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The New England Patriots nearly spoiled Tom Brady's homecoming Sunday night. The defense harassed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signal-caller all game while limiting big plays and forcing the Bucs to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns...

Mac Jones Reveals Tom Brady's Advice After Bucs Defeated Patriots

Oct 4, 2021
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) walks towards his bench as New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) warms up prior to an NFL football game between the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) walks towards his bench as New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) warms up prior to an NFL football game between the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Mac Jones couldn't lead the New England Patriots to an upset win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football, but he did get some advice from a legend after the game.

"[Tom Brady] just told me to keep my head up and keep working," Jones said, per Nick Goss of NBC Sports.

Jones also said he got a chance to congratulate Brady on the 19-17 win.

The Week 4 game at Foxborough was a must-see matchup, with Brady returning to the place where he spent the first 20 years of his career. Brady got the win, but Jones still impressed with 275 passing yards and two touchdowns with one pick on 31-of-40 passing.

The rookie led the Patriots down the field for a potential go-ahead field goal in the final minute, but Nick Folk missed the 56-yard attempt in the rain.

Though New England is just 1-3 to begin the year, Jones has provided a reason for optimism. 

Tom Brady Takes Down Patriots, but Bill Belichick Can Still Get Last Laugh

Oct 4, 2021
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) calls out a play at the line of scrimmage during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) calls out a play at the line of scrimmage during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Tom Brady or Bill Belichick? Who was really the driving force behind the New England Patriots' 20-year dynasty? 

This specific question dominated conversations and coverage in the week leading up to Brady's return to New England. It was his first meeting with the Patriots since he donned a Tampa Bay Buccaneers uniform.

However, as the late, great "Rowdy" Roddy Piper once said, "Just when they think they got the answers, I change the questions."

For the first time since Brady left in free agency last offseason, the Patriots didn't miss the franchise's all-time greatest player. 

In fact, Bill Belichick and his staff, along with the team's fanbase, have to be asking themselves, "Did we really find our long-term starter in the same game where the one who got away returned and left with a victory?"

Yes, they did.

Mac Jones outplayed Brady in the 19-17 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday night at Gillette Stadium. 

Sure, the three-time league MVP deserves credit. Everyone knew his return was a big deal, even if the participants tried to downplay its significance. Throughout the week, the two sides said perfectly nice and mundane things about one another. 

"Consider him a tough quarterback to defend? Is that the question? Yeah," Belichick told reporters Wednesday. "He's as tough as any quarterback there is or ever has been. Enough said."'

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 03: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Gillette Stadium on October 03, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Ge
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 03: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Gillette Stadium on October 03, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Ge

Belichick even admitted he and the Patriots wouldn't have experienced similar success without Brady. 

Brady responded in kind, "I had Coach Belichick there to teach me. Every Tuesday, we would meet and go through the entire defensive starting lineup, and their strengths and weaknesses, what we could attack, what he was watching, and how I could see the things that he saw, so I could gain confidence and anticipate.

"When I look back at that time, it was a really growth stage part of my career. It was a development of myself as a player, but also as a person off the field. And I was soaking up all the information."

To the coach's initial point, his former quarterback completed 22-of-43 passes for 269 yards. In doing so, he surpassed Drew Brees as football's all-time leading passer. 

The 44-year-old signal-caller did look a little amped up to start the contest and airmailed a few passes. Also, Brady's weapons didn't necessarily help him along the way with multiple drops or an inability to make a play on well-placed passes. In the end, he orchestrated a pair of drives near the end of the first half and fourth quarter that turned the game in the Bucs' favor. 

Basically—and this trait isn't valued enough in quarterback play—Brady didn't lose his team the game. Despite extenuating circumstances, adverse weather conditions and an off-night overall, he made the necessary plays without any accompanying mistakes. As Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians said after the contest, Brady had a "very careful" approach to his performance. 

Throughout his 22-year career, Brady's teams are 28-18 when he doesn't throw a touchdown pass, according to ESPN Stats & Info. A quarterback doesn't always need to carry his team. Sometimes, he simply needs to take care of the football and not place his squad in any predicaments. 

Brady and his teammates will be perfectly happy leaving the Northeast with an ugly victory and a 3-1 record to remain atop the NFC South alongside the upstart Carolina Panthers. 

From an actual play perspective, Jones leaves the contest—albeit in a loss—with soaring expectations. The rookie did everything in his power to place his team in a position to win. They let him down. 

The Patriots knew what they were last offseason. The organization pulled out all the stops to maximize Brady's final years. However, the roster grew old, and the franchise's financial flexibility went rigid. The talent base wasn't as good as it had been throughout Brady's tenure. 

