1. New England Patriots QB Tom Brady did not have the best track record in AFC Championship Games before destroying the Pittsburgh Steelers with 384 passing yards and 3 touchdowns for a passer rating of 127.5.
In fact, prior to this year, Brady has posted a passer rating of 100+ in the conference title game just twice in 10 attempts. He had a passer rating of 85+ (an average day in the office) just three times. Brady had averaged a passer rating of 76.3 with 12 interceptions to go with 12 touchdowns and a 59.7% completion rate.
The same struggles do not apply to Brady in the Super Bowl. Brady has exceeded a passer rating of 100+ three times and 85+ five times. His lone Super Bowl with a passer rating below 85 was Super Bowl XLII against the Giants, which disrupted the team’s attempt at a perfect season.
Brady completed 74% of his passes for 328 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions against a Dan Quinn-led Seattle Seahawks defense in 2014. Quinn is now the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons and his defense has lesser talent. Brady will need to post the best Super Bowl of his career to win the game.
2. No player have had more impact in the playoffs than Patriots WR Julian Edelman since 2014. Edelman has recorded 59 receptions for 689 yards and 2 touchdowns, along with 4 rushes for 42 yards, a 51-yard pass that resulted in a touchdown, and 185 return yards.
Edelman has nearly 200 more yards from scrimmage in the postseason than second ranked Steelers WR Antonio Brown (545), and over 300 more all purpose yards than Brown.
The Patriots receiver has a chance to add to those numbers in the Super Bowl and could be regarded as one of the most impactful players in Patriots postseason history.
3. The Patriots are wearing white jerseys. That’s a good thing.
4. The Patriots seem to be the favorites based on all these bizarre random facts, like the color of jerseys; the Patriots record versus bird teams in the Super Bowl (2-0; Eagles, Seahawks); number one defense versus number one offense (4-1); and quarterbacks with 4+ touchdown passes in the conference title game falling flat in the Super Bowl (0-4).
These all have no actual impact on the game itself, but it’s interesting how these jinxing stars are aligning.
5. Pats Pulpit is going to be at the Super Bowl! I’m extremely excited about having the opportunity to be a part of such a momentous event. We appreciate all the support over the years and this is the culmination of a lot of hard work. Feel free to post any topics you want me to ask players in the comments and if you happen to be there and see me, come say hi!