Inside The Matchup: Tom Brady vs. Matt Ryan
Thursday, February 02, 2017
Tom Brady and Matt Ryan will face off in the Super Bowl on Sunday. They are also the lead candidates for the NFL’s MVP award, which will be announced on Super Bowl eve.
“Tom has had an unbelievable year, played extremely well, he has been extremely efficient, you know a lot of touchdowns, very few turnovers, just played really really good football and he has been that way for a long time,” said Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan in his press conference.
Following a four-game suspension, Brady threw 28 touchdown passes compared to only two interceptions in the regular season for a quarterback rating of 112. He led the Patriots to a 14-2 record.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTDuring the Patriots playoff run, Brady has thrown five touchdown passes and two interceptions for a rating of 99.
Ryan Enters Super Bowl Red Hot
Like Brady, Ryan is also coming in with a hot hand.
During the Falcons playoff run, Ryan carries a quarterback rating of 132.6 with seven touchdown passes and no interceptions. During the regular season he threw 38 touchdown passes compared to only seven interceptions.
Ryan also has the ability to extend plays with his legs, though not in the same fashion of an Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson. Ryan has six rushes for 20 yards and a rushing touchdown in the playoffs, but can move to all sides of the pocket and even outside of if he has to.
“It's hard to draw up some defense that's going to fool him and he's going to have no idea. He knows pretty much everything. I'm sure with the extended time they have, he's seen every defense we have during the season. He'll be well-prepared,” said Patriots safety Devin McCourty.
If Ryan wins the Super Bowl, he will be the first-ever quarterback to win a Super Bowl with a losing record in the playoffs.
Brady vs Ryan
Brady and Ryan have only played each other twice in their career, those meetings coming in 2013 and 2009.
In the 2009 meeting, Brady threw for 277 yards and one touchdown, while Ryan threw for 199 yards. The Patriots won the game 26-10 at Gillette Stadium.
In the 2013 meeting inside Atlanta's Georgia Dome, Brady threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns, while Ryan threw for 421 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.
The Patriots held on to win the game 30-23.
For more on the matchup, GoLocal teams with Graphiq.
Related Slideshow: The Patriots 8 Super Bowl Appearances
Related Articles
- German Announcers Go Crazy for Patriots’ “Monster Block”
- Patriots Clinch #1 Seed in the AFC, Beat Dolphins 35-14
- 16 Plays That Define the Patriots 2016 Regular Season - in Vines
- Patriots to Play Houston in AFC Divisional Round at Gillette Stadium
- Patriots Running Game - Best Since 2004?
- Patriots’ Greatest Block Ever
- What to Watch For: Patriots at Dolphins
- What to Watch For: Patriots at Broncos
- Patriots Clinch AFC East, 1st Round Bye With Win Over Denver
- What to Watch For: Jets at Patriots
- Patriots Roll Jets 41-3 on Christmas Eve
- What to Watch For: Texans vs. Patriots - AFC Divisional Playoffs
- Patriots Beat Texans to Advance to 6th Straight AFC Championship
- Hogan’s 2 Touchdowns, 180 Receiving Yards Lead Patriots to Super Bowl
- Patriots Set as 3-Point Favorites in Super Bowl vs. Atlanta
- The Patriots History of Playing in Houston
- Patriots Announce Details of Monday’s Super Bowl Send-Off Rally
- Reliving the Patriots 8 Super Bowl Appearances
- What to Watch For: Steelers vs Patriots - AFC Championship
- The 20 Biggest Wins In Patriots History
- Patriots to Host Steelers in AFC Championship Game
- Steelers’ Tomlin Calls Patriots “A-Holes” in Facebook Live Video
- Patriots vs Steelers - the Edge in the Last 10 Meetings
- Trump Wishes Patriots Luck in AFC Championship on Night Before Inauguration
- The Matchup History Between the Patriots and Falcons