, and 1 Super Bowl touchdown. Brady continued his excellence, leading his team into the Super Bowl. However, Brady and the Pats would fall apart against the New York Giants. Brady went 29-48, 266 yards, and 1 touchdown. The New England Patriots couldn't pull off the perfect season, going 18-1.
Three years later, the Moss and Brady tandem would split up. Moss was traded back to the Minnesota Vikings. Brady would go on to cement his Patriot legacy, while Moss's career went into a downward spiral.
This duo can be considered one of the best QB-WR seasons ever. The fact that Brady turned to Moss whenever ever he needed to was truly remarkable. I think no other players could affect a game the way Moss and Brady did in '07. I also think that this tandem is not talked about as much is because of the fact they couldn't go 19-0 as well as the duo's longevity. If they would have stuck together for more years, they would have been recognized even more. Was this the best QB to WR combo ever? That is for us to debate.
Follow Me on Twitter
@_SwagggyT
No comments:
Post a Comment