One of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL this year has been Sam Bradford. In the first half.
One of the best quarterbacks in the NFL this year has been Sam Bradford. In the second half.
Five games into the season, one trend is becoming clear. Bradford is pretty bad early. In a few games, he’s snapped out of it. In a couple, he hasn’t. But in all five, he’s been sharper — in some cases dramatically sharper — after halftime than before.
On the one hand, it’s encouraging that he’s facing adversity and bouncing back and making big plays. Like Sunday against the Saints. He threw those two early interceptions in the end zone, then led the Eagles on seven straight scoring drives in a game the Eagles went on to win, 39-17.
But to beat good teams in the NFL, you can’t have a quarterback play at a high level for only half the game.
Bradford has spoken all year about becoming more consistent, and a look at his first-half numbers vs. his second-half numbers shows just how far he has to go.
In the first half of the Eagles’ first five games, Bradford has completed 54 of 96 passes for 56 percent, with two touchdowns and three interceptions.
NFL
In the second half, his composite numbers look like this: 66 for 94 for 70.2 percent, with six touchdowns and three interceptions.
First-half passer rating: 65.6.
Second-half passer rating: 102.0
In the first half?
Bradford ranks 26th out of 28 quarterbacks (minimum 40 attempts) in passer rating, 27th out of 28 in completion percentage and 22nd in yards. Only Jameis Winston and Peyton Manning have more first-half interceptions than Bradford.
In the second half? He’s a different guy.
After halftime, Bradford ranks ninth in the NFL in passer rating, eighth in completion percentage and second in yards. Only Carson Palmer has more second-half touchdown passes than Bradford.
Bradford’s first-half/second-half improvement of 36.4 rating points is the second-highest among all regular quarterbacks. Carson Palmer increases 49.9, from 91.9 to 141.8.
The next-biggest gainers from first half to second half are Tyrod Taylor at plus-34.4 (86.5 to 121.9), Andrew Luck at plus-29.3 (47.1 to 76.4) and Ryan Mallett at plus-26.6 (52.0 to 78.6).
The biggest drops from first to second half?
For the record, they’re Derek Carr at minus-36.8, Ryan Fitzpatrick at minus-33.3 and Alex Smith at minus-29.4.
Bradford isn’t available to the media this week on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, but Chip Kelly didn’t seem to have any idea why Bradford is struggling so much early and playing so well late.
"Maybe he just needs to see the looks a little bit more [and] he settles down a little bit," Kelly said Monday. “I know he has been statistically — when you look at it — he really has been better.
"But I think maybe he just gets settled a little bit more. That's probably a good question for him."
Kelly joked that playing a scimmage before each game might help Bradford. When it was suggested that if the Eagles played doubleheaders, he’d be ready to go by the start of the second game, Kelly’s face lit up.
“He'd be great at a doubleheader,” Kelly said. “That would be awesome. That's a good suggestion.”
But in all seriousness, Kelly knows that for the Eagles to achieve anything this season, they need Bradford to put together complete games.
The Eagles, not surprisingly, rank 26th in the NFL in first-half scoring at 7.4 points per game, but they’re tied with the Cards for most points in the second half at 16.0 per game.
Kelly did allow that he’ll talk to Bradford about focusing on starting faster.
The Eagles, 2-3, face the NFC East-leading Giants, who are 3-2 with a three-game winning streak, Monday night at the Linc.
“We’ll talk to him a little bit about it, but I think he needs to see some things, and it kind of seems like he gets settled,” Kelly said.
“He's one of those guys where if he gets hit, he feels a little bit better, but you also don't want to have him get hit. So I don't have an answer for that.”