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wrstdude

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http://cover32.com/rams/2014/05/27/...-from-super-bowl-champion-joe-flacco-in-2012/

Sam Bradford wasn’t that different from Super Bowl Champion Joe Flacco in 2012
By Sam Tramel

In 2012 the St. Louis Rams (7-8-1) and the Baltimore Ravens (10-6 with a Super Bowl victory) had tremendously different seasons. To say that quarterback play was the reason for this difference would huge. While it cannot be argued that Joe Flacco’s playoff run was spectacular, his 16 games before that are not unlike Sam Bradford’s.

The statistics, all the way down to pass attempts, are extremely close. There is not a huge discrepancy in sample size when comparing the seasons, as Flacco attempted 531 passes and Bradford threw only 20 more. Pass yard difference is negligible as well, with Bradford tossing 3,702 yards and Flacco 3,817 yards. Not surprisingly, the completion percentages of the two are almost exactly the same—Bradford completed 59.5 percent of his passes and Flacco completed 59.7 percent. Flacco threw 22 touchdowns to his 10 interceptions. Bradford threw 21 touchdowns to his 13 interceptions. The statistics are pointing to incredibly similar output.

Those statistics, one might argue, don’t actually tell the whole story. Unfortunately for Bradford assailants, no matter how deep the statistics go, the 2012 production of the quarterbacks is quite close. Here are a few more numbers:

  • Yards per attempt : Flacco – 7.2 & Bradford – 6.7
  • Yards per game : Flacco – 238.6 & Bradford – 231.4
  • Quarterback rating : Flacco – 87.7 & Bradford – 82.6
With a sufficient bombardment of numbers, one might ask: What’s the point of all this? Or, an even better question might be: How does one quarterback win 10 games and a Super Bowl, while the other only manages to win 7 and not make the playoffs? The answer: Football is a team game.

The bigger picture here is that Joe Flacco’s offense was littered with Pro-Bowlers and established veterans. In 2012 the Baltimore Ravens led all of the NFL with eight Pro-Bowl selections. Two offensive lineman Ben Grubbs and Marshall Yanda, running back Ray Rice and fullback Vontae Leach represent the offensive selections. Rams’ Pro-Bowl selections were non-existent.

Bradford and Flacco were both sacked 35 times in 2012 and the percentage of pressure was similar as well; Bradford pressured 22 percent of pass attempts and Flacco 20.9 percent of pass attempts. Even with two Pro-Bowl linemen, the Ravens’ line didn’t protect Flacco as well as one may expect.

Steven Jackson and Ray Rice produced similar yardage outputs at running back. The story, though, is in the rushing touchdown totals: Rams – five & Ravens – 17. A solid rushing attack takes much of the pressure off of the quarterback to score all of the team’s points. Ray Rice had more rushing touchdowns (nine) alone than the Rams had total—a discrepancy so large it puts a much greater burden on Bradford to score points.

The Ravens may have won their 10 games with a solid rushing attack and stout defensive play, much like the Seattle Seahawks did in 2013, but they didn’t have a stellar defense. The Rams had more sacks and interceptions than the Ravens. Overall, the Rams ranked 14th in both points and yards, and the Ravens ranked 12th in points and 17th in yards.

The only category left to cover is the receiving corps. Flacco’s top target, Anquan Boldin, had 65 receptions for 921 yards and four touchdown receptions. Bradford’s top target was Danny Amendola, who had 63 receptions for 666 yards and three touchdowns. The Rams had Chris Givens, who was supposed to be a deep threat, still only managed a team high of 698 yards on 42 receptions, and three touchdowns. These numbers aren’t bad until compared to the Ravens’ tight end, Dennis Pitta. Pitta had 61 receptions for 669 yards and seven touchdowns. The production out of the top Ram receivers wasn’t there to help bail Bradford out when he needed it. Flacco’s receivers were able to bail him out more often.

