On Nov. 13, the Seattle Seahawks went into Gillette Stadium and beat the New England Patriots, 31-24.
New England went 14-1 with Tom Brady as the starter this season, with its only loss coming at the hands of Russell Wilson and company.
That obviously doesn’t do the Seahawks any good, but Pete Carroll is fond of finding lessons wherever they reveal themselves. During the season, he referenced the Chicago Cubs’ Game 7 win and the presidential election during team meetings.
So there’s no doubt that Carroll kept a close eye on Super Bowl LI, looking for angles that could help his own team.
Here are some thoughts on how the Patriots’ victory over the Atlanta Falcons might relate to Seattle.
Even the GOAT looks pedestrian when pressured.
Midway through the third quarter, Brady was 19-of-31 for 196 yards. He was averaging 6.32 YPA and had a passer rating of 68.9.
One big reason: The Falcons were able to pressure him effectively. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Brady was pressured on 45 percent of his dropbacks during the first three quarters. That number dropped to 20 percent in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Wilson gave Brady a shoutout on Instagram after Sunday’s game.
Congrats 12.
