Tom Brady Had The Best Passing Performance In Super Bowl In History

by Chase Stuart on February 5, 2018

Brady flexed his passing muscles in Super Bowl LII

Tom Brady had a Super Bowl performance for the ages. He completed 28 of 48 passes for 505 yards, with 3 TDs and 0 INTs, while taking only one sack (which, of course, was a strip-sack that ultimately decided the game). That translates to 560 Adjusted Net Yards (giving 20 yards for a touchdown and removing sack yards), which over 49 dropbacks, is 11.43 Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt.

In the regular season, the Eagles defense allowed just 5.10 Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt to opposing quarterbacks. Therefore, Brady was a whopping 6.32 ANY/A above expectation; over the course of 49 dropbacks, it means Brady produced 310 Adjusted Net Yards above expectation.

The beauty of this formula is that it inherently adjusts for both schedule and era. Below are the best passing performances in Super Bowl history. Nobody can match the efficiency over such a high number of passing plays as what Brady did last night:

Rk	Player	Year	Tm	Opp	Result	ANY/A	Opp ANY/A	DrpBk	Diff
1	Tom Brady	2017	NWE	PHI	L 33-41	11.43	5.10	49	310
2	Joe Montana*	1989	SFO	DEN	W 55-10	13.23	3.89	30	280
3	Doug Williams	1987	WAS	DEN	W 42-10	12.17	3.77	30	252
4	Kurt Warner*	2008	ARI	PIT	L 23-27	8.64	3.17	45	246
5	Jim Plunkett	1980	OAK	PHI	W 27-10	14.55	3.44	22	244
6	Jake Delhomme	2003	CAR	NWE	L 29-32	9.59	3.26	37	234
7	Joe Montana*	1984	SFO	MIA	W 38-16	10.72	4.43	36	227
8	Terry Bradshaw*	1978	PIT	DAL	W 35-31	9.59	3.01	34	224
9	Steve Young*	1994	SFO	SDG	W 49-26	11.03	5.31	39	223
10	Troy Aikman*	1992	DAL	BUF	W 52-17	11.32	4.53	31	211
11	Joe Montana*	1988	SFO	CIN	W 20-16	9.53	4.46	40	203
12	Phil Simms	1986	NYG	DEN	W 39-20	12.42	4.89	26	196
13	Kurt Warner*	1999	STL	TEN	W 23-16	9.51	5.72	47	178
14	Jim McMahon	1985	CHI	NWE	W 46-10	12.05	4.00	21	169
15	Aaron Rodgers	2010	GNB	PIT	W 31-25	8.29	4.34	42	166
16	Terry Bradshaw*	1975	PIT	DAL	W 21-17	10.95	3.13	21	164
17	Joe Flacco	2012	BAL	SFO	W 34-31	9.54	4.88	35	163
18	John Elway*	1998	DEN	ATL	W 34-19	10.72	5.29	29	157
19	Bart Starr*	1966	GNB	KAN	W 35-10	8.65	2.86	26	150
20	Tom Brady	2003	NWE	CAR	W 32-29	7.69	4.74	48	142
21	Joe Namath*	1968	NYJ	BAL	W 16-7	6.53	1.91	30	138
22	Terry Bradshaw*	1979	PIT	RAM	W 31-19	10.19	3.78	21	135
23	Mark Rypien	1991	WAS	BUF	W 37-24	8.70	4.62	33	135
24	Daryle Lamonica	1967	OAK	GNB	L 14-33	4.89	1.28	37	134
25	Ken Stabler*	1976	OAK	MIN	W 32-14	8.71	2.39	21	133
26	Drew Brees	2009	NOR	IND	W 31-17	8.03	4.96	40	123
27	Bart Starr*	1967	GNB	OAK	W 33-14	6.50	2.23	28	119
28	Matt Ryan	2016	ATL	NWE	L 28-34	10.00	5.78	28	118
29	Nick Foles	2017	PHI	NWE	W 41-33	9.02	6.30	43	117
30	Troy Aikman*	1995	DAL	PIT	W 27-17	8.72	4.76	25	99
31	Russell Wilson	2013	SEA	DEN	W 43-8	9.84	5.94	25	97
32	Tom Brady	2004	NWE	PHI	W 24-21	7.40	4.63	35	97
33	Ken Anderson	1981	CIN	SFO	L 21-26	6.00	3.55	39	96
