Tom Brady had an excellent year playing for the Patriots leading them to a Super Bowl victory over the Seahawk. In this breakdown, we will look at some of Brady’s top touchdowns throughout the regular season and post season. For all thirteen of his interceptions in my previous article click here.

Regular Season Stats

Brady – 373/582 (64.1%), 4,109 yards, 7.06 ypa, 33 TDs, 9 INTs

Postseason Stats

Brady – 93/135 (68.9%), 921 yards, 6.82 ypa, 10 TDs, 4 INTs

Before we begin looking at some of his plays, I wanted to take a look at the recipients of Brady’s touchdowns:

Receiver Breakdown

Rob Gronkowski 14 Brandon LaFell 9 Tim Wright 6 Julian Edleman 5 Danny Amendola 3 Shane Vereen 3 Brian Tyms 1 James Develin 1 Nate Solder 1

As you can tell Gronkowksi was Brady’s main target in the endzone, but Brandon LaFell was also used in a variety of packages for deep passes down the sideline as well as quick out routes to get open utilizing his excellent cutting ability. It’s no surprise to based on Julian Edleman’s history in the slot that he is not a main endzone target rarely an endzone threat, which is why TE81 Tim Wright stepped up for the Patriots after Buccaneers traded for him last season. Here are the touchdowns broken down by quarter and down:

Quarter Breakdown

1st Quarter 6 2nd Quarter 17 3rd Quarter 11 4th Quarter 10

Down Breakdown

1st Down 17 2nd Down 14 3rd Down 13 4th Down 0

Here are the routes run the scored various touchdowns by Brady’s targets:

Route Breakdown

Slant/Drag 10 Out/Quick-Out/Snag 8 Go/Stop-n-Go 5 Corner 4 Seam 4 Post 3 Fade 3 Flat/Dart/Crease 3 Dig/Cross 2 Hitch 1

As well as the distance and location of the touchdowns:

Distance Breakdown

Fewer than 6 Yards 18 Between 6 and 15 yards 9 More than 15 yards 17

Location Breakdown

Deep Left Deep Middle Deep Right 4 2 3 Intermediate Left Intermediate Middle Intermediate Right 6 4 0 Short Left Short Middle Short Right 11 6 7

Since the Patriots offense is based on a lot of quick west coast concepts like the Slant-Flat Play to attack Cover 1 and Cover 3 defenses. Thirteen of Brady’s touchdowns were completed on a slant route or a quick-out route in which the receivers gained extra yards-after-catch via missed tackles or used the receiver exchange to break free for an easy touchdown score. Defenses attempted to adjust to this offensive style midgame, so the Patriots switched to a more traditional pro-style offense attacking the holes in the Cover 2 defenses. They used TE87 Rob Gronkowski and TE81 Tim Wright on seam routes over the middle of the field to keep the safeties centralized while running corner routes or smash concepts to the sidelines to get open.

Situation: 2nd and 6 at MIA 6Description: Q2 – (8:45) T.Brady pass short middle to R.Gronkowski for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-D.Aiken, Holder-R.Allen.Opponent: 1. MIA

Offensive Formation: Singleback Twin Stacks Left

Offensive Personnel: 11

Defensive Formation: Cover 1 with two underneath linebackers and man-to-man coverage by CBs.

Excellent pocket awareness feeling pressure and moving around to wait for Gronkowski to get open between linebacker zones. Terrible man coverage by the cornerback who needs to stick with Gronkowksi for his entire route as he slows down as Gronkowksi is crossing the middle of the field on his slant route.

Situation: 1st and 10 at KC 44Description: Q3 – (3:35) T.Brady pass short right to B.LaFell for 44 yards, TOUCHDOWN. S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-D.Aiken, Holder-R.Allen.Opponent: 4. KC

Offensive Formation: Singleback Trips Left Bunch

Offensive Personnel: 01

Defensive Formation: Cover 1 with two underneath linebackers and man-to-man coverage by CBs.

Play is set up for a bubble screen to WR11 Edleman in the trips left bunch, but Brady instantly passes the ball to WR19 LaFell on a slant route. Defense is in Cover 1 playing man-to-man across the board. Brady’s pre-snap motioning of Edleman across the formation to the left side of the field gives away the man-to-man read. Give credit to LaFell here for breaking multiple tackles on his way for a 44 yard touchdown.

Play 5

Situation: 1st and 10 at CIN 17

Description: Q1 – (3:16) T.Brady pass short left to T.Wright for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-D.Aiken, Holder-R.Allen.

Opponent: 5. CIN

Offensive Formation: Singleback Big 3TE

Offensive Personnel: 13

Defensive Formation: Cover 1 with three underneath linebackers and man-to-man coverage on wide-outs.

This is one of my favorite touchdowns by Brady and the Patriots. In this play, Brady uses multiple motions to give him the best pre-snap positioning to attack the Bengals’ defense. The actual pass to TE81 Wright isn’t very impressive on the seam route, but the pre-snap adjustments are what makes this play so unique.

Situation: 1st and 10 at BUF 43Description: Q3 – (12:38) T.Brady pass deep middle to B.Tyms for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at goal line. The Replay Official challenged the pass completion ruling, and the play was Upheld. The ruling on the field stands. S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-D.Aiken, Holder-R.Allen.Opponent: 6. BUF

Offensive Formation: Singleback Bunch Left

Offensive Personnel: 12

Defensive Formation: Cover 2

Perfect deep post route. Compare to the same exact play concept to WR84 Tyms that was an interception with pressure in his face when he led him too far.

Situation: 3rd and 4 at CHI 46Description: Q3 – (12:54) (Shotgun) T.Brady pass short left to R.Gronkowski for 46 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NE 87-Gronkowski 2nd career 3 TD game. NE 12-Brady 3rd career game with 5 Pass TD. Also has franchise record of 6 (twice).S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-D.Aiken, Holder-R.Allen.Opponent: 8. CHI

Offensive Formation: Shotgun Twin Left and Trips Right – “Moon RT” Call

Offensive Personnel: 11

Defensive Formation: Cover 1 with two underneath zone linebackers and cornerbacks in man-to-man coverage.

Great stiff arm by Gronkowski after an excellent dig route to gain separation against LB47 Anderson.