Chemistry Schmemistry said:
Kansas City's loss is Miami's gain in this case. It would be hard to isolate the continuity argument for offensive lines. How much of that is real and how much is media? I don't doubt it's a factor.
Brady had an elite stretch in games 9-12 (Pittsburgh, Carolina, Denver, Houston), but otherwise was very much below average (he was very good in week 4 against Atlanta, too). He's 37 now, which is younger than Manning, but still at an age where sudden drop-offs are fairly frequent. So, why would I say Manning won't falter while Brady's faltering last year is the new norm? Just part of my personal superstition, I guess. I hate expecting the moon and ending up disappointed. Better it be a pleasant surprise.
You do realize that Brady started 2013 without 4 of his top 5 receiving options from the year prior (Welker, Hernandez, Woodhead and Lloyd), and that the only guy remaining (Gronk) started the year injured and then got hurt again, right? You are also aware that the Patriots not only started 2 rookies at wide receiver, but that one of the veterans they brought in to stabilize the position got hurt in Week 1 and was never the same, not to mention Vereen being banged up for an extended period of time? That's not even counting the fact that he dealt with a well documented injury in his hand that made it look like a grapefruit at times. There's also the issue of Hernandez, an integral part of the offense being arrested in training camp, and they having to pretty much eliminate the TE position from their playbook altogether, dramatically changing the system they had in place since about 2010.
Which of those extenuating circumstances, or something even remotely close to them, will be present this season? I'm not saying Brady was at the very top of his game last season, because I don't think that's accurate, but when you pin the passing game's struggles on Brady you ignore all the shitshow that was going on around him at the time. It's fair to wonder, based on his age, if he'll be as good in 2014 as he has been in the past, but I don't think 2013 holds any predictive value in regards to his performance, seeing as so much happened that it's almost impossible to figure out how much an eventual decline in his skills had to with their struggles (which, by the way, still amounted to a top 3 scoring offense and a trip to the AFCCG).