At 43 and in new digs, Tom Brady is still winning

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Tom Brady to a two-year, $50 million contract back in the spring, critics argued the team would never get its money’s worth. But four games into the 2020 season, no one is talking refund.

Indeed, with the Bucs sitting at 3-2 atop the NFC South, the 43-year-old quarterback has acquitted himself quite nicely in new surroundings and with a new supporting cast, looking every bit the field general who led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles

(four as game MVP), won three league MVP awards and was named to 14 Pro Bowls.

His best performance thus far in 2020 came in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Trailing 24-7 with two minutes to go in the second quarter, Brady picked up the pace, throwing a six-yard TD strike to Mike Evans to close the half. Then in the second half, it was bombs away to lead the Bucs back from the 17-point deficit to a 38-31 victory. His 369 yards passing and five touchdowns were enough to get him his first NFC Offensive Player of the Week.

Through four games, Brady’s numbers are solid if not impressive: 126 of 196 passes completed (a 64.3 percent rate) for 1,375 yards and 12 touchdowns. If there is one troubling stat, it’s his four interceptions, which puts him on a pace to throw what would be a career-high 16 picks. But if he keeps the Bucs in the “W” column, no one will complain about a one INT-per-game rate.

Brady can be seen in action Monday, Nov. 2, when the Bucs visit the New York Giants in a game airing on ESPN.