The San Francisco 49ers spoiled the kind of homecoming Tom Brady had hoped for when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took the field within minutes of his hometown of San Mateo, California. Instead, the Bucs lost by 28 points as the offense managed just one touchdown as the team was shut out by the Niners in three of four quarters. For Brady, it looked more like a team that has struggled to maintain any kind of consistency this season despite remaining at the top of the NFC South.
“I’m sure you guys have as many fun questions as I have answers,” Brady told reporters as the quarterback began his postgame press conference on Dec. 11, 2022.
After showing some magic in the team’s Week 13 win over the Saints in the fourth quarter, Brady couldn’t repeat his performance as the Buccaneers trailed the 49ers by 28 points in the final 15 minutes. Brady pointed out that every week in the NFL is different since San Francisco gave the team the “kick**”.
“Look, this is the NFL, they’re playing a really tough game,” Brady explained. “On the road you play against a strong team. They are physical, they are tough. They kicked our butts. This is the reality of this sport.
“Every time you take the field, you have the option to get your ass kicked or your ass kicked. Obviously we were on the wrong side today, but you have to put in the work, dig deep and keep fighting.
Brady described the atmosphere in the locker room as “not great” following the Bucs’ embarrassing loss to the Niners. The quarterback threw two critical interceptions in the matchup and finished the game for 253 yards and a touchdown to go along with the two turnovers. Brady attempted to add to Tampa Bay’s outstanding performance by calling one particular play a “crap shot” for catcher Mike Evans.
The quarterback has shown his brilliance at times this season, but overall Brady’s play fell short compared to his first two seasons in Tampa. Brady earned a 79.6 grade from Pro Football Focus in 2022, a metric well short of the two consecutive 92 points Brady has received in his last two years with the Buccaneers. The Bucs offense as a whole hasn’t done Brady any favors as the team continues to struggle with offensive line play, rushing pileups, and costly penalties.
The Buccaneers are running out of time to not only secure a playoff berth, but to enter the postseason with realistic deep running shooting. All of this is playing out in Brady’s uncertain future as the quarterback is expected to move into free agency in March.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, “All options are on the table for Brady.” That includes not only returning to Tampa Bay, but also being able to sign with another team when free agency kicks off this offseason.
“Tom Brady returns today to where his football career began,” Rapoport and Pelissero said on Dec. 11. “How and when his career ends is up in the air.
“Several sources close to the legendary quarterback say all options are on the table for Brady, who is feeling well enough to continue playing at age 45, and put the Buccaneers back in playoff position if they make it today.” compete against the 49ers.
“… The plan for the 2022 season was to leave at the age of 45, as Brady had always envisioned. But those who know him well wonder if he’s any more outspoken now than he was in early September.”
