Clearing the air in Foxboro

Monday, January 17, 2011

Mike Parente, GoLocalProv Sports Editor

The Patriots blew it -- again.

Enough opinions. Let’s skip right to the facts.

Tom Brady’s aura of invincibility in the postseason is gone.

Stop referring to Brady as “clutch when it counts” or superior to Peyton Manning because of his impeccable playoff record. This phony premise was a load of crap before yesterday’s game against the Jets and it’s even more absurd in the aftermath of another mediocre postseason performance by Brady.

Since beating the Chargers in the 2007 AFC championship game -- a game the Patriots won despite Brady’s three interceptions -- Brady is winless in his last three playoff starts, including Super Bowl XLII against the Giants and last year’s meltdown against Baltimore at Gillette Stadium.

Brady is unilaterally praised for his 14-5 playoff record, which looks impressive until you realize he’s not only 0-3 in his last three postseason starts, but he’s now a pedestrian 5-5 since 2005.

Brady’s playoff mystique was built from 2001 to 2004 when the Patriots won three Super Bowls in four years. Brady won all nine of his playoff starts during that stretch -- seven which were either at home or on neutral turf. He lived a charmed life as the quarterback of great defensive teams that entered the postseason with at least a first-round bye -- or, in most cases, home-field advantage throughout the playoffs -- in three of his first four seasons as a starter. By comparison, Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez has yet to start a playoff game at home; all five of his postseason starts have come on the road and he’s now 4-1 in those games, which, interestingly enough, is better than Brady’s 3-2 playoff road record.

Just so we’re clear on this, no one would argue that Brady hasn’t had great moments of playoff excellence; it’s just that those of us not viewing the world through Robert Kraft’s virtual-reality goggles realize it’s been a long time since Brady was a lights-out quarterback in the postseason.

Following yesterday’s loss, Brady has now thrown 15 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in his last nine playoff starts. When the Colts lost to the Jets last week, it was viewed as another example of why Manning, who owns a career 9-10 playoff record, will never reach Brady’s level when it comes to the postseason. The fact is Manning was more efficient last week and finished with a higher passer rating against the Jets (108.7) than Brady did on Sunday (89.0). And while we’re separating fact from fiction, it’s also worth noting that Manning is 6-4 in his last 10 playoff starts including last week’s loss; not only is that better than Brady’s record in recent years -- albeit by only one game -- it dispels the notion that Manning can never live up to Brady’s pedigree in the postseason.

Brady had his best season this year and had everything he could ask for in this short-lived playoff run, including a rematch against a team he beat by 42 points in December and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. This was his chance to win a Super Bowl with a young defense in transition and further distance himself from his arch-rival Manning in the “rings” argument. He blew it. He looked indecisive in the pocket, made uncharacteristically-poor throws and threw his first interception since October -- an ill-timed mistake that would’ve elicited the universal choke sign had it happened to Manning.

Let’s see if the local media, which reached an all-time low this past week with its stunning lack of objectivity, will call it like it is and address Brady’s recent playoff futility.

Trash-talk has no influence on the outcome of a game.

Throughout the week, my shortsighted colleague, Scott Cordischi, tried to convince anyone who’d listen that the Jets had already dug their own grave by popping off at the mouth, specifically Antonio Cromartie, who dropped a couple of naughty words when asked what he thought about Brady.

The truth is the concept of bulletin-board material is one of sports’ biggest hoaxes. Teams want to win regardless of what the opponent says, and if they don’t, then they should find another line of work. The Patriots have always shown their opponents the utmost respect -- sometimes to a nauseating degree -- and I’m fairly certain everyone who’s played them has wanted to kick their asses up and down the field regardless.

You don’t get extra motivated because someone makes fun of your studying habits or teases your coach about his weird sexual fetishes, nor can you give more than 100 percent. That’s a physical -- and mathematical -- impossibility.

What we learned Sunday is that what you say before the game doesn’t mean as much as what you do once the whistle blows. The Jets ran their mouths all week and still walked into New England’s house and rubbed their muddy feet all over the carpet.

This should come as no surprise; three years ago, Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress not only guaranteed victory in Super Bowl XLII, he predicted New York would limit the Patriots to 17 points. Brady laughed. Burress and the Giants delivered.

There’s a new sheriff in town in the AFC East.

The Patriots can keep their division titles. No one outside of New England cares. For all his quirks and idiosyncrasies, Rex Ryan has now led the Jets to the AFC championship game in each of the last two seasons with a 24-year-old quarterback calling the shots. The Patriots can’t even win a playoff game at home anymore.

Win or lose next weekend, the Jets are now the team to beat in the AFC East. They’ve proven they’re superior defensively, even if their window is much smaller than New England’s, and unflappable in adverse conditions. The Patriots still have the best player on both teams in Brady, but the Jets are deeper on both sides of the ball. They’re also set up nicely for another run next year and beyond, while the Patriots might get hit with some surprise retirements or free-agent departures (Kevin Faulk, Matt Light) in the wake of another disappointing finish.

The Jets finally walked the walk. Enjoy basketball season.