From the moment the NFL schedule came out with the Buccaneers playing at New England, to the rainy night that concluded with, of course, a victory at Gillette Stadium, Tom Brady knew this would be very different.
He admitted to getting emotional about facing the Patriots on Sunday night in B次元官网网址渁 great stadium for me.B次元官网网址� He mentioned the B次元官网网址淧atriots-type weatherB次元官网网址� and the supportive crowd B次元官网网址� for the home team, not for the visiting quarterback. He even recognized how annoying B次元官网网址渢he foghornB次元官网网址� that rallies the New England defense can be.
Oh yeah, he also cherished a 19-17 victory that was anything but vintage Brady, but was good enough.
B次元官网网址淭hese are people I shared my life with and IB次元官网网址檓 grateful for everything they contributed to my life,B次元官网网址� Brady said. B次元官网网址淚 feel like I always will be a part of the community.
B次元官网网址淚t was just emotional moments thinking about coming up here and playing. ItB次元官网网址檚 a tough football environment. The crowd was into it.B次元官网网址�
The seven-time Super Bowl champion, six with the Patriots, struggled in the rainy conditions much of the evening. He was booed B次元官网网址� often.
Being Brady, he also won.
Brady took Tampa Bay on a 45-yard drive aided by a 31-yard pass interference penalty, and Ryan Succop made a 48-yard field goal for a 19-17 victory. While most of the game was not a classic for the 44-year-old quarterback, the march to victory seemed fitting in a place Brady has won 135 of 158 games.
B次元官网网址淭hat was pretty cool,B次元官网网址� Brady said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been my home for 20 years. I have the best memories. My kids were born here. ItB次元官网网址檚 just a great town, a great city, a great area. I love it up here. I have so many people I have relationships with, but this was about this team coming up here to win. This wasnB次元官网网址檛 about one player. This was about our entire team going on the road beating a good team.B次元官网网址�
Brady threw for 269 yards, but the Bucs (3-1) scored only one touchdown, on an 8-yard run by Ronald Jones. With the game in the balance, he watched from an unfamiliar sideline as Nick Folk had a 56-yard field goal hit the left upright in the final minute for New England.
Brady then hugged dozens of his former teammates and coaches at midfield B次元官网网址� a quick one with Bill Belichick B次元官网网址� as the rain intensified and Gillette Stadium emptied in silence.
B次元官网网址淢y football journey took me somewhere else,B次元官网网址� Brady noted, the ball with which he set the NFL career passing yardage record at his side at a crowded news conference.
Even when the Buccaneers quarterback got that record on a 28-yard completion to Mike Evans in the first quarter, there was a mixture of cheers and applause along with the jeers. Brady, 44, reached 80,359 yards through the air and then called a timeout before the next play B次元官网网址� though no announcement had been made about setting the mark. That came during the timeout.
SuccopB次元官网网址檚 first of four field goals came a few plays later B次元官网网址� after Brady misfired on a couple of throws B次元官网网址� and gave Tampa Bay a 3-0 lead. By halftime in a steady rain, Brady looked ordinary in the highly charged atmosphere, and defending champion Tampa Bay trailed 7-6. Brady was 15 for 27 for 182 yards, with a few pinpoint completions and just as many overthrows.
Despite soaring expectations and hype, this was no classic. Indeed, when Brady was sacked by Matt Judon in the second quarter, the crowd went wild.
Brady completed two passes on the Buccaneers first drive before they stalled and punted. He stoically headed to the sideline B次元官网网址� on the opposite side of the field from where he usually settled as a Patriot B次元官网网址� with little reaction to the fansB次元官网网址� jeers. It was that way most of the game.
He took the Bucs into scoring range on their next possession, however, surpassing the passing record of Drew Brees, too.
B次元官网网址淎 quarterback doesnB次元官网网址檛 throw and catch the ball,B次元官网网址� he said with a smile. B次元官网网址淧assing yards have to be caught. I hope everyone who caught passes from me will have a smile on their face.B次元官网网址�
Brady now has beaten all 32 NFL teams, equaling an achievement by Brett Favre, Peyton Manning and Brees.
During warmups, to chants of B次元官网网址淏RADY, BRADY, BRADY!B次元官网网址� in a half-filled Gillette Stadium, he knew exactly where he was, of course. He did his customary B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 Go,B次元官网网址� fist pump after jogging the entire sideline. The crowd responded with its cheer as Brady hugged New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels before heading to the other end of the field to warm up.
Belichick came out midway through pregame warmups, but did not approach Brady. They met after the game.
Earlier, there was a lengthy and seemingly warm embrace between Brady and Robert Kraft, with the quarterback towering over the Patriots owner outside the visitorB次元官网网址檚 locker room.
Brady, who left New England in 2020 after leading the Patriots to those six Super Bowl titles, then won another in his first season with Tampa Bay, even appeared comfortable heading to a dressing room he was totally unfamiliar with.
Not that anything should have seemed close to normal for the most anticipated match of the early NFL season. BradyB次元官网网址檚 mediocre first half in the wet conditions added to the unusual scene.
The final score was far more typical of Brady in New England.
B次元官网网址� The Canadian Press
