The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are heading to the playoffs for the first time since 2007. In part, you can thank the greatest quarterback of all-time Tom Brady. Brady, finished the 2020 season passing for 4,633 yards, 40 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and an 11-5 record. Good for the fifth seed in the NFC and a trip to Washington to play the winner of the worst division in football. The Football Team finished the season 7-9 but earn a home game by virtue of winning the NFC East.
Bucs Hope Late Season Momentum Continues
During the Bucs four-game win streak to end the season, Brady passed for 1,333 yards, 12 touchdowns, and just one interception while the team averaged 37 points per game. Expect more of vintage Brady on Saturday night. The Bucs have thrown more on first down since coming out of the break which has sparked the play-action game. Expect Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown, and Rob Gronkowski to be heavily involved as Mike Evans recovers from a knee injury.
Despite how the injury looked, there is optimism surrounding Evans’ status for his first career playoff game. Even at a limited capacity, his presence on the field will only help the rest of the offense. On defense, inside linebacker Devin White won’t be coming off the COVID list in time for the game on Saturday but WILL get linebacker Shaquil Barrett back in the lineup.
Despite finishing the season 7-9, the Washington Football Team is playing good football heading into the playoffs. They ended the season having won five of their last seven. With quarterback Alex Smith under center, Washington has a record of 5-1. Bucs Head Coach Bruce Arians pointed out this week that no team should be taken for granted.
“We’re not playing a 7-9 team. We’re playing a 4-1 team. When Alex Smith plays they’re a 4-1 team,” Arians said on ESPN. “We’re not playing Dwayne Haskins.
“Be Careful What You Wish For”
Washington rookie and a favorite for DROY, Chase Young, made some headlines this week when he had some words following the Football Team’s division-clinching win on Sunday. As he ran off the field, in range of the camera, proclaimed “Tom Brady! Tom Brady, I’m coming. I want Tom!”
Now, if you been following Brady his whole career, it rarely behooves a player or team to give him any bulletin board material. Ask Patriots fans about Steelers’ safety Anthony Smith. Regardless of the talking, Young is a guy Brady and the Bucs offense will spend plenty of time preparing for as he is one guy who could wreck Tampa’s gameplan. In fact, Young will have to play a crucial role if the Football Team is looking to pull off the upset.
The Bucs should win this game. There is a reason why Washington is 7-9 but they can’t overlook this team. Bucs fans will get their first taste of Playoff Brady and we all know Playoff Brady is the best version of Brady. Unlike a year ago in New England, he has all the weapons needed to make a deep playoff run.