With more reliable receivers and a steady rushing attack, Flacco was able to win 10 games and the division. When all is said and done, Bradford has the quarterbacking tools to win a Super Bowl, or at least win 10 games. There is nothing in the individual passing statistics that says Flacco is obviously better than Bradford on his own. Wins rarely reflect solely on quarterback play, which is not to say that quarterback play doesn’t matter. As previously stated, Flacco’s playoff run in 2012 was spectacular, which is exactly what helped his team win the Super Bowl.

What the Rams lacked in 2012, and in all seasons since the drafting of Bradford, is the reliability of a receiving corps and a rushing attack that can put points on the board. Steven Jackson racked up thousand yard seasons consistently, but the team’s ability to score points in red zone was far from consistent—either rushing or passing. The difference between a 10 win Ravens team and the sub .500 Rams is not quarterback play.

Adding insult to injury, the Rams have to square off against the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers twice a year. Facing the Arizona Cardinals isn’t exactly a walk in the park, either; that team won 10 games in 2013. Bradford faces top-10 defenses 6 times (at least) out of a possible 16 regular season games.

Bradford assailants, this is not to say that Bradford is an elite quarterback by any stretch. He needs to complete more passes to even be considered elite. Bradford apologists, this is not to say Bradford is elite. Joe Flacco is not elite, either. Flacco relied heavily on his rushing attack and receivers to get him to his Super Bowl. If Flacco puts up Tom Brady- or Peyton Manning-numbers, then he can be in the elite conversation.

Bradford has the tools needed to take the Rams to the next level. The Ram defense looks to be improving, Zac Stacy seems to provide stability at the running back position, and the receiving corps is a work in progress. Sam Bradford may finally, five years into his career, be able to lead the Rams to a playoff berth.
 

RamBill

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Sam Bradford is throwing, running again
By Ryan Van Bibber

http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2014/5/27/5754982/sam-bradford-is-throwing-running-again

Bradford's recovery from a torn ACL and the surgery to repair it seems to be on pace or even ahead of schedule.

St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford is running and throwing and doing other important quarterback related activities. His recovery from surgery to repair a torn ACL is proceeding at a positive pace, according to general manager Les Snead.

This is also from the Snead/Fisher/Demoff, et al. appearance at Edward Jones passed along by Anthony at Rams Addiction. Seriously, go read that whole thing. There's more info in there than a month worth of "coverage" by the Post-Dispatch or 101 ESPN, the radio station that has a contract with the team.

Snead told the audience that Bradford was dropping back and throwing the ball and jumping around in the training room like any normal healthy NFL player ... only maybe even healthier than that. The Rams GM even threw in a bit of his trademark optimistic awkwardness.

"I made the comment to our trainer ‘You know, I think I need to tear my ACL, maybe I would come back more athletic.'"


Okay then. Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves here. If torn ACLs made players more athletic, the Rams would have been winning more games over the last decade given their historical rate of injuries.

That's good news for the Rams who are counting on Bradford for at least another year under center, starting with the first week of the season this year.
 

ED_29

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http://cover32.com/rams/2014/05/27/...-from-super-bowl-champion-joe-flacco-in-2012/

Sam Bradford wasn’t that different from Super Bowl Champion Joe Flacco in 2012
By Sam Tramel

In 2012 the St. Louis Rams (7-8-1) and the Baltimore Ravens (10-6 with a Super Bowl victory) had tremendously different seasons. To say that quarterback play was the reason for this difference would huge. While it cannot be argued that Joe Flacco’s playoff run was spectacular, his 16 games before that are not unlike Sam Bradford’s.

The statistics, all the way down to pass attempts, are extremely close. There is not a huge discrepancy in sample size when comparing the seasons, as Flacco attempted 531 passes and Bradford threw only 20 more. Pass yard difference is negligible as well, with Bradford tossing 3,702 yards and Flacco 3,817 yards. Not surprisingly, the completion percentages of the two are almost exactly the same—Bradford completed 59.5 percent of his passes and Flacco completed 59.7 percent. Flacco threw 22 touchdowns to his 10 interceptions. Bradford threw 21 touchdowns to his 13 interceptions. The statistics are pointing to incredibly similar output.

