There is no denying that the Miami Dolphins are a far different (and better) football team when Tua Tagovailoa is their quarterback. The ups and downs for the team during the 2024 NFL season have coincided with his availability, and their recent resurgence is due in large part to his elevated play. And while the odds say that Miami is likely to miss out on the postseason, Tagovailoa is on pace to break an impressive league record set by an all-time great.
Drew Brees has been known as arguably the most accurate passer in league history. His 67.7% career completion percentage is the highest of any QB who has played 6+ years in the NFL, and he owns the best single-season marks as well.
Can Tua Break The NFL Single Season Completion Percentage Mark?
During the twilight years of his career in New Orleans, Brees racked up the three most accurate seasons that a quarterback has ever had. For 6 years, his own record of 71.2% stood as the best mark in league history, until he bested that number in 2017 by bumping it up to 72%. In 2018, his number jumped all the way up to 74.4%, which is where the record stands today.
As we approach Week 14 of the 2024 NFL season, Tagovailoa is on pace to surpass that mark, albeit barely. Of the 278 passes that he has thrown this year, the Dolphins’ quarterback has completed 207, good enough for a completion percentage of 74.5, just a notch above Brees’ record.
Tua Tagovailoa (74.5) is currently on track to break the NFL record for highest QB completion percentage in a single season. pic.twitter.com/X9sJNj4gMd
— Dolphin Nation (@Dolphin_Nation) December 4, 2024
Can Tagovailoa finish out the final five games while completing 3 out of every 4 passes? It will be an uphill climb. Four of Miami’s final five opponents currently has a pass defense ranked in the top-5 in the league when it comes to completion percentage, including two games against the #3 ranked New York Jets. The Houston Texans, who lead the league by allowing opposing QBs to complete just 56.3% of their throws, are on the schedule for Week 15. In fact, the “worst” defense that they’ll face the rest of the season (49ers) is ranked 10th in the category.
There are a couple of other quarterbacks who are threatening the top-10 in single-season completion percentage this year. As of Week 13, Jared Goff is ranked 5th on the list at 71.8%, and Baker Mayfield is in 8th at 71.2%.
