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The new era for Tom Brady in Tampa took a dramatic turn for the worse in Sunday’s stunning 38-3 home loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Along with the worst loss of Brady’s career was another novelty for Brady in 2020: internal criticism.
A day after the Bucs’ beating, head coach Bruce Arians addressed his team’s shortcomings with reporters. He didn’t spare Brady.
Ariens on Brady: “ Just a bad shot ”
The end-of-first-half zonal interception that seemed like poor communication with new receiver Antonio Brown?
“Just a bad shot,” Arians said, by NFL Network.
How about the interception on a pass intended for Chris Godwin?
“The one to Chris – Chris read the route correctly, [but] Tom thought he was going deep, ”Arians said. “He quit. These things can happen sometimes when you do it on the go.”
How about his connection to Pro Bowl receiver Mike Evans?
“He was not targeted,” Arians said of Evans. “That’s it. Mike was open.
The Arians may not have said Brady’s name on it. But the message is clear. And justified.
Tom Brady bounced back from a poor Week 1 effort and criticism from his coach. Can he start over? (Cliff Welch / Getty Images)
Brady’s very bad night
Brady threw as many interceptions (three) as the Bucs scored on Sunday in what was by far the worst performance of his career. He completed 22 of 38 attempted passes for 209 yards without touchdown. He added a 40.4 quarterback rating.
That a head coach has issued a legitimate and reasoned criticism of a performance like this is normally not remarkable. Except it’s something new for Brady after 20 seasons and six Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots which saw head coach Bill Belichick continue to criticize his quarterback strictly internally.
The Arians already did it with Brady
Monday wasn’t the first time Arians had called Brady. After another poor performance by Bucs against the Saints in Week 1, Arians was candid about Brady’s efforts which saw him throw a pair of interceptions, including a six-pick in the 34-23 loss.
“He knew he wasn’t playing very well,” Arians said in September. “… He looked like Tom Brady all the time in training, so it’s quite unusual to see that in a ball game because they didn’t do things we hadn’t prepared for. . “
Since then, Brady had largely resembled his future Hall of Fame self. Leading the Bucs to six wins in seven games, Brady had 18 touchdowns and just two interceptions. It was before Sunday, of course.
But Brady heard criticism after the first week and the skies haven’t fallen in Tampa. How will he and the Bucs react this time around after a much more disturbing loss?
Can Brady and Bucs Bounce Again?
Things won’t be easy for the Bucs in the coming weeks with an NFC South road game against the Carolina Panthers ahead of back-to-back home games against the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs.
Arians said Tampa is doing well while trying to pin down his team’s problem with nighttime game preparation.
“I don’t think our confidence is a bit shaken,” The Arians said Monday. “It’s playing nightly games and better preparing for them on game day.”
Sunday’s loss was prime-time. The same was true for Thursday night’s Week 5 loss to the Chicago Bears, which saw Brady sadly forget the tally of Tampa Bay’s last record.
If night games are really a problem for the Bucs, then Monday night’s incline of Week 9 against the Rams will be that much more difficult. Either way, all eyes will be on Brady by then.
He rebounded from a poor effort and criticism from the Arians in Week 1. Can the 43-year-old do it again?
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