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5 Things You Didn’t Know About Andrew Luck vs. Tom Brady

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Andrew Luck vs. Tom Brady

Tom Brady and Andrew Luck shake hands after Colts Patriots game
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Tom Terrific versus Neck beard. Stanford against Michigan. No. 12 faces No. 12. The narrative is out of the oven and it’s centered on these two AFC Championship quarterbacks. Although you’re about to be deluged by stats and stories you’ve heard before, it should be refreshing to first digest these five things you may not have known about Andrew Luck vs. Tom Brady.

5. Both Won 11 Regular Season Games First Year As A Starter

Andrew Luck celebrates beating Denver Broncos
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

5. Both Won 11 Regular Season Games First Year As A Starter

Andrew Luck celebrates beating Denver Broncos
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Brady came in for an injured Drew Bledsoe in Week 2 of the 2001 season, and Andrew Luck was thrown into the Colts’ decelerating dumpster fire in his rookie year of 2012. Brady finished out the 2001 regular season 11-3 and went on to win the Super Bowl, while Luck took the previously 2-14 Colts to the playoffs on an 11-5 record.

4. Tom Brady Averages 48 Yards Per Punt

Tom Brady after win over Baltimore Ravens in NFL Playoffs
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

4. Tom Brady Averages 48 Yards Per Punt

Tom Brady after win over Baltimore Ravens in NFL Playoffs
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

I guarantee many of you had no idea this happened, and if you did, you really need to go outside once in a while. Back in 2011, and against the Broncos, Tom Brady pinned Denver deep in their own territory on a pooch kick. Low and behold, the kick was fantastic, traveling 48 yards and proving that Tom Brady can do just about anything, except run a sub five-second 40-yard dash.

3. Tom Brady Is 3-0 Against QBs Making First AFC Championship Start

Tom Brady against Denver Broncos AFC Championship New England Patriots
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

3. Tom Brady Is 3-0 Against QBs Making First AFC Championship Start

Tom Brady against Denver Broncos AFC Championship New England Patriots
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Brady beat Peyton Manning in 2004, Ben Roethlisberger in 2005 and Philip Rivers in 2008. Andrew Luck will need a precocious performance if he’s gonna send another aging quarterback home this Sunday.

2. Their QB Ratings Are Strikingly Similar Through First Three Years

Andrew Luck vs New England Patriots in Foxborough
Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

2. Their QB Ratings Are Strikingly Similar Through First Three Years

Andrew Luck vs New England Patriots in Foxborough
Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

Although slightly different quarterbacks -- Tom Brady stays in the pocket longer, takes less downfield risks -- Brady and Luck were nearly equal in effectiveness in their first three years as a starter. From 2001-03 Brady put up a quarterback rating of 86.03. Andrew Luck? 86.6.

1. Brady Has The Better Touchdown-To-Interception Ratio

Tom Brady New England Patriots throwing pass
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

1. Brady Has The Better Touchdown-To-Interception Ratio

Tom Brady New England Patriots throwing pass
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Given Luck’s prolific accumulation of passing yards and touchdowns, this number comes out a bit deceiving. Although a smaller sample, Luck throws an interception for every two touchdowns (86 TDs vs. 43 INTs), while Brady hoists a safer ratio of 2.74 (392 TDs vs. 143 INTs). With a premium placed on playoff turnovers, remember this stat for Sunday.

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