"We weren't as good an option as Tampa, so I mean, you'd have to ask him about all of that," Belichick said last week. "But that's really…it wasn't a question of not wanting him. That's for sure."

New England required a reset. The organization didn't have an obvious heir apparent to Brady. The Patriots spent last season stuck somewhere between a rebuild and the thought they could still compete. Ultimately, the squad finished 7-9, missed the playoffs and the team's leadership knew they needed to make massive changes. Fortunately, Mac Jones fell in its proverbial lap with the 15th overall pick. 

Jones' pocket presence, smooth release, quick delivery and decisive throws placed the Patriots in a winning situation. Unfortunately, Nick Folk's 56-yard field goal attempt (in the rain) clanged off the left upright with 52 seconds to play. 

The fact New England was in a position to win at all, though, speaks volumes about Jones' performance. 

"Just like I thought he would be, calm and cool. Played his tail off," Arians said of Jones. "Yeah, he gave his team a chance to win."

The rookie attempted 40 passes and completed 78 percent of them. He finished the contest with 275 passing yards, two touchdown tosses and an interception. 

Unlike Brady, Jones had to carry his offense because New England had no running game whatsoever. The Patriots finished Sunday's contest with minus-one rushing yard. As the Boston Globe's Ben Volin noted, it's the lowest total in the franchise's history. Josh McDaniels called only eight running plays. 

Granted, the Buccaneers' secondary had been decimated by injuries, with both Carlton Davis and Antoine Winfield Jr. leaving the contest and not returning. Also, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean didn't play. Nonetheless, Jones sat back and picked apart the Buccaneers' pass defense. He tied one of Brady's franchise records with 19 straight completions, per ESPN Stats & Info.

More importantly, Jones' calmness in the pocket should lead him to a lot of success in future years. The rookie shredded the blitz against one of the game's most aggressive defensive play-callers in Todd Bowles. Jones consistently identified oncoming rushers, stood tall and delivered the ball to vacated areas. 

"He's one of the guys now. We don't see him as a rookie," veteran safety Devin McCourty told reporters. " ... He has everybody's trust in that locker room."

The Patriots should have won. They didn't, but it's not because of their quarterback. The Buccaneers remain the team to beat in the short term. Brady continues to show why he's the greatest anomaly in professional football history. However, New England clearly has a bright future with Jones leading the way. 

"He looks like a baby Tom," Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne said of Jones. 

Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @brentsobleski

Tom Brady, Bucs Edge Mac Jones, Patriots in QB's Return as Nick Folk Misses Late FG

Oct 4, 2021
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)

Tom Brady won 219 games as a member of the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, but he notched his first as a visitor Sunday as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the host New England Patriots 19-17.

Pats kicker Nick Folk faced a potential game-winning 56-yard field goal attempt with 59 seconds left, but his valiant attempt through the driving rain hit the left upright.

The Buccaneers, who ran out the clock in response, took the lead on its previous drive after Ryan Succop knocked home a 48-yarder.

It was a dramatic ending, but this night was all about No. 12's return.

Brady played for the Pats from 2000-2019, leading the team to 17 postseason appearances, nine AFC titles and six Super Bowl wins. He also made 13 Pro Bowls and won three NFL MVP awards along the way.

The 44-year-old also surpassed ex-NFL quarterback Drew Brees' league record for career passing yards after finding wide receiver Mike Evans with a 28-yard strike in the first quarter.

He finished the night 22-of-43 for 269 yards and now has 80,560 career passing yards for the season.

Brady moved the Bucs to 3-1 with the win. The Pats fell to 1-3.

       

Notable Performances:

Buccaneers QB Tom Brady: 22-of-43, 269 passing yards

Buccaneers RB Leonard Fournette: 20 carries, 91 rushing yards; 3 catches, 47 receiving yards

Buccaneers WR Mike Evans: 7 catches, 75 receiving yards

Patriots QB Mac Jones: 31-of-40, 275 passing yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

Patriots WR Jakobi Meyers: 8 catches, 70 receiving yards; 2-of-2, 45 passing yards

Patriots TE Hunter Henry: 4 catches, 32 receiving yards, 1 TD

   

Brady on Centerstage, But Fournette and Bucs O-Line Pave the Way

It would have been near-impossible for any sports fan to avoid talk or advertising leading into this Sunday Night Football game given the magnitude of Brady's return. That was coupled with the inevitability of Brady breaking Brees' career passing yardage mark.

There was a game to be played, though, and Brady did enough to give the Bucs a win on a night that wasn't exactly conducive to good offensive football.

The rain proved problematic for both sides, but Brady still led the Bucs on five scoring drives.

