Tom Brady wasn’t pressed to be nice on Sunday.
The Buccaneers didn’t want him to be.
However he was anyway.
That is what makes the Buccaneers probably the most harmful staff within the NFC. Sure, even with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers proudly owning home-field benefit all through the postseason and having had this week to relaxation.
Brady, at age 44 and on a mission to seize an unfathomable eighth Tremendous Bowl ring, carried out surgical procedure on the Eagles in Sunday’s way-too-easy 31-15 wild-card win at Raymond James Stadium.
The affected person, the Eagles, will survive. However they’ll be confined to relaxation at dwelling for the rest of this soccer season.
The great thing about Brady’s work was not in his flawless statistics — 29 of 37 for 271 yards, two TDs and no turnovers. It was in its precision, how clear — if unremarkable in its simplicity — it was.
Possibly it’s as a result of we take Brady with no consideration, as a result of he’s nearly at all times on and nearly at all times wins when he completely has to. Sunday’s win improved his private playoff document to a ridiculous 35-11. He’s now defeated 28 totally different opposing quarterbacks within the postseason.
So, Brady and the Buccaneers are on to subsequent weekend’s divisional playoff spherical, which is precisely the place the Buccaneers had been alleged to be at this level.
The Buccaneers (14-4) returned all 22 starters from their 2021 Tremendous Bowl championship staff — most significantly Brady.
However there’s been appreciable attrition to that beginning 22 as this season has progressed. The Bucs on Sunday had been with out their high two working backs — Leonard Fournette (hamstring harm) and Ronald Jones II (ankle) — and two of their high receivers — Chris Godwin (knee) and Antonio Brown (launched for stupidity).
No downside for Brady.
Receiver Mike Evans, one among 9 totally different gamers to catch a go from Brady within the sport, caught 9 passes for 117 yards and a TD.
Operating again Giovani Bernard ran for the Bucs’ first TD and completed with 44 speeding yards and 39 receiving yards. And rookie Ke’Shawn Vaughn gave the Bucs a 14-0 first-quarter lead with a speeding TD and completed with 53 speeding yards.
Brady’s skill to outlive and advance whatever the skill-position gamers round him makes him extra harmful than any participant within the sport. Nobody elevates the gamers round him higher than Brady. You’re hard-pressed to discover a participant who’s performed that higher than he has within the historical past of the sport.
“He’s a surgeon,’’ Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians mentioned. “As soon as he figures you out, he’s going to eat you up.’’
Brady by no means let the Eagles have an opportunity. The Eagles performed their safeties deep, decided to not let him beat them excessive, so Brady bled them to dying with paper cuts on fast, brief passes that neutralized the go rush.
“I don’t assume there’s anybody higher at enjoying that sport — dumping it down, dishing it off,’’ mentioned Tampa Bay tight finish Rob Gronkowski, whose 2-yard TD reception gave the Bucs a 24-0 lead. “Tom’s been doing it his entire profession.’’
While you’ve been watching what Brady has been doing for greater than 20 years, human nature can numb you into taking his greatness with no consideration.
“I don’t ever take it with no consideration,’’ mentioned Evans, who’s 36-yard TD reception gave Tampa a 31-0 lead within the third quarter. “When he got here to this staff, I knew he was going to vary the franchise. He’s performed that after which some.’’
Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David mentioned, “Having a pacesetter like him will get guys’ confidence up much more. His management brings out a unique vibe in folks.’’
A championship vibe.
In case you select to take a extra cynical strategy and level out that the Eagles (9-9) supplied little in the way in which of resistance to the Buccaneers, that’s your prerogative. You wouldn’t be unsuitable.
The Eagles seemed like a staff uncovered to be playoff frauds, beneficiaries of the added wild-card playoff berth. They entered Sunday’s sport with a 1-7 document towards opponents with successful information with the one victory coming towards the 9-8 Saints, who didn’t even make the playoffs.
In truth, the Eagles had been simple pickings for Brady.
We, nevertheless, go away you with this warning: Diminish Brady’s accomplishments at your individual danger.
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