Tom Brady will find himself in the situation he was hoping to avoid and Tampa Bay fans will be the farthest from the happiest bunch in the NFL world. Despite the Bucs’ mediocre performances, there was some hope for the postseason. Brady is known for his comebacks. But today, the QB found himself weighed down, both literally and metaphorically.
TB12 topped off a sub-par season with an embarrassing 14-31 playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys. so, why were the Bucs lagging so far behind?
Tom Brady did not accomplish what he set out to do
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To say that the Bucs were not playing their best would be an understatement. Pushed back on multiple occasions by a fired-up Cowboys defense, Tampa Bay looked quite lost. Everyone in the league knows and is wary of Dallas’ top-class defense. Yet, watching them hinder Brady put things into perspective.
TB12 does not lose easily. But, the Cowboys had him throwing (unsuccessfully) blindly by the end of the game. As, arguably, the most successful QB in the league, a single-digit on the board was not foreseen. Tampa Bay’s woes continued to escalate as the game progressed. Russell Gage had fans and teammates in Tampa Bay watching in horror and shock as he was carted off the field after taking a shot to the neck. The team surrounded Gage towards the end of the fourth quarter, unified despite their soon-approaching loss. Although they took the field once again, hope dwindled into persisting disappointment.
Brady will find himself questioning much as the Bucs close the curtain on their short-lived postseason run
With two minutes on the clock, even the biggest miracle would not have saved the Bucs. Brady’s big throw to Mike Evans with two minutes to spare would have ignited the smallest spark of hope. But Evans fell short of the mark. The QB also made himself familiar with the ground on two occasions after the Cowboys’ defense sacked the QB. While Julio Jones put the Bucs on the scoreboard, Dallas was making moves that left the Bucs in the dust.
Tom Brady is undoubtedly the face of the NFL. So when the going gets tough, the spotlight is brightened. The QB will find himself answerable to pressing questions concerning the game and his future. It would be safe to assume that TB12 will provide curt answers for the former and be far from forthcoming about the latter. Disappointed fans had their say online.
This particular fan believes Brady should’ve retired.
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I love Tom Brady but he should have stayed retired after last season. It’s been such a rough year after he decided to come back. No one will hold it against him. Writing is on the wall. You’ve done so much for this game and will continue to do so in retirement. It’s time.
— Babz (@BabzOnTheMic) January 17, 2023
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Dak Prescott defied expectations. After being accused of being heavily reliant on the defense, Prescott grabbed this opportunity with both hands. The QB may not have taken too well to having the NFL world attribute his success to the defense and showcased just how good of a player he is. As of now, Brady will find himself with a lot of time on his hands to reevaluate the season, as well as the pressing concerns about his future. Will Brady give his quest for an eighth title another shot? NFL fans will hopefully receive more answers from the QB when the bitter taste of this loss dissipates.
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Watch This Story: NFL insiders think 2022-23 could be the final ride for Tom Brady.