Analytics: Brees still puts up elite numbers
Saints quarterback Drew Brees, at 36, is still one of the most dangerous passers in the NFL.
He’s ranked sixth in the defense-adjusted yards above-replacement ratio (DYAR), by analytics website footballoutsiders.com. The ratio gives the value of a quarterback’s performance.
Brees is seventh in the defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA), which represents his value per play.
He’s completed 396-of-585 passes for 4,547 yards, 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He’s been sacked 31 times and has a passer rating of 100.7, which is sixth in the league for quarterbacks with 350 or more attempts.
Brees also is playing through a foot injury.
“He’s moving fine,” Falcons defensive coordinator Richard Smith said.
Brees completed 30-of-39 passes for 312 yards and one touchdown in the previous meeting with the Falcons.
“He was on fire,” Smith said. “He’s such a fierce competitor. I know he’s disappointed with the performance of their team overall, with not being in the playoffs. I read some of his quotes. But overall, he’s playing really, really well. Last week, he had a great game. He’s a competitor. He’s a Pro Bowl type player. He will be in the Hall of Fame one of these days. Everything about the individual as a person and as a player, I’ve got a lot of respect for him.”
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
