By the Numbers
New England Patriots
1997 record: 10-6 (1st in AFC
East)
1997 NFL rank (rush/pass/total):
offense
26/7/15;
defense
5/23/19
1998
schedule
strength:
NFL rank: 11
(tie), Opponents' 1997 winning percentage:
.504, Games against playoff teams:
6
Looking
Out
for
No.
1
Highly touted rookies Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf could
learn a thing or two from Drew Bledsoe, who was the most
recent quarterback before Manning to be chosen No. 1 in the
NFL draft. Bledsoe has started more games in his first five
seasons than any
other quarterback in league history; below is a look at how
the stats from his first five years compare with those of
the other quarterbacks who were top selections since 1967
(the year the NFL and AFL held their first combined
draft).
| | Years | Games | Att. | Comp. | Yds. | TDs | Int. | Rtg. | Playoff W-L |
| Drew Bledsoe | 1993-97 | 75 | 2,901 | 1,624 | 18,348 | 108 | 88 | 74.9 | 3-3 |
| Jeff George | 1990-94 | 65 | 2,056 | 1,196 | 13,285 | 64 | 64 | 74.9 | — |
| Troy Aikman | 1989-93 | 68 | 1,920 | 1,191 | 13,627 | 69 | 66 | 81.0 | 6-0 |
| Steve Bartkowski | 1975-79 | 50 | 1,260 | 627 | 8,129 | 47 | 75 | 58.1 | 1-1 |
| John Elway | 1983-87 | 68 | 2,158 | 1,168 | 14,835 | 85 | 77 | 74.1 | 4-3 |
| Jim Plunkett | 1971-75 | 61 | 1,503 | 729 | 9,932 | 62 | 87 | 59.7 | — |
| Terry Bradshaw | 1970-74 | 51 | 1,227 | 589 | 7,524 | 48 | 81 | 53.2 | 4-2 |
Statistical boxes compiled by Elias Sports Bureau
Scouting Report | Inside Slant | Lineup
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