He fired a 28-yard strike to Mike Evans to break Brees' record and put Tampa Bay in field goal range too.

He later floated a beautiful pass down the sideline to Chris Godwin to help set up the Bucs' second field goal:

Later in the fourth quarter, Brady found Antonio Brown for a crucial third down conversion to set up Succop's final field goal. 

Despite those good throws, the Bucs' pass game did have its struggles, completing just 22-of-43 passes.

Thankfully for Tampa, Leonard Fournette wore down the Patriots defense, amassing 138 total yards on 23 touches. He was the team's engine as the Bucs struggled to connect consistently in the pass game.

The former LSU star proved to be a big factor on three of the Bucs' five scoring drives.

The initial one occurred in the first quarter as Fournette picked up 24 yards on an 11-yard rush and 13-yard catch. The drive ended with a 29-yard field goal.

He kept finding ways to get positive yardage, most notably when he started the Bucs' lone touchdown drive with four carries for 26 yards. Eventually, Ronald Jones II helped put the Bucs up 13-7 with an eight-yard run.

On the Bucs' next drive, Fournette had a huge 23-yard catch-and-run to set Tampa Bay up in field goal territory at the Pats' 25-yard line. Eventually, Succop knocked home a 27-yarder for a 16-14 edge.

It wasn't pretty for the Bucs, but they got the job done for their third straight win.

    

Mac Jones Impresses in National Spotlight

Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones had to deal with a driving rain and a ferocious Bucs pass-rush against a short-handed New England offensive line, but he still managed to complete 19 straight passes en route to an efficient 31-of-40 night for 275 yards and two touchdowns (one interception).

Jones wasn't exactly slinging the ball down the field, but he did what he needed to do against a Buccaneers secondary that started the game shorthanded and ended it with in-game injuries to Carlton Davis and Antoine Winfield Jr.

The ex-Alabama star stuck in the pocket and found tight end Hunter Henry for 11 yards in the second quarter:

In the third quarter, Jones evaded the Bucs' pass rush to find Damien Harris, who scampered for 21 yards:

The rookie also sold this fake well before hitting Jonnu Smith for a one-yard score to cap that drive:

It wasn't all pretty for Jones, who forced this pass that eventually landed in Winfield's hands:

However, Jones was impressive considering all the dramatics surrounding this regular-season game given Brady's return. The spotlight shone bright on Jones, and went toe-to-toe with Brady. 

Bucs head coach Bruce Arians praised Jones postgame:

Dane Brugler of The Athletic also gave Jones credit for his efforts:

The Patriots may be just 1-3 through four games, but Jones' performance Sunday certainly provides encouragement for the future.

       

What's Next?

Both teams will play on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

The Bucs will host the Miami Dolphins at Raymond James Stadium, and the Patriots will visit the Houston Texans in NRG Stadium.

A hyped 2021 first-round draft class has left its early mark on the NFL , in some cases helping to change the landscape as fans know it. Three games in, it's time to step back and dish some early grades for each first-round pick...

Tom Brady Says He Hasn't Seen 'Much at All' of Mac Jones Ahead of Bucs vs. Patriots

Sep 30, 2021
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers passes during a 34-24 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on September 26, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers passes during a 34-24 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on September 26, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

If you haven't heard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady will be facing his former team on Sunday night for the first time since he left the New England Patriots in 2020, and the matchup is getting just a touch of hype this week. 

So naturally, Brady was asked about his quarterback counterpart, rookie Mac Jones. And naturally, Brady—amid his preparation for the New England defense—revealed he hasn't exactly been breaking down Jones' film this year:

"I haven't seen him much at all," Brady said. 

Jones, after all, has only played three NFL games. And despite the obvious media narrative of the Patriots quarterback of the past—who will assuredly break the all-time passing yards record on Sunday—facing the Patriots quarterback of the future, Brady and Jones will never actually be on the field together, save for the postgame handshake.  

Matt Judon, on the other hand, will be on the field to face Brady, and the linebacker sure wasn't thrilled with all the Brady questions he was asked during his press conference:

Brady was also asked about his divorce from Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, though he avoided getting into any details about his departure from the Patriots organization.

"All those things are super personal," he told reporters. "We had a great relationship. I think everything was handled the right way. We handled everything as gracefully as we could. It was an amazing time. It was handled perfectly. I think everyone understood where we were at, the people involved in the situation. Things worked out for the best for all of us, and we're all trying to do the best we can do now."

Obviously people will want to know why a 20-year football relationship came to a close, or if there is any extra motivation for Brady to get one over on his former coach and team. And maybe, deep down, there is. 