34	Peyton Manning	2009	IND	NOR	L 17-31	6.84	4.76	45	94
35	Roger Staubach*	1978	DAL	PIT	L 31-35	5.46	2.84	35	92
36	Brett Favre*	1996	GNB	NWE	W 35-21	7.75	4.94	32	90
37	Jim Kelly*	1990	BUF	NYG	L 19-20	6.61	3.71	31	90
38	Russell Wilson	2014	SEA	NWE	L 24-28	9.54	5.86	24	88
39	John Elway*	1986	DEN	NYG	L 20-39	6.33	4.17	40	86
40	Roger Staubach*	1977	DAL	DEN	W 27-10	5.83	2.90	30	86
41	Colin Kaepernick	2012	SFO	BAL	L 31-34	8.42	5.66	31	85
42	Brett Favre*	1997	GNB	DEN	L 24-31	6.28	4.31	43	85
43	Fran Tarkenton*	1973	MIN	MIA	L 7-24	4.03	1.21	30	85
44	Len Dawson*	1969	KAN	MIN	W 23-7	4.85	0.96	20	78
45	Jeff Hostetler	1990	NYG	BUF	W 20-19	6.88	4.68	34	75
46	Len Dawson*	1966	KAN	GNB	L 10-35	4.20	1.92	32	73
47	Eli Manning	2007	NYG	NWE	W 17-14	6.54	4.62	37	71
48	Earl Morrall	1970	BAL	DAL	W 16-13	6.80	2.35	15	67
49	Roger Staubach*	1971	DAL	MIA	W 24-3	6.67	3.61	21	64
50	Peyton Manning	2006	IND	CHI	W 29-17	5.49	3.86	39	64
51	Steve McNair	1999	TEN	STL	L 16-23	5.62	3.96	37	62
52	Antwaan Randle El	2005	PIT	SEA	W 21-10	63.00	5.15	1	58
53	Bob Lee	1976	MIN	OAK	L 14-32	10.88	4.63	9	57
54	Tom Brady	2014	NWE	SEA	W 28-24	6.08	5.01	51	55
55	Joe Montana*	1981	SFO	CIN	W 26-21	7.30	5.14	23	50
56	Peyton Manning	2013	DEN	SEA	L 8-43	4.18	3.19	50	49
57	Terry Bradshaw*	1974	PIT	MIN	W 16-6	6.50	3.45	16	49
58	Robert Newhouse	1977	DAL	DEN	W 27-10	40.52	2.90	1	45
59	Brad Johnson	2002	TAM	OAK	W 48-21	6.18	4.90	34	44
60	Ben Roethlisberger	2010	PIT	GNB	L 25-31	5.15	4.09	41	44
61	Jim Plunkett	1983	RAI	WAS	W 38-9	6.44	4.84	27	43
62	Joe Theismann	1982	WAS	MIA	W 27-17	2.85	1.22	26	42
63	Kurt Warner*	2001	STL	NWE	L 17-20	5.68	4.78	47	42
64	Bob Griese*	1973	MIA	MIN	W 24-7	7.88	2.72	8	41
65	Lawrence McCutcheon	1979	RAM	PIT	L 19-31	36.73	3.26	1	40
66	Tom Brady	2001	NWE	STL	W 20-17	5.64	4.22	28	40
67	Ron Jaworski	1980	PHI	OAK	L 10-27	4.63	3.59	38	39
68	Vince Ferragamo	1979	RAM	PIT	L 19-31	4.39	3.26	29	32
69	Eli Manning	2011	NYG	NWE	W 21-17	7.02	6.36	43	29
70	Sam Havrilak	1970	BAL	DAL	W 16-13	25.00	2.35	1	23
71	Trent Dilfer	2000	BAL	NYG	W 34-7	5.46	4.69	28	22
72	Gary Kubiak	1986	DEN	NYG	L 20-39	8.40	4.17	5	21
73	Joe Kapp	1969	MIN	KAN	L 7-23	2.49	1.76	28	20
74	Troy Aikman*	1993	DAL	BUF	W 30-13	5.48	4.78	29	20
75	Steve Sewell	1987	DEN	WAS	L 10-42	23.00	4.63	1	18
76	Trey Burton	2017	PHI	NWE	W 41-33	21.00	5.10	1	16
77	Tom Brady	2016	NWE	ATL	W 34-28	6.52	6.31	67	14
78	Roger Staubach*	1975	DAL	PIT	L 17-21	2.16	1.82	31	10
79	Tom Brady	2011	NWE	NYG	L 17-21	6.07	5.87	43	8
80	Steve Young*	1989	SFO	DEN	W 55-10	6.67	3.89	3	8
81	Frank Reich	1991	BUF	WAS	L 24-37	11.00	3.33	1	8
82	Gary Kubiak	1989	DEN	SFO	L 10-55	5.00	4.27	5	4
83	Bob Griese*	1972	MIA	WAS	W 14-7	3.38	3.23	13	2
84	Bill Musgrave	1994	SFO	SDG	W 49-26	6.00	5.31	1	1
85	Johnny Unitas*	1968	BAL	NYJ	L 7-16	2.71	2.80	24	-2
86	John Elway*	1997	DEN	GNB	W 31-24	3.55	3.65	22	-2
87	Babe Parilli	1968	NYJ	BAL	W 16-7	-0.35	1.91	1	-2
88	Johnny Unitas*	1970	BAL	DAL	W 16-13	2.00	2.35	9	-3
89	Pete Beathard	1966	KAN	GNB	L 10-35	1.26	1.92	6	-4