Those statistics, one might argue, don’t actually tell the whole story. Unfortunately for Bradford assailants, no matter how deep the statistics go, the 2012 production of the quarterbacks is quite close. Here are a few more numbers:

  • Yards per attempt : Flacco – 7.2 & Bradford – 6.7
  • Yards per game : Flacco – 238.6 & Bradford – 231.4
  • Quarterback rating : Flacco – 87.7 & Bradford – 82.6
With a sufficient bombardment of numbers, one might ask: What’s the point of all this? Or, an even better question might be: How does one quarterback win 10 games and a Super Bowl, while the other only manages to win 7 and not make the playoffs? The answer: Football is a team game.

The bigger picture here is that Joe Flacco’s offense was littered with Pro-Bowlers and established veterans. In 2012 the Baltimore Ravens led all of the NFL with eight Pro-Bowl selections. Two offensive lineman Ben Grubbs and Marshall Yanda, running back Ray Rice and fullback Vontae Leach represent the offensive selections. Rams’ Pro-Bowl selections were non-existent.

Bradford and Flacco were both sacked 35 times in 2012 and the percentage of pressure was similar as well; Bradford pressured 22 percent of pass attempts and Flacco 20.9 percent of pass attempts. Even with two Pro-Bowl linemen, the Ravens’ line didn’t protect Flacco as well as one may expect.

Steven Jackson and Ray Rice produced similar yardage outputs at running back. The story, though, is in the rushing touchdown totals: Rams – five & Ravens – 17. A solid rushing attack takes much of the pressure off of the quarterback to score all of the team’s points. Ray Rice had more rushing touchdowns (nine) alone than the Rams had total—a discrepancy so large it puts a much greater burden on Bradford to score points.

The Ravens may have won their 10 games with a solid rushing attack and stout defensive play, much like the Seattle Seahawks did in 2013, but they didn’t have a stellar defense. The Rams had more sacks and interceptions than the Ravens. Overall, the Rams ranked 14th in both points and yards, and the Ravens ranked 12th in points and 17th in yards.

The only category left to cover is the receiving corps. Flacco’s top target, Anquan Boldin, had 65 receptions for 921 yards and four touchdown receptions. Bradford’s top target was Danny Amendola, who had 63 receptions for 666 yards and three touchdowns. The Rams had Chris Givens, who was supposed to be a deep threat, still only managed a team high of 698 yards on 42 receptions, and three touchdowns. These numbers aren’t bad until compared to the Ravens’ tight end, Dennis Pitta. Pitta had 61 receptions for 669 yards and seven touchdowns. The production out of the top Ram receivers wasn’t there to help bail Bradford out when he needed it. Flacco’s receivers were able to bail him out more often.

With more reliable receivers and a steady rushing attack, Flacco was able to win 10 games and the division. When all is said and done, Bradford has the quarterbacking tools to win a Super Bowl, or at least win 10 games. There is nothing in the individual passing statistics that says Flacco is obviously better than Bradford on his own. Wins rarely reflect solely on quarterback play, which is not to say that quarterback play doesn’t matter. As previously stated, Flacco’s playoff run in 2012 was spectacular, which is exactly what helped his team win the Super Bowl.

What the Rams lacked in 2012, and in all seasons since the drafting of Bradford, is the reliability of a receiving corps and a rushing attack that can put points on the board. Steven Jackson racked up thousand yard seasons consistently, but the team’s ability to score points in red zone was far from consistent—either rushing or passing. The difference between a 10 win Ravens team and the sub .500 Rams is not quarterback play.

Adding insult to injury, the Rams have to square off against the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers twice a year. Facing the Arizona Cardinals isn’t exactly a walk in the park, either; that team won 10 games in 2013. Bradford faces top-10 defenses 6 times (at least) out of a possible 16 regular season games.