But it's also a regular-season game in early October. All parties are going to treat it as such. Brady already proved what he could do without Belichick, winning a Super Bowl title last season.

For Brady and the Bucs, Sunday night is about getting to 3-1. For Jones and the Pats, it's about getting to 2-2. 

Bill Belichick Wanted Tom Brady, Says Patriots 'Weren’t as Good an Option as' Bucs

Sep 27, 2021
FOXBOROUGH, MA - NOVEMBER 24: Tom Brady #12 talks to head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots before a game against the Dallas Cowboys at Gillette Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - NOVEMBER 24: Tom Brady #12 talks to head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots before a game against the Dallas Cowboys at Gillette Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

Bill Belichick wanted Tom Brady to remain with the New England Patriots, but the coach believes Brady simply chose the better situation when he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020.

"He looked at his options and made his decision. We weren't as good an option as Tampa, so I mean, you'd have to ask him about all of that," Belichick told The Greg Hill Show on Monday. "But that's really … it wasn't a question of not wanting him. That's for sure."

Brady signed with Tampa Bay after 20 years in New England, helping the Buccaneers win a Super Bowl in his first season. The Patriots struggled without him, finishing 7-9 for their first losing season since 2000.

New England was already coming off a disappointing season in 2019 with a wild-card loss to the Tennessee Titans. It ended a stretch of eight straight trips to at least the conference title game, plus three Super Bowl titles in five years.

There were also few offensive weapons remaining on the Patriots roster.

After moving to Tampa Bay, Brady was surrounded by elite receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, plus later additions of Rob Gronkowski and Antonio Brown.

The on-field success with the Buccaneers speaks for itself, although more might have been at play leading up to Brady's departure.

Brady's personal trainer, Alex Guerrero, recently questioned Belichick's treatment of the quarterback.

"I think his emotions or feelings never evolved with age," Guerrero told Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald. "I think in time, with Tom, as Tom got into his late 30s or early 40s, I think Bill was still trying to treat him like that 20-year-old kid that he drafted."

ESPN's Seth Wickersham also detailed a "strained" relationship been Brady and Belichick that had been building for years before a "blow-up" in a meeting in March 2020.

Belichick still thinks highly of Brady ahead of next Sunday's matchup between the Patriots and Buccaneers.

"Tom and I had [an] I feel like a good relationship and a lot of production, obviously, while we were together," he said Monday. "And I enjoyed coaching Tom, and he was a great player for us." 

Patriots' Josh McDaniels on Mac Jones' Start to Season: 'I Trust Him Completely'

Sep 21, 2021
El quarterback Mac Jones de los Patriots de Nueva Inglaterra durante el primer tiempo del partido contra los Jets de Nueva York, el domingo 19 de septiembre de 2021. (AP Foto/Bill Kostroun)
El quarterback Mac Jones de los Patriots de Nueva Inglaterra durante el primer tiempo del partido contra los Jets de Nueva York, el domingo 19 de septiembre de 2021. (AP Foto/Bill Kostroun)

Rookie quarterback Mac Jones earned the first victory of his NFL career Sunday when he led the New England Patriots to a 25-6 win over the New York Jets, and he also has the complete trust of his offensive coordinator despite some early conservative play-calling.

"I trust him completely," Josh McDaniels said, per Zack Cox of NESN. "Believe me, there's not a whole lot we're holding back for him."

Despite the trust, McDaniels has not asked Jones to take many chances through his first two games.

Cox cited Next Gen Stats and noted Jimmy Garoppolo, Matt Ryan and Andy Dalton are the only quarterbacks with lower average-depth-of-target marks than Jones. What's more, the Patriots rookie is a mere 24th in yards per attempt at 6.8 and threw just four passes more than 15 yards downfield in Sunday's win.

That stands in stark contrast to the eight passes he threw at or behind the line of scrimmage.

There is some give and take with that approach when it comes to young players. After all, his rookie counterpart Zach Wilson threw four interceptions in that head-to-head matchup. Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Justin Fields (Chicago Bears) also threw costly interceptions for their teams in Sunday's action.

Jones doesn't have an interception yet and is someone who is accustomed to relying on the talent around him given Alabama's roster that won the national championship with DeVonta Smith and Najee Harris last season.

He is also learning on the fly as the starter, and deeper passes were anything but necessary in the straightforward win over the Jets with the defense dominating, Damien Harris scoring on a long run and Nick Folk making all four of his field-goal attempts.

New England has a number of high-profile games on the horizon against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans and more.

McDaniels' trust will likely lead to more aggressive calls in some of those contests.

The New England Patriots didn't play their best game on Sunday afternoon. They also didn't need to because they were going up against the struggling New York Jets ...