90	Zeke Bratkowski	1966	GNB	KAN	W 35-10	-0.81	2.86	1	-4
91	Danny White	1977	DAL	DEN	W 27-10	1.06	2.90	2	-4
92	Tony Banks	2000	BAL	NYG	W 34-7	0.00	4.69	1	-5
93	Danny Amendola	2017	NWE	PHI	L 33-41	0.00	5.10	1	-5
94	Elvis Grbac	1994	SFO	SDG	W 49-26	0.00	5.31	1	-5
95	Tarvaris Jackson	2013	SEA	DEN	W 43-8	0.00	5.94	1	-6
96	Julian Edelman	2016	NWE	ATL	W 34-28	0.00	6.31	1	-6
97	David Woodley	1982	MIA	WAS	L 17-27	3.67	4.17	15	-7
98	Matt Hasselbeck	2005	SEA	PIT	L 10-21	4.50	4.69	52	-10
99	Dan Marino*	1984	MIA	SFO	L 16-38	4.06	4.25	54	-10
100	Ben Roethlisberger	2008	PIT	ARI	W 27-23	6.33	6.71	33	-12
101	Don Strock	1982	MIA	WAS	L 17-27	0.00	4.17	3	-12
102	Norris Weese	1977	DEN	DAL	L 10-27	1.00	2.12	12	-13
103	Bob Griese*	1971	MIA	DAL	L 3-24	2.50	3.13	24	-15
104	Jay Schroeder	1987	WAS	DEN	W 42-10	-4.00	3.77	2	-16
105	Steve Grogan	1985	NWE	CHI	L 10-46	2.18	2.74	34	-19
106	Donovan McNabb	2004	PHI	NWE	L 21-24	4.53	4.91	55	-21
107	Frank Reich	1992	BUF	DAL	L 17-52	3.39	4.25	33	-28
108	Steve Fuller	1985	CHI	NWE	W 46-10	-2.20	4.00	5	-31
109	Fran Tarkenton*	1976	MIN	OAK	L 14-32	3.68	4.63	36	-34
110	Gary Cuozzo	1969	MIN	KAN	L 7-23	-9.60	1.76	3	-37
111	Tom Brady	2007	NWE	NYG	L 14-17	4.70	5.42	53	-38
112	Stan Humphries	1994	SDG	SFO	L 26-49	3.67	4.45	51	-40
113	Gale Gilbert	1994	SDG	SFO	L 26-49	-2.50	4.45	6	-42
114	Rich Gannon	2002	OAK	TAM	L 21-48	1.33	2.34	49	-50
115	Tony Eason	1985	NWE	CHI	L 10-46	-3.11	2.74	9	-53
116	Boomer Esiason	1988	CIN	SFO	L 16-20	2.60	4.37	30	-53
117	Jim Kelly*	1992	BUF	DAL	L 17-52	-2.00	4.25	9	-56
118	Rex Grossman	2006	CHI	IND	L 17-29	2.90	4.98	29	-60
119	Cam Newton	2015	CAR	DEN	L 10-24	3.32	4.71	47	-65
120	Peyton Manning	2015	DEN	CAR	W 24-10	2.11	4.46	28	-66
121	Jim Kelly*	1993	BUF	DAL	L 13-30	3.43	4.70	53	-67
122	Fran Tarkenton*	1974	MIN	PIT	L 6-16	-1.27	1.59	26	-74
123	Joe Theismann	1983	WAS	RAI	L 9-38	2.51	4.53	41	-83
124	Ben Roethlisberger	2005	PIT	SEA	W 21-10	1.14	5.15	22	-88
125	Drew Bledsoe	1996	NWE	GNB	L 21-35	1.40	3.12	53	-91
126	Craig Morton	1970	DAL	BAL	L 13-16	-0.07	3.25	28	-93
127	Chris Chandler	1998	ATL	DEN	L 19-34	2.46	5.21	37	-102
128	John Elway*	1987	DEN	WAS	L 10-42	2.14	4.63	43	-107
129	Billy Kilmer	1972	WAS	MIA	L 7-14	-1.60	2.04	30	-109
130	Earl Morrall	1968	BAL	NYJ	L 7-16	-3.76	2.80	17	-111
131	Jim Kelly*	1991	BUF	WAS	L 24-37	1.41	3.33	63	-121
132	John Elway*	1989	DEN	SFO	L 10-55	-0.40	4.27	30	-140
133	Neil O'Donnell	1995	PIT	DAL	L 17-27	1.74	4.93	53	-169
134	Craig Morton	1977	DEN	DAL	L 10-27	-9.00	2.12	17	-193
135	Kerry Collins	2000	NYG	BAL	L 7-34	-2.19	3.88	43	-261

And what Nick Foles did last night was pretty darn good, too. He finished at +168, which would have been +213 if not for the tipped interception he threw last night. Foles was brilliant last night, but in a losing effort, Brady was even better — except on one play. Brady also set a record for most passing attempts in a playoff game while averaging over 10 yards per attempt.

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