Should We Be Worried About Tom Brady?
By Brooke Brottman
Another week of football, and another prime-time defeat for Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. For a team with big-time aspirations this year, the challenge of overcoming some of the NFC's better teams, especially in the regular season's biggest stages, continues to be a problem.
Tom Brady has 5 picks in the last 3 games. (Mark LoMoglio/AP)
Tom Brady entered Week 11 with mixed results in his first season as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ quarterback. He threw three touchdowns in a 46-23 win over the Carolina Panthers. One game prior to that, Brady was picked off three times in a blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints on national television. The bad Tom Brady showed up once again, with a loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football. This game included potentially the worst interception of the six-time Super Bowl champion’s career. Tampa Bay would go on to fall to 7-4 on the season with a 27-24 loss to the Rams after Brady was picked off for a second time late in the fourth quarter. Brady completed 26-of-48 passes for 216 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Brady is now on pace to throw an 11-year high 13 interceptions on the season as he has been picked off five times over the past three games.
When Tampa Bay played the New Orleans Saints a couple of weeks ago, Brady played one of his worst games ever, throwing three interceptions in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 38-3 blowout loss to New Orleans. The 35-point loss was the worst defeat of Brady's 20-year career, and his 40.4 passer rating was his third-worst in 294 regular-season games. Brady was 22 for 38 with 209 passing yards, 0 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.
This week after Matt Gay’s field goal put the Rams up 27-24, the Buccaneers got the ball back with 2:36 on the clock and Tom Brady playing quarterback. Brady completed two passes leading up to the two-minute warning, but sailed a pass over tight end Cameron Brate’s head and into the arms of Rams defensive back Jordan Fuller. It was Fuller’s second interception of the game and that brought an end to a frustrating night for Brady. Brady completed 26-of-48 passes for 216 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. That wasn’t good enough for a win and they’ll have to be a lot better offensively this Sunday if they’re going to outscore the Chiefs.
The Buccaneers currently sit behind the Saints in the NFC South. (The Associated Press)
Lately, following the loss against the Rams, Brady was scrutinized a second time after a Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss this season as Brady walked off the field Monday night without following the custom of shaking the opposing quarterback’s hand. Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff, who outplayed Brady, was looking around the midfield for Brady and seemed confused not to see him. Brady also walked off on Chicago Bears quarterback Nick Foles earlier this season. Brady has faced both quarterbacks in Super Bowls, beating Goff’s Rams and losing to Foles’ Eagles.
Brady once again became the national story for the wrong reasons: deep-ball inaccuracies, overall primetime inconsistency, and poor postgame sportsmanship. Some argue that Brady should have stayed in New England under Head Coach Bill Belichick, however, they were favorites to go to the Superbowl this year so we will see if the old Tom Brady returns or if the same, inconsistent quarterback remains.
You can follow Brooke on Twitter @Brottman_10.
