Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Boy, Tom Brady sure looked steamed on the sidelines moments before halftime during Sunday’s clash with the Atlanta Falcons.
The usually calm and collected New England Patriots QB was visibly fired up on the Fox telecast, first yelling toward what seemed to be the general vicinity of where receivers Randy Moss and Sam Aiken were standing, and then kept snapping as coach Bill Belichick leaned in to soothe his frustrated gunslinger as he sat on the bench.
Frustrated for sure, as the possession in question saw the Patriots' drive stall on the Falcon 15, forcing Brady to make way for the field goal unit after he failed to connect on three straight passes that included a sure thing on second down up the middle to Joey Galloway, who inexplicably and maddeningly dropped the ball.
Frustrated for sure, as the possession in question saw the Patriots' drive stall on the Falcon 15, forcing Brady to make way for the field goal unit after he failed to connect on three straight passes that included a sure thing on second down up the middle to Joey Galloway, who inexplicably and maddeningly dropped the ball.
The missed connections were among the seven throwing chances that went up in the smoke in the red zone on the day and led to Brady blowing his stack on the sideline and then reportedly again in the locker room at the half.
“We can’t keep kicking field goals,” Brady told reporters after the game. “We’ve got to be better than that. It comes down to execution.”
Thus far this season, the Patriots’ red zone efficiency ranks among the worst in the league, while their overall defense is one of the best (third at last check). Go figure. Wasn’t it supposed to be the Pats’ vaunted offense that was going to save the day while their defense — minus Richard Seymour (trade), Rodney Harrison (retired), Tedy Bruschi (retired), Jerod Mayo (injured) and Vince Wilfork, who left Sunday’s game with an ankle injury — struggled?
So far the opposite has been in effect, as New England’s defense has given up a paltry 50 points through three games, including just three touchdowns via the air and one on the ground, the first of which occurred Sunday with Michael Turner’s 2-yard run.
“We can’t keep kicking field goals,” Brady told reporters after the game. “We’ve got to be better than that. It comes down to execution.”
Thus far this season, the Patriots’ red zone efficiency ranks among the worst in the league, while their overall defense is one of the best (third at last check). Go figure. Wasn’t it supposed to be the Pats’ vaunted offense that was going to save the day while their defense — minus Richard Seymour (trade), Rodney Harrison (retired), Tedy Bruschi (retired), Jerod Mayo (injured) and Vince Wilfork, who left Sunday’s game with an ankle injury — struggled?
So far the opposite has been in effect, as New England’s defense has given up a paltry 50 points through three games, including just three touchdowns via the air and one on the ground, the first of which occurred Sunday with Michael Turner’s 2-yard run.
Meanwhile, the Pats grounded the Falcons’ potent air attack, limiting former Boston College star Matt Ryan to just 199 yards, while completely shutting down Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez and receiver Roddy White, who combined for 30 total yards.
With its defense seemingly not the problem after all (next up, a stiff test at home against the Joe Flacco–led Ravens), it’s the New England offense that has yet to get untracked.
With its defense seemingly not the problem after all (next up, a stiff test at home against the Joe Flacco–led Ravens), it’s the New England offense that has yet to get untracked.
Aside from his vintage performance late in the season-opening win over Buffalo, Brady has been anything but spectacular. Overthrown balls, misread routes, itchy trigger finger and tentativeness — all can be blamed on Brady missing a full season following reconstructive knee surgery.
Galloway, Randy Moss, Wes Welker (albeit the lack of), Julian Edelman, Sam Aiken, Benjamin Watson and Chris Baker aren’t the problems here.
Galloway, Randy Moss, Wes Welker (albeit the lack of), Julian Edelman, Sam Aiken, Benjamin Watson and Chris Baker aren’t the problems here.
Time is.
With it, Brady is bound to get better with each passing week.
