‘Just watch the fireworks’
Brady vs. Brees one for ages
Tom Brady vs. Drew Brees. Some might call it the Old Timer’s Bowl. Or a salute to geriatrics. Whatever the old-age punchline, it’s also the marquee matchup of the NFL’s divisional-round games.
After all, it’s not often you get a couple of decorated 40somethings hooking up in a playoff game. But Sunday, the old fuddy-duddys take center stage.
While this is Brady-Brees, Part III, counting their 2020 matchups, and Part VIII overall, it’s their first time meeting in the postseason.
Their resumes are unmatched, as Brees ranks first in NFL history in passing yards, while Brady is first in passing touchdowns, and of course, is the king when it comes to Super Bowl rings.
Still, Brees holds the lifetime matchup at 5-2, winning both games this season.
Matt Light, who protected Brees’ blindside at Purdue, and then did the same for Brady with the Patriots, can’t wait for the game.
The Patriots Hall of Fame lineman knows both quarterbacks very well and is expecting the showdown of showdowns between the old-timers.
“I think this will probably be the highlight of the year for a lot of people that love the game of football,” said Light, when reached Thursday. “It’s just not fair to put this year in the record books as one that’s on par, or comparable to anything else. But, I think this game will override that sentiment.
“You’re talking about two guys that are 42 and up, and they’re playing at the highest level that the game has ever seen,” Light went on. “It’s one thing to talk about these two, and to understand that they take care of themselves, that they work physically and mentally day in and day out, and they have for their entire careers. That’s the obvious.
“What really surprises me, with all of the different people they’ve done it with, they haven’t lost any edge … I mean, these two ancient quarterbacks not only perform at a very high level, but they have a way they can relate their work to the guys around them.”
Brees, who turns 42 today, said Wednesday the matchup was inevitable.
He’s probably right. Once Brady left the Patriots, and joined the Buccaneers, even with their long history of losing, they were destined to clash in the postseason.
“When Tom signed with the Bucs, I knew that he was coming to our division, I envisioned this game,” Brees said Wednesday of the upcoming matchup. “What was that, nine months ago? Eight months ago? I envisioned this game happening, because I knew our aspirations as a team, to be in the playoffs and beyond, and I certainly knew what he was bringing to the Bucs and that talented roster.”
Even though the Saints have owned the Bucs recently, winning both meetings in the regular season, this promises to be a great tilt, especially the way Brady and the Bucs offense has come on lately.
Few if any quarterbacks are playing better than 43year-old Brady right now.
But as Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich said Thursday during a Zoom call: “This is a whole new ballgame Sunday evening.”
Indeed, it is.
Brady has known Brees for quite some time. His first roommate in Foxboro, defensive lineman David Nugent, went to Purdue and played with Brees. So Brady got an earful of Brees stories early on from Nugent, as well as Light, another Purdue alum who arrived a year later.
Cracked Light: “Nugent was Tommy’s roommate when Tommy was driving a yellow jeep.”
On Thursday, Brady steered clear of cracking any age jokes during his Zoom call, even though he tweeted a meme, depicting the alltime greats as older quarterbacks set for battle on The History Channel.
After all, their combined age of 85 will make Brady and Brees the oldest starting quarterbacks playing against each other in NFL history.
Brady offered kind words with respect to his counterpart.
“He’s had a terrific year. He’s a great player. I’ve known him for a long time. Always had a great amount of respect for him, going back to his Purdue days,” Brady said. “I always kept up with him, and have gotten to know him somewhat well over the years. I just think so much of him as a person, as a player.
“I know what it takes to do what he’s doing, and he knows what it takes to do what I’m doing. I think there’s just a lot of mutual respect.”
Brady stands as the oldest player to throw a touchdown pass in a playoff game. Brees might have earned that distinction if he wasn’t a year younger than his counterpart.
The one advantage Brees might have in Round 8, is the same one he had in the previous meetings during 2020 — continuity.
He’s been in the Saints offense 15 years with head coach and play-caller Sean Payton, while Brady is just getting his feet wet with Bruce Arians and Leftwich.
In that way, it’s taken Brady, who had the same playbook in New England the past two decades, a bit of time to adapt to the Bucs offense, as well as the players he’s now delivering the football to on a weekly basis.
While Light agreed it’s taken time, he believes it’s more about the Buccaneers getting used to the Brady Way.
“I think they’re at the peak of probably what they’re capable of right now. I think it took that much time to get on his page,” said Light. “When Tommy’s commanding that huddle, they have to understand his expectations. But not only understand it, but execute it at his level. It took all of them that long … but I think they all understand and respect what he’s trying to do with that offense.”
With Brees possibly retiring at season’s end, it’s not likely to ever see another matchup like this one again.
“I just look at it and say, ‘Wow, this is definitely the game of all games,’ ’’ said Light. “What you’re going to see early is a fun little chess match. They’re going to come out with some little nuances … I know Tommy and how he thinks. I know Drew and how he thinks. And, both of these guys are going to be looking to send a real clear statement early on.
“Just watch the fireworks,” he went on. “Sit back and enjoy it, because this is probably as good as it’s going to get for the NFL season.”