“Hard To Keep The Blinders On”
September 30th, 2021
In some ways the Bucs’ clash at the Belicheats on Sunday night will be all about humanity.
Tom Brady, despite many reports, is a human being, not a football robot defying all laws of nature as a 44-year-old quarterback.
Returning to face his 20-year team under a huge spotlight and a packed house of screaming fans, family and friends is not just another game. He’s human. No mortal could block that out.
Will Brady press just a little bit? Maybe push himself to make a play a little more than usual and take needsless risk? Maybe.
Joe can almost smell Brady forcing a couple of balls to Rob Gronkowski in the red zone.
But on the other side of the ball is much more pressure and humanity. That was the chatter from retired quarterback Mark Sanchez, who knows what it’s like to be a rookie facing Brady in big games.
Sanchez had that pleasure with the Jets as a young quarterback from 2009 through 2012, including beating Brady in the 2010 playoffs.
Mac Jones is the rookie QB facing the Bucs on Sunday, and Sanchez described to The Herd on FOX Sports this week about how difficulut it will be for Jones to maintain proper focus against the Bucs. “Hard to keep the blinders on,” he explained.
It’ll be nearly impossible for Jones to not look up at the stadium video boards to see what Brady is doing, per Sanchez, who predicted that Patriots coaches will be telling Jones all week that he’s not playing against Tom Brady — it’s the Bucs defense that is the concern.
Sanchez reflected how he was a bit mesmerized as a rookie facing Brady, in addition to guys like Carson Palmer and Aaron Rodgers.
Joe’s not worried about Brady on Sunday. By the time the second half rolls around, Joe suspects it will feel like just another game for Brady, and he has the better team around him.
September 30th, 2021 at 10:16 am
Don’t sleep on this game. The Pats have a very good chance. BB has something to prove so you can bet they bring the heat on TB and our secondary. BB and Peyton are the best 2 at scheming for games.
September 30th, 2021 at 10:20 am
I predict Brady will kill the Patriots. The Rams were a good team, and we don’t match up very well with them.
The Patriots will be no problem.
September 30th, 2021 at 10:20 am
Bucs win 42-17
Stone cold lead pipe lock
September 30th, 2021 at 10:24 am
I think this is one that Gronk and Brown will catch a lot of passes. If Brady is anything like MJ (from The Last Dance), Brady wants to pummel Belicheat and use his targets from New England to rub it in a bit.
September 30th, 2021 at 10:24 am
I said last week I think we couldn’t beat the rams. This week I think Brady and his pals Gronk and AB go off. Brady is going to want to curb stop the patriots. This thing will probably be over by halftime with the Bucs blowing out the Pats.
September 30th, 2021 at 10:26 am
Any given Sunday guys never under estimate ur opponent.
September 30th, 2021 at 10:33 am
Amen LV, amen!
September 30th, 2021 at 10:38 am
There are many veteran’s on the Patriots that do not have the same animosity against Brady as BB does. They are close friends and know the true story. My guess is they will not be as motivated to give Brady a beat down like the rookies and new signings on the team. Bucs are also not seeing the likes of Lamb, Cooper, Gage, Kupp, Jackson, Woods or Dak, Stafford & Ryan. It should be a long day for Mac Jones and Billy B. Look for a ton of trick plays from McDaniels and avoid turnovers.
September 30th, 2021 at 10:43 am
I am not predicting anything. Not the way this defense has been playing. CB gets one right in the gut and thinks it is a hot potato plays I don’t want it? History of Backups and young QBs has done to this team? No way. Plus under the lights. I will not take it as a win until it is on the board and over.
September 30th, 2021 at 10:45 am
List, the last part of your post is the biggest takeaway I believe. These will not be the strongest group of receivers we’ve seen this year or will see. Even our secondary should have a good chance against them. And facing a rookie, our DC will definitely mix things up to keep him confused. Still expect a lot of dink and dunk. But I wouldn’t be surprised by a pick or two, including one from the linebackers.
September 30th, 2021 at 11:12 am
Pete just had a telepathic vision & his crystal ball says that OJ Howard has a big day vs Patriots
September 30th, 2021 at 11:14 am
Sanchez hit the nail on the head when he said that coaches will be telling Mac Jones all week that he’s “not playing against Tom Brady — it’s the Bucs defense that is the concern.”
September 30th, 2021 at 11:14 am
Bill knows how to defend Brady. The problem is, I don’t think he has the horses. Brady also knows what Bill likes to do. He went up against it In practice for two decades. The best way to beat Tommy, is to keep his ass on the sideline. The gameplan will be similar to the one they used last year against Kansas city. Bill wants to win TOP and wear down that front. This is an emotional week for Ben. Bucs 28-24
September 30th, 2021 at 11:17 am
And oh BTW, same goes for Tom Brady. While Jones will be leading the 26th-ranked Pats’ offense against our 27th-ranked Bucs’ defense, Brady will be leading our #1-ranked Bucs’ offense against the 5th-ranked Pats’ defense.
BOTH battles could be very interesting. Hard for me to envision any 42-17 blowouts though, although the Bucs’ SHOULD win this one.
September 30th, 2021 at 11:36 am
Brady is going to break the all time passing record in Foxborough, correct? I have no doubt an article was already written on this and I probably missed it.
September 30th, 2021 at 11:41 am
Hey Mac Jones……
Get ready to have your best game if the year.
Sadly, it’s what we do. Still think we win though.
September 30th, 2021 at 11:46 am
Never underestimate the Bucs’ ability to make it a close game….I see 34-28……
September 30th, 2021 at 11:52 am
“Pete just had a telepathic vision & his crystal ball says that OJ Howard has a big day vs Patriots”
Pete is off his meds again………
September 30th, 2021 at 11:54 am
Guest locker room is already bugged!
September 30th, 2021 at 12:00 pm
The article was about the psychological impact of this game on Jones.
It’s going to be rough for the Rookie. I’d bet he doesn’t sleep the night before.
Apply pressure and the young man will crumble.
September 30th, 2021 at 12:12 pm
The Patriots are better than the Falcons, and it took us until 4th quarter to finally put them away, at home.
It could be something similar, where it’s a close game because our defense is garbage, Bowles won’t blitz or do anything but play a basic defense and the Pats control the clock and gets points on every series.
On offense, it shouldn’t be a problem — but remember, Belichick’s legend is built around his defense where he’s supposed to be a genius. Obviously there is no one that knows Brady better than Belichick – and like any great villain, you’d expect that despite their long personal relationship that Bill always head back some dark secret, some key to defeating Brady if he ever had to face him later. So we shall see what he does.
September 30th, 2021 at 12:34 pm
The supposed key to beating Brady is simple, pressure up the middle and forcing him off his spot. Every successful team that’s faced him has used something along those lines. Good thing here is they don’t have any beasts on their d line and our o line, on paper at least, is better than their d line. Not sure there will be any coverage tricks that Brady has not seen in practice a thousand times already. I think he has the upper hand over Bill here but I guess we shall see.
September 30th, 2021 at 12:36 pm
And of course it works both ways. No player knows Bill as well as Tommy.
September 30th, 2021 at 12:40 pm
I really doubt Jones is caught up in any of this drama. As a rookie QB his head has to be swimming with thoughts of what he needs to do just to function as an NFL QB. He’s focusing on the TB defense, not in any article about how Belichick said goodbye to Brady. Whether it was a phone call, a text, or a love letter with Bill’s cologne on it.