Brady's numbers on shorter passes are also down, but only slightly. His completion percentage (62.7), TD-INT ratio (8-2), passer rating (89.2) and QBR score (74.3) are quite respectable on passes traveling no more than 20 yards downfield. From 2009 through 2012, Brady was at 68.6 percent completions with a 104.0 passer rating and 83.5 QBR score on those throws. His TD-INT ratio was 114-26.
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The situation: third quarter, 4:22, first-and-10 from the New England 42-yard line
Play result: incomplete pass to Thompkins
Suspected problem: a breakdown in a complex protection scheme designed to free a young wide receiver down the field
The details: The Patriots set up a play-action deep strike off what looked like a zone-stretch running play to the right side. Blockers flowed to the right side as Brady faked the handoff to LeGarrette Blount. Thompkins was wide open. But when Brady stopped in his tracks and looked to throw downfield from the left side, James Harrison was right in his face. Harrison hit Brady, forcing the ball to land well short of its target. Center Ryan Wendell might have had a chance to block Harrison, but defensive lineman Wallace Gilberry had penetrated deep enough to block Wendell's path. The result was a missed opportunity.
Palmer's comment: "It looks like the Patriots are devising some complex protections and maybe got too cute, but these are the kinds of things you might have to do when trying to get a young receiver open deep down the field. The Patriots do not currently have the luxury of taking five- and seven-step drops all game with Gronkowski and Hernandez winning one-on-one matchups. They have to get more creative, and it might have cost them here."
