Patriots are ready for a scrap today
FOXBOROUGH -- In the wake of the Patriots' shutout loss in Miami last week, quarterback Tom Brady promised his team had plenty of fight left. Then later in the week, Brady showed his scrappy side by verbally challenging some of his teammates to get with the program.
Usually more reserved and careful with his words, Brady went the unplugged route, holding little back. It was a mix of leadership and, perhaps, frustration.
Brady now turns his wrath to the 4-9 Texans in the Patriots' final regular-season home game today. Brady is coming off one of the least-productive passing performances of his career, just 78 yards, but one area that has defined his seven-year career is his ability to bounce back from losses.
Consider these statistics: 42 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. That's what Brady has totaled in 22 games the week following a regular-season loss. Not to mention 17 victories.
They are numbers coach Bill Belichick is certainly aware of, and speak volumes to the respect he has for his quarterback.
"Tom is one of the most consistent players that I've ever coached," Belichick said. "He works hard every week. There are no ups and downs with him. He really goes through his preparations to the letter and never leaves a stone unturned."
Belichick believes that approach has helped Brady post a 67-24 career regular-season record, giving him the best winning percentage (.736) of any active quarterback with a minimum of 32 starts.
"I've been with him in preseason games, I've been with him in playoff games, and championship games, and it's the same for every game," Belichick said. "One game is no different than the next. So I think any time a player prepares like that and has skill like Tom has, then there is probably going to be a lot more good plays and good games than there are bad games, and that's the way it's been with him."
While frustrated by the Patriots' inconsistent play, the 29-year-old Brady still believes the team has a "great opportunity" ahead. At 9-4, the Patriots can clinch the AFC East title and a playoff spot with a victory over the Texans, coupled with a Jets loss at the Vikings.
If the banged-up Patriots are to make a strong playoff push, they first must solve their turnover issues. The offense has 11 turnovers in the last three weeks alone, and has 27 on the season (it had 21 at this point last year). Of teams with winning records, only Chicago (29 in 13 games) and Seattle (31 in 14 games) have more this season.
Of the Patriots' turnovers, 15 have come on fumbles, the highest total in Belichick's seven seasons as coach. That ties the Patriots with four teams -- Cleveland (4-9), Oakland (2-11), San Francisco (6-8), and Detroit (2-11) -- for the highest total in the league.
Meanwhile, Brady has 12 interceptions, to go with 20 touchdown passes. Belichick lauded his quarterback in the days leading up to today's game.
"There's no quarterback I'd rather have, put it that way," he said. "Each quarterback has his own playing style and his own strengths and weaknesses. There are a lot of great players in this league at that position, but I'm glad we have Tom.
"Tom does a great job for us, he's a good player, a good leader, a hard worker, and he's committed to the team concept, and those are the things that I like about him."
