The Patriots are in a position to pull off an upset win this Sunday against the Buccaneers, but they’ll need their secret weapon to do it. Mac Jones has been playing well for the Pats recently, and if he can keep up his strong play, New England may have a chance at winning.
The who is tom brady playing for is a question that has been asked many times. In this article, the Patriots will need to lean on their secret weapon in order to pull off the unthinkable against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers.
In Week 4, the New England Patriots are trying the unthinkable. They’re attempting to defeat Tom Brady on his return to Foxborough.
Such a feat seems to be unachievable. The game has a lot of anticipation around it, and Tom Brady is leading a star-studded Tampa Bay Buccaneers team (they even just signed Richard Sherman).
While much of the focus will be on rookie quarterback Mac Jones and his ability to hold his own against Brady, another Patriots player should be considered the team’s greatest weapon in neutralizing their former quarterback.
The Patriots’ hidden weapon is Matt Judon.
Matthew Judon of the New England Patriots was the only NFL defender with a pass rush win percentage of more than 30% entering Week 4. (Pro Football Focus).
Judon has been a complete threat during his first three games with the Patriots. He has 3.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, and six quarterback hits in his career. His ability to create havoc at the line of scrimmage was a key factor in New England’s Week 2 thrashing of Zach Wilson and the New York Jets.
Brady isn’t going to be an easy opponent. He’s a surgeon with the football, and when it comes to dissecting opposition defenses, he’s probably the greatest of all time. His ability to drive down the field methodically whenever he wants irritates defensive coordinators to no end.
There is, however, a method to defeat Brady – it’s simply more difficult said than done.
Brady must be confronted by the Patriots.
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images | Matt Judon
Brady, at the ripe old age of 44, isn’t much of a mobile quarterback these days. If we’re being completely honest, he’s never been a danger beneath center. His game is based primarily on his accuracy, arm strength, and pocket awareness.
The Patriots’ greatest chance of interrupting Brady’s rhythm is to bring massive levels of pressure since he refuses to scramble or move about in the pocket. This is when Judon enters the picture.
Judon is performing like the Patriots’ greatest pass rusher, and he comes from a Baltimore Ravens background where getting after the quarterback has been a success. Against the Buccaneers, relying on him and his pass-rushing abilities seems to be New England’s best option.
It is, once again, easier said than done. For as long as Brady has been in the NFL, defensive coordinators have tried to disrupt his game with D-Line pressure. In the throwing game, Brady has such a fast release that the ball is frequently out of his hands before the D-Line can ever conceive of the term “sack.”
With being stated, Bill Belichick and the Patriots must continue to apply pressure. Getting creative with various schemes, formations, and blitzes is a necessity.
Mac Jones is still under a lot of pressure.
While the Patriots’ defense is primarily responsible for Brady’s slowing down, Jones must still perform well.
The Buccaneers are expected to score a lot of points, so Jones must do all he can to keep the game tight. A huge test for New England’s new franchise quarterback — or, to put it another way, their Brady replacement.
Keep a watch on Judon, regardless of the Jones vs. Brady discussion. He’s a player who can turn the game around with a couple of huge plays.
Pro Football Reference provided all stats.
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