Off at the last second
Wild speculation surrounding Brady after playoff drama
01/24/2022 06:31 am
At the age of 44, Tom Brady achieved something almost historic in the NFL playoffs. But after an incredible comeback by his Buccaneers, the LA Rams hit back in the dying seconds. After the end, speculation about the future of the football superstar begins.
At the end of what may be his last NFL game, Tom Brady showed why every opponent in the best football league in the world respects him, even at 44, on the verge of fear. 24 points behind in the third quarter? So what? With 42 seconds remaining, Brady had led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to equalize against the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs and set up a sensation last seen in the Super Bowl five years ago. Back then, the Brady-led New England Patriots closed a 25-point deficit to win the championship. This time the Rams won in the last second – and may never have to fear Brady again in the future. Because whether the most successful quarterback in NFL history will continue his career in the coming season is an open question.
“Honestly, guys, I’m thinking about this game. I’m not thinking about anything that’s five minutes away from this moment,” Brady said at the press conference after the 27:30 against the Rams, and said about his future: “I have since not much thought on it yet, take it day by day.” But statements from the recent past and the prospects for the Buccaneers squad make it absolutely possible for the football legend to say goodbye despite a contract with the Bucs that runs for another year. On the one hand, it is not clear whether the team will have enough strong players in the coming season to be among the title candidates again. On the other hand, by the time he is 45, Brady could simply have had enough of football and spend more time with his family.
Also Rodgers’ future unclear
In December, when asked when he knew the time to retire, Brady replied: “I think I just have to look at each year and see what the situation is like for me, personally and professionally. He can’t imagine Not to love football ever. And he also dares to play another year – he had the best values in the main round for touchdowns, successful passes, pass attempts and yards thrown. But it’s also about what else is there in the game “My kids aren’t getting any younger and I want to make sure they’re getting what they need.”
Much like Aaron Rodgers at the Green Bay Packers, whose future is also unclear, Brady will only continue playing if there’s a realistic shot at his eighth Super Bowl ring. After winning the title last season, the Buccaneers were able to keep all 22 key players, an absolute rarity given the salary cap in the NFL. Whether or not nearly as many top performers are back in the roster next season will play a big role in Brady’s decision.
Chiefs sensation game
The Kansas City Chiefs with star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, on the other hand, are only one win away from their third Super Bowl participation in a row after a remarkable playoff success. In a dramatic duel with the Buffalo Bills, the Chiefs won 42-36 after overtime and will play the Cincinnati Bengals in next Sunday’s AFC Conference Final. In the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams face off.
Both Chiefs quarterback Mahomes and the Bills’ Josh Allen put in near-perfect performances and played big part in an elusive finale, with 25 total points, three lead changes and an equalizer in the last two minutes of regulation. Only Mahomes’ pass to Travis Kelce in extra time decided the game. With 13 seconds left in regulation, the Chiefs were three points down and 75 yards from the end zone. “It was a crazy game,” Mahomes told CBS. “We will play this team many times in games like this. With this quarterback and these coaches…”
Allen had four touchdown passes and 329 yards after passes and 68 yards when he ran with the ball himself. Mahomes had three touchdown passes and 378 yards from throws, plus one rushed touchdown and 69 yards on the ground. Gabriel Davis had four touchdowns for the Bills, setting an NFL playoff record. Neither team lost the ball – the level of the game was extremely high. After winning in February 2020 and losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a year ago, the Chiefs are now only missing one win against the Bengals around quarterback Joe Burrow for entry into the Super Bowl in Los Angeles on February 13. Should the Chiefs and 49ers play for the championship, it would be a repeat of the Super Bowl from two years ago, which Kansas City won in Miami.