Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger come off monster games. Brady tossed 5 TDs against the Bears, while Roethlisberger put up 6 against Indianapolis. But does this mean these guys are no “on fire” quarterbacks who are must starts? Or is this simply a case where they’ve now had their biggest game and the opportunity is gone?
Since 2003, 52 other teams have had 5 or more touchdown passes in a game and come back to play the next week. Of that group, less than a third (16) then came back and threw 3-plus touchdowns again in their next game.
A larger subset (23 of 52) threw either 1 touchdown the next week, or none at all.
In these particular cases, Brady is going against a very good Denver defense, while Roethlisberger faces a Baltimore defense that has allowed a league-low 7 TD passes.
GAME AFTER 5-PLUS TD PASSES | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | Yards | TD |
2003 | Indianapolis | 386 | 2 |
2003 | Seattle | 328 | 3 |
2003 | New Orleans | 296 | 2 |
2003 | Indianapolis | 146 | 0 |
2004 | Indianapolis | 417 | 3 |
2004 | Minnesota | 417 | 5 |
2004 | Minnesota | 332 | 1 |
2004 | Indianapolis | 264 | 4 |
2004 | San Diego | 250 | 4 |
2004 | Philadelphia | 245 | 1 |
2004 | Cleveland | 241 | 2 |
2004 | Indianapolis | 220 | 2 |
2004 | Indianapolis | 211 | 4 |
2004 | Oakland | 200 | 2 |
2004 | Minnesota | 161 | 1 |
2005 | Philadelphia | 365 | 2 |
2006 | Pittsburgh | 301 | 1 |
2006 | Dallas | 257 | 0 |
2006 | Seattle | 202 | 0 |
2006 | New Orleans | 199 | 0 |
2007 | New England | 380 | 1 |
2007 | New England | 369 | 6 |
2007 | Cincinnati | 342 | 1 |
2007 | New England | 334 | 3 |
2007 | Pittsburgh | 278 | 2 |
2007 | Cleveland | 248 | 1 |
2008 | NY Jets | 189 | 1 |
2009 | New Orleans | 419 | 2 |
2009 | Minnesota | 392 | 3 |
2009 | Arizona | 340 | 2 |
2009 | New Orleans | 311 | 3 |
2009 | New England | 308 | 3 |
2009 | Cincinnati | 224 | 1 |
2009 | Detroit | 213 | 1 |
2010 | Tampa Bay | 255 | 2 |
2010 | Denver | 217 | 1 |
2011 | Detroit | (season) | (season) |
2011 | Green Bay | (season) | (season) |
2011 | New Orleans | (season) | (season) |
2011 | Green Bay | 480 | 6 |
2011 | New Orleans | 307 | 4 |
2011 | Detroit | 276 | 1 |
2011 | New Orleans | 269 | 1 |
2011 | Pittsburgh | 200 | 1 |
2012 | NY Giants | (season) | (season) |
2012 | Green Bay | 342 | 3 |
2012 | Houston | 315 | 1 |
2013 | Denver | 397 | 4 |
2013 | New Orleans | 382 | 2 |
2013 | Cincinnati | 338 | 0 |
2013 | Denver | 307 | 2 |
2013 | Philadelphia | 228 | 3 |
2013 | Dallas | 170 | 1 |
2013 | Kansas City | 153 | 0 |
2013 | Seattle | 123 | 0 |
2014 | Baltimore | 258 | 2 |
--Ian Allan