Bradford assailants, this is not to say that Bradford is an elite quarterback by any stretch. He needs to complete more passes to even be considered elite. Bradford apologists, this is not to say Bradford is elite. Joe Flacco is not elite, either. Flacco relied heavily on his rushing attack and receivers to get him to his Super Bowl. If Flacco puts up Tom Brady- or Peyton Manning-numbers, then he can be in the elite conversation.

Bradford has the tools needed to take the Rams to the next level. The Ram defense looks to be improving, Zac Stacy seems to provide stability at the running back position, and the receiving corps is a work in progress. Sam Bradford may finally, five years into his career, be able to lead the Rams to a playoff berth.


Why even go here... IMO Sam is not nor has he ever played at Flacco's level. Flacco two years running was just killer in the playoffs when it counted the most. It can be argued that in 2011 the Ravens should have been in the SB but for the WR that dropped the winning TD that was right on the money in the closing munutes again the Patriots. Also in the 2012 playoffs he was on fire. He beat the 11-5 Colts, and then the Broncos and Patriots on the road and the cherry on top was leading the Ravens over the favored 49ers in the SB. Putting up 34 points on them. In fact during the Ravens playoff run it was Flacco and their passing game not their defense or run game that lead the way. When Sam does that then lets compare him to Flacco.
 

Prime Time

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Let's not forget this quote:

"The bigger picture here is that Joe Flacco’s offense was littered with Pro-Bowlers and established veterans."
 

V3

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While I agree that they performed similarly that year with the exception of YPA, one thing that wasn't mentioned was how Flacco's play went to a whole new level in the playoffs. It was the best I've ever seen him play. His YPA went from 7.19 in the regular season to 9.05 in the postseason. Also, YPA is much more important than this article indicates.
 

A55VA6

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Why even go here... IMO Sam is not nor has he ever played at Flacco's level. Flacco two years running was just killer in the playoffs when it counted the most. It can be argued that in 2011 the Ravens should have been in the SB but for the WR that dropped the winning TD that was right on the money in the closing munutes again the Patriots. Also in the 2012 playoffs he was on fire. He beat the 11-5 Colts, and then the Broncos and Patriots on the road and the cherry on top was leading the Ravens over the favored 49ers in the SB. Putting up 34 points on them. In fact during the Ravens playoff run it was Flacco and their passing game not their defense or run game that lead the way. When Sam does that then lets compare him to Flacco.
Uh..

Flacco in Ravens Super Bowl season:
3,817yards,22 TD's,10 INTs

Bradford in Ravens Super Bowl season:
3,702 yards,
21 TD's,13 INTs

Almost Identical. Also, last season Flacco had 19 TD's.. Bradford played like what.. 8 or 9 games and had 14 TD's. Bradford hasn't had a chance to play in the playoffs, but he most certainly has played to Flacco's level.
 

-X-

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Why even go here... IMO Sam is not nor has he ever played at Flacco's level. Flacco two years running was just killer in the playoffs when it counted the most. It can be argued that in 2011 the Ravens should have been in the SB but for the WR that dropped the winning TD that was right on the money in the closing munutes again the Patriots. Also in the 2012 playoffs he was on fire. He beat the 11-5 Colts, and then the Broncos and Patriots on the road and the cherry on top was leading the Ravens over the favored 49ers in the SB. Putting up 34 points on them. In fact during the Ravens playoff run it was Flacco and their passing game not their defense or run game that lead the way. When Sam does that then lets compare him to Flacco.
Gotta read beyond the title sometimes, man.

While it cannot be argued that Joe Flacco’s playoff run was spectacular, his 16 games before that are not unlike Sam Bradford’s.

 

ED_29

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Uh..

Flacco in Ravens Super Bowl season:
3,817yards,22 TD's,10 INTs

Bradford in Ravens Super Bowl season:
3,702 yards,
21 TD's,13 INTs

Almost Identical. Also, last season Flacco had 19 TD's.. Bradford played like what.. 8 or 9 games and had 14 TD's. Bradford hasn't had a chance to play in the playoffs, but he most certainly has played to Flacco's level.

