The G.O.A.T Returns Home! New England Patriots 17-19 Tampa Bay Bucaneers
17 Divisional Titles, 13 AFC Championship Games, 9 Super Bowl Appearances and 6 of them wins, Tom Brady's career resume at the Patriots makes him by far the greatest Patriot and arguably player of all time. However this week, Tom Brady returned home to Foxborough against his former coach, Bill Belichick, in a new uniform, where in one season in Tampa, he had already lead the team a Super Bowl and won it.
In his first return home, he found himself going up against a rookie QB from Alabama, Mac Jones, who had started his Patriot career well, but with a 1-2 record, however, thus far he has shown he is capable of leading this franchise for years to come. Brady was also just 69 yards short of the NFL passing yards all time record, held by former Saints QB Drew Brees. The Bucanneers had started the season well, with a 2-1 record but coming off a loss to the Rams, Brady and co needed to bounce back to keep the lead in the division.
Before the game, the Patriots put together a memorial video for Brady, commemorating his amazing years as a Patriot, but he seemed focused and locked in one on thing, destroying the Patriots. As the game began, it started off slow, both teams with early 3 and outs and defences holding strong. The Bucaneers got the ball halfway through the 1st quarter, and Brady began to put some nice passes together and began driving up the field, he then hit Mike Evans in the middle of the field for a 28 yard gain, and it was enough to break the record Brady had been chasing for so long, the all time passing leader in the NFL. Foxborough gave him a well deserved standing ovation, yet Brady still looked focused on the game at hand. The Bucs ended the drive with a field goal and that was all for scoring in the first quarter.
In the 2nd, Patriots joined the scoring as Mac Jones hit Hunter Henry in the end zone for an 11 yard catch and score, giving them a 7-3 lead. On the next drive, the New England defence continued to hold strong against Brady, getting a sack and some stops that forced another punt, but they couldn't capitalise. Before the first half ended, the Bucs once again drove up the field and kicked another 3 points to make it 7-6 going into halftime, a disappointing half to say the least.
Disaster struck early for Belichick and his men, as JJ Taylor fumbled for the Patriots, inside the Buccaneers territory, which was picked up by newly acquired Richard Sherman, a dream start for him in Tampa bay colours. Yet again however, Brady couldn't do anything with the football and was forced into another punt. Not long after, with 5 minutes to play in the 3rd, Brady got the ball back and this time he wasn't messing around, a few 10-15 yard throw and catches set them up in the red zone, which allowed backup running back Ronald Jones II to run home his first touchdown of the season, and gave them the lead once again. Mac Jones then produced a drive that showed off why he was good enough to replace Brady, as he put together a 7 play, 75 yard drive that got them all the way to the 1 yard line, in which he fooled everybody who expected a run, and threw to his tight end, Joannu Smith, for the touchdown. The drive sent the home crowd into a frenzy, as they realised they had the chance to beat Brady.
As the 4th quarter began, Brady was one of the coolest men in the stadium, he had been in this situation a million times, 10 minutes left, down a score and needing to produce a good drive. He did exactly that, and got up the field instantly, but couldn't put the ball in the end zone and had to settle for a field goal to put his side up 2 points. New England however was not finished either, and followed with a good drive of their own, as they pulled out all of the stops to get up into Buccaneer territory, including a 30 yard WR throw from Jacobi Meyers to set them up. But, in what became a common theme of the game, they couldn't capitalise and had to settle for a field goal once again.
This set up a perfect finish for Brady, 3 minutes left, against his former coach and in Foxbourough. Tampa managed to get to the Patriots 30 yard line, but a deep shot to Antonio Brown in the end zone was unable to be hauled in, and they settled for their 4th field goal of the game and another 2 point lead. Now all the attention turned to young Mac Jones, 2 minutes to go and had the chance become an early hero and do something not many people can say they have done, beat Tom Brady. The drive started well, a pass interference call gave the Patriots a 20 yard gain straight away, and 2 short throws put them past the halfway mark. With one minute to go, a 3rd and 3 pass from Jones was batted down at the line of scrimmage, and now the greatest coach of all time had a decision to make, go for it on 4th and 3, or attempt a 56 yard winner with a kicker who had been struggling prior to this game. Belichick chose the latter, and put the faith into Nick Folk, the New England kicker. His kick looked good from the second it left his boot, however began to move away and hit the left upright then bounced away. Inches away from going 2-2 and taking down Brady.
Brady's return to Foxborough wasn't as fun as expected, however for him, he left there with the NFL all time Passing Yard Record, and for him the most important thing, a win. After the game, hugs were shared between Brady and his former coaches and teammates, as he finished with 269 yards, and he made sure to speak to Mac Jones and wish him luck in his career, one which most are sure will last very long in the league, as today showed with 275 yards and 2 touchdowns.