![]() ![]() He also threw fewer picks per game (1.26 vs. the league average of 1.16 during his career. Roethlisberger's career averages of 260.2 yards per game, 1.7 touchdowns per game and 0.88 interceptions per game are all better than league averages (224.4 yards per game, 1.47 touchdowns per game and 0.93 interceptions per game, respectively).īradshaw, meanwhile, threw more touchdowns per game (1.25) vs. So what now?Ī useful way to frame that fact is to compare player averages against league averages. If you're comparing quarterbacks, that is just a little important. The fact is undeniable and striking: Passing the football was less common, less effective and less important during Bradshaw's era. When you browse through the data, you can uncover gem after gem like this. In seven of Bradshaw's seasons, the league didn't even throw for 428 touchdowns combined, let alone outpace interceptions thrown by that margin. Last season, for a more dramatic comparison, teams threw for 847 touchdowns against just 419 interceptions, a gulf of 428. It hasn't even been close, with the narrowest margin coming in 2006, with 648 touchdowns to 520 picks, a difference of 128. That's never happened since Roethlisberger entered the league in 2004. ![]() Teams threw for 625 touchdowns and 620 interceptions that year. The one season that wasn't the case - 1983 - Bradshaw played in just one game, and the overall gap was small. In 13 out of 14 of Bradshaw's seasons, the league threw more interceptions than touchdowns. The league-wide passing statistics during Bradshaw's era are hilarious. No, seriously, the passing game was just different But the race suddenly became closer.Īnd it becomes even closer when you factor in. That's a little more interesting, eh? Roethlisberger, even when accounting for the discrepancy in games played, takes all major categories, including comebacks and game-winning drives. That's a handicap of three current-day seasons on his stats.Īs such, I broke down their metrics on a per-game basis instead: So despite playing 14 seasons to Roethlisberger's 15, Bradshaw actually appeared in 48 fewer games. Bradshaw played over half of his career - from 1970 up to 1978 - in the 14-game-regular-season era. For Bradshaw, the number is 169 yards per game.Īnd guess what? They also play more games today. The average team has thrown for 224 yards per game throughout Roethlisberger's 15-year career to-date. Bradshaw is nowhere near any of those lists.īut then you see the Super Bowls. Just look at the stats, right? Roethlisberger ranks in the top 10 all-time in yards (sixth), completions (seventh) and touchdowns (seventh). So for me, through my lens, the debate seemed obvious. In this process, I made a startling realization: Roethlisberger has been the Steelers starting quarterback for more than half my life, including all of my adult life (and counting). It's not even a contest.īut then you start digging and poking and prodding, as I've done for longer than I care to admit over the past two days. Bradshaw had only 27,989 and 212, respectively. Prefer volume stats? Roethlisberger has thrown for over 56,000 yards and 363 touchdowns in his career. Prefer Super Bowl victories? Bradshaw had four to Roethlisberger's two. Easy answers await if you want to kick up the recliner and lazily tackle the discussion. ![]()
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