No he hasn't... you don't get to drop what Flacco did in either 2011 or 2012 playoff runs. That's the point. The comparison is not fair. Not only because Sam hasn't been healthy, but he simply has not put a team on his back and beaten teams. Flacco has done it and done it on the biggest stage against the best teams Steelers, Broncos, Patriots, Colts, 49ers.

When Sam does what Flacco has done, or Eli or Phil Simms or Brady in his early years (just to name a few QBs who played on conservative teams) then we should make the comparison but not before. What those QBs did was special. They lifted their teams to victory and were difference makers in those playoff games. Sam hasn't even lead the Rams to a winning season let alone the playoffs or a SB win.

I just want him do those things first ... then we can make comparisons to QBs like Flacco.

The table is now set... lets see what Sam can do... but please stop with these comparisons.
 

-X-

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No he hasn't... you don't get to drop what Flacco did in either 2011 or 2012 playoff runs. That's the point. The comparison is not fair. Not only because Sam hasn't been healthy, but he simply has not put a team on his back and beaten teams. Flacco has done it and done it on the biggest stage against the best teams Steelers, Broncos, Patriots, Colts, 49ers.

When Sam does what Flacco has done, or Eli or Phil Simms or Brady in his early years (just to name a few QBs who played on conservative teams) then we should make the comparison but not before. What those QBs did was special. They lifted their teams to victory and were difference makers in those playoff games. Sam hasn't even lead the Rams to a winning season let alone the playoffs or a SB win.

I just want him do those things first ... then we can make comparisons to QBs like Flacco.

The table is now set... lets see what Sam can do... but please stop with these comparisons.
Did you read that article at all?
 

ED_29

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Gotta read beyond the title sometimes, man.

While it cannot be argued that Joe Flacco’s playoff run was spectacular, his 16 games before that are not unlike Sam Bradford’s.

yep I saw that but IMO the article lacks depth... and that one liner does not diminish the how dismissive the writer is of what Falcco did for the Ravens in either the 2011 or 2012 seasons

imagine if Bradford was Flacco and someone else tried to diminish him leading the Rams to a Championship
 

-X-

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yep I saw that but IMO the article lacks depth... and that one liner does not diminish the how dismissive the writer is of what Falcco did for the Ravens in either the 2011 or 2012 seasons

imagine if Bradford was Flacco and someone else tried to diminish him leading the Rams to a Championship
I don't think that was his intent, and there was more than the one line there if you take the time to read it without taking umbrage to some unmentioned slight to Flacco as a QB. It was more to isolate numbers and show that contribution is important in determining team success. That's why he went on to list all of the pro-bowlers they had during that run. I don't see any malice in the article like you do. There are some good points in there if you read it for all of its intents.
 

mr.stlouis

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Bradford is better than Flacco. This is the first year we're actually putting Bradford in an above average situation.
 

bwdenverram

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No he hasn't... you don't get to drop what Flacco did in either 2011 or 2012 playoff runs. That's the point. The comparison is not fair. Not only because Sam hasn't been healthy, but he simply has not put a team on his back and beaten teams. Flacco has done it and done it on the biggest stage against the best teams Steelers, Broncos, Patriots, Colts, 49ers.

When Sam does what Flacco has done, or Eli or Phil Simms or Brady in his early years (just to name a few QBs who played on conservative teams) then we should make the comparison but not before. What those QBs did was special. They lifted their teams to victory and were difference makers in those playoff games. Sam hasn't even lead the Rams to a winning season let alone the playoffs or a SB win.

I just want him do those things first ... then we can make comparisons to QBs like Flacco.

The table is now set... lets see what Sam can do... but please stop with these comparisons.

OK, so take the entire team that Flacco played with and put him with the same team Bradford played on. He wouldn't BE in the playoffs.
That is the point. Bradford put up similar #'s with much less around him. Flacco had a great run, not doubt. But he wouldn't of even got there without the pro bowl team he played on.
 

jrry32

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Snead told the audience that Bradford was dropping back and throwing the ball and jumping around in the training room like any normal healthy NFL player ... only maybe even healthier than that. The Rams GM even threw in a bit of his trademark optimistic awkwardness.
"I made the comment to our trainer ‘You know, I think I need to tear my ACL, maybe I would come back more athletic.'"

