Graham vs. Gronkowski – Most Pass Received TDs
The passing game in the NFL has become more prominent in recent seasons, which has led to the revival of the tight end position.
More franchises are now building there passing games around big, athletic pass catchers in the middle of the field – two such players are Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham.
Last season, the renaissance of the position was emphasised by the appearance of seven Tight Ends amongst the top 21 catchers in the NFL. However, both Gronkowski and Graham topped the 1,300-yard mark, with the former scoring the most receiving touchdowns (17), while Graham scored 11.
Pinnacle offer a proposition on who will score the most pass received touchdowns in the 2012/13 regular season between Gronkowski -0.5 and Graham +0.5.
Both players are heading into their third season in the NFL – Gronkowski with the Patriots’ and Graham The Saints – with Gronkowski averaging 14 TD’s to Graham’s 8.
Interestingly, Gronkowski has a touchdown to pass receipt success rate of 1 in 5, while Graham scores a touchdown every 8 passes received. So this proposition isn’t just a function of the merits of these two players, but also the productivity of their Quarter-backs which in turn depends on the defensive coverage the QBs receive.
So far in Pre-season Graham has scored one pass received touchdown in two games from three passes, while Gronkowski has scored one touchdown from four passes.
Manning vs. Manning – Most TD Passes Thrown
The Manning brothers are two of the most recognisable quarterback’s in the NFL and comparisons between the two have filled many column inches.
After Eli Manning secured his second Super Bowl victory last year, he now stands toe-to-toe with his older brother in stature, with many believing he has now eclipsed Peyton’s ability.
However, it’s hard to overlook the statistical supremacy Peyton holds in many areas as a quarterback. The older brother dominates a host of stats including winning percentage and touchdown percentage.
Pinnacle are giving you the chance to bet on either Peyton Manning + 0.5 (2.530) or Eli Manning -0.5 (1.556) to throw the most TD passes in the 2012/13 NFL regular season.
From investigating the historical data it is clear to see that Peyton has thrown more touchdowns than Eli every season, apart from 2011 when he was out for the entire season with injury – which ended his streak of 227 consecutive games.
Peyton averaged 31TD passes over the last four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, while Eli averages 26 over five seasons with the New York Giants.
So why is Eli the favourite you may ask? Peyton has left the Colts and joined the Denver Broncos, who have not been as strong as the Colts in the past, while Eli heads into the season with the 2011 Superbowl winners, the New York Giants.
Another variable to take into consideration is how much each team uses a running or passing play. For instance Eli Manning averages a touchdown every 20 passes, while Peyton averages one every 19 passes despite throwing 232 more times.
So far in three games apiece in preseason, Eli has thrown one touchdown, while Peyton has two.
Rodgers vs. Brees – Most TD Passes Thrown
Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers are considered by many to be the best two quarterback’s in the NFL, so Pinnacle are offering odds on who will throw the most TD passes in the 2012/13 NFL regular season, either Brees + 0.5 or – 0.5 Rodgers.
Last year Rodgers threw the most touch down passes in the NFL with 46 for the Green Bay Packers, one more than New Orleans Saints’ QB Brees.
Rodgers currently holds records for highest pass rating in a single season (122.5) and lowest interception percentage for quarterbacks during the regular season (1.80%), as well as being the NFL’s all-time career leader in passer rating during the regular season (104.1).
Brees in comparison has broken records for most passing yards in a season (5,476), highest completion percentage in a season (71.2 %) and most pass completions in a season (468).
Rodgers throws on average 33 touchdowns over the past five regular seasons, while Brees has a slightly better average of 35. Brees has also thrown more touchdown passes than Rodgers in each of the last five NFL seasons.
Interestingly, Brees' New Orleans Saints are offered at 19.560, while Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are the 6.890 favourites to win the 2012/13 Super bowl.
So far in the preseason Brees has thrown 3 touchdowns, compared to Rodgers’ one in three games.
