As strange as it might be to question what is happening with Tom Brady, a recent play in a Buccaneers win is justifiably getting that treatment.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have essentially built an identity over the past few years as a team that is driven by Tom Brady and one of the best passing attacks in the NFL.
This team has been next to unstoppable for the better part of the last three years with a pass-first, pass-often, high-risk game plan. Brady playing at an MVP level made this one of the best systems in the league by a healthy margin.
Now, it might be too soon to say Brady is over the hill, especially when his stats look a lot like a few young quarterbacks that still receive plenty of praise (Justin Herbert), but there are moments where the GOAT is showing his age in flashes.
Everyone in the NFL makes mistakes from time to time. Brady is included in this list, however, he has built a career on making these mistakes less than anyone else in the league.
As we have been seeing this season, those mistakes are going to come at a slightly higher rate than we have seen in the past.
Cris Collinsworth not sure what he's seeing out of Tom Brady: "I got nothing. I mean, this is a layup. This is like watching LeBron James miss a layup right here...I don't know what I'm watching." pic.twitter.com/xve9cTSteY
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 26, 2022
The most recent play by Brady that is drawing attention from the media is this missed conversion to a wide-open Russell Gage. Putting that ball anywhere ahead of the receiver would have been a completion and an extension of the drive. The ball being behind Gage is why a lot of people are asking questions about what happened here.
Brady is not above criticism, and plays like this show that the mistakes of this season are not just on the coaching staff. The guys on the field absolutely have to make plays as well, and the best player on the team missing an easy opportunity like this has a major impact on games.
Brady was right to be criticized. Hopefully he is able to get his head locked in for the Panthers in what is sure to be one of the most important games of his tenure in Tampa.
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