Okay then. Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves here. If torn ACLs made players more athletic, the Rams would have been winning more games over the last decade given their historical rate of injuries.

Great line. Haha.
 

Rambitious1

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Why even go here... IMO Sam is not nor has he ever played at Flacco's level. Flacco two years running was just killer in the playoffs when it counted the most. It can be argued that in 2011 the Ravens should have been in the SB but for the WR that dropped the winning TD that was right on the money in the closing munutes again the Patriots. Also in the 2012 playoffs he was on fire. He beat the 11-5 Colts, and then the Broncos and Patriots on the road and the cherry on top was leading the Ravens over the favored 49ers in the SB. Putting up 34 points on them. In fact during the Ravens playoff run it was Flacco and their passing game not their defense or run game that lead the way. When Sam does that then lets compare him to Flacco.

I couldn't DIS-agree with you more.

First of all, you are comparing apples to oranges.
I give you that Flacco has played well in the playoffs....but given that Sam has never had a chance; how do we know he will not play well also?

Second, the only fair measurable we have is the regular season for both QB's. And guess what?.......YES Sam HAS played at Flacco's level and does so quite often with SUBSTANTIALLY LESS talent to support him.

So let's at least let Sam have a "chance" at post season play before we indict him as being inferior to Flacco; can we? Especially since his regular season numbers compare very well to Flacco's.
 

bluesjoc

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Why even go here... IMO Sam is not nor has he ever played at Flacco's level. Flacco two years running was just killer in the playoffs when it counted the most. It can be argued that in 2011 the Ravens should have been in the SB but for the WR that dropped the winning TD that was right on the money in the closing munutes again the Patriots. Also in the 2012 playoffs he was on fire. He beat the 11-5 Colts, and then the Broncos and Patriots on the road and the cherry on top was leading the Ravens over the favored 49ers in the SB. Putting up 34 points on them. In fact during the Ravens playoff run it was Flacco and their passing game not their defense or run game that lead the way. When Sam does that then lets compare him to Flacco.
0MYGMcd.gif
 

OC--LeftCoast

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Flacco, like Matt Ryan and even Drew Brees, had down "pesdestrian" years each when key components of their offense were taken away (Boldin & Pitta in Flacco's case)
Funny how that happens.
 

jjab360

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Why even go here... IMO Sam is not nor has he ever played at Flacco's level. Flacco two years running was just killer in the playoffs when it counted the most. It can be argued that in 2011 the Ravens should have been in the SB but for the WR that dropped the winning TD that was right on the money in the closing munutes again the Patriots. Also in the 2012 playoffs he was on fire. He beat the 11-5 Colts, and then the Broncos and Patriots on the road and the cherry on top was leading the Ravens over the favored 49ers in the SB. Putting up 34 points on them. In fact during the Ravens playoff run it was Flacco and their passing game not their defense or run game that lead the way. When Sam does that then lets compare him to Flacco.
Oh yeah, Flacco and his 73.1 QB Rating are just completely untouchable. o_O
 

ED_29

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OK, so take the entire team that Flacco played with and put him with the same team Bradford played on. He wouldn't BE in the playoffs.
That is the point. Bradford put up similar #'s with much less around him. Flacco had a great run, not doubt. But he wouldn't of even got there without the pro bowl team he played on.
Ok sure you can make that argument but that's not what happened. Also I think its a huge leap that Bradford would do what Flacco did in either of those playoff runs in 2011 or 2012. I mean what did Ray Rice do in those playoff runs? What about the Ravens defense? What Phil Simms did in those Giants playoff runs and Flacco and Brady did pre Welker and Moss we should not assume that Bradford would do with the same teams... when he has yet to establish that he is that kind of competitor.