“I Was Trying…”: ‘Benched’ Tom Brady Reveals Inner Thoughts on Bucs Move After Gabbert’s Brilliance

Jan 9, 2023 | 3:00 AM EST

“I Was Trying…”: ‘Benched’ Tom Brady Reveals Inner Thoughts on Bucs Move After Gabbert’s Brilliance

Jan 9, 2023 | 3:00 AM EST

Tom Brady wants to go out there and play every snap possible for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers even at the age of 45. But the team wouldn’t want to risk its best asset just before the playoffs. So what did Brady feel the Buccaneers decided to bench him in the second quarter of the week 18 game? He revealed his inner thoughts just after the defeat against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles benched Brady to give a shot to both the backup QBs. And Blaine Gabbert needed just a little time to show his brilliance.

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The inner thoughts of the benched Tom Brady

Tom Brady started the final game of the regular season for the Buccaneers against the Falcons. But for the first time this season, he did not finish it. Blaine Gabbert replaced him in the second quarter of the game on a 10-10 score.

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And that instantly paid off as Gabbert showed his brilliance in his first drive itself and scored a touchdown. Brady revealed what he thought after seeing his backup play instead of himself.

“I was trying to play as long as I could. I really was. But we just had so many injuries and there were so many people going in and out. It’s tough, you know. You want to give other people opportunity to play. I played a lot this year so, you know, good to see Blaine go out there and get a touchdown. Good to see Kyle play a little bit, so those are all positives,” Brady said in the post-game presser.

The Buccaneers QB2, who became a real-life hero a few days ago, almost replicated that on the field to give the team a lead going into halftime. But even he did not complete the game as Bowles gave a chance to QB3 Kyle Trask. But the team will go into the playoffs with a loss on their minds.

The Falcons overcome the Buccaneers

The Buccaneers came out firing on all cylinders and quickly established a lead over the Falcons with a Tom Brady touchdown pass. But rookie QB Desmond Ridder kept the Falcons in the game till Todd Bowles hooked Brady out of the game. The game was tied at 10-all at that point.

Blaine Gabbert came out and scored his 51st touchdown of his career to give the Bucs a lead at halftime. But the second half belonged to the Falcons. They shut the Buccaneers offense out entirely in that period and registered a 30-17 win over their divisional rivals.

The Buccaneers are playoff-bound anyway, and this game had no meaning in the playoff picture. Can they shrug it off and start afresh in the playoffs where they take on the Dallas Cowboys?

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Written by

Shivam Pratap Singh

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Shivam Pratap Singh is a seasoned NFL writer at Essentially Sports. With a master's degree in international and area studies from a prestigious university, Shivam leverages his academic background to gain a deeper understanding of the global impact of sports. Shivam's passion for football developed early in his career as a writer. One of his breakthrough moments as a writer came when he reported on the '49ers GM John Lynch QB Announcement', demonstrating his talent for breaking news and providing insightful analysis. When not immersed in football, Shivam keeps up with the latest happenings in his favorite soccer club, Manchester United, and the wild European soccer scene. He is a passionate fan of the sport and enjoys writing about the intersection of football and culture.

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Edited by

Debmallya Chakraborty