Brady and the negative streak he could revive
Tom Brady forged his legend thanks to the victories he achieved against great rivals in the NFL. In 2022 he has faced, and it seems that he will lose, against the only opponent that no one has ever beaten: time, which added to his personal problems, puts him on the threshold of reliving, after 20 years, one of the worst streaks of his career.
Looking ahead to Thursday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens, Brady is looking to avoid, for the second time this season, a third straight loss, which has not been a frequent occurrence in the career of the former New England Patriots quarterback.
If it happens, it would be the first time Brady suffers a third consecutive setback for the first time since 2002.
If it happens, it would be one more link in the chain of unfortunate events Brady has experienced this year, several of them off the field, including his possible divorce from Brazilian model Gisele Bündchen.
The likelihood of Brady and the Buccaneers sinking the ship looks more likely as the calendar progresses, despite the fact that the team started the season as one of the favorites in the National Conference to fight for a ticket to the Super Bowl.
Two decades without three losses in a row
The 2002 season was the last time Brady suffered three consecutive losses. It was the season in which the Patriots were the reigning champions and everything was hunky-dory in their relationship with Bill Belichick.
The losing streak even extended to four losses, which occurred between weeks four and eight of that campaign.
After starting with a 3-0 record, Brady and New England succumbed to San Diego, 21-14; Miami, 16-0; Green Bay, 28-10; and Denver, 24-16.
In that span, Brady totaled six touchdown passes in exchange for seven interceptions and two fumbles, a rare performance for him. Although New England recovered to finish with a winning record, it was not enough and they were left out of the Playoffs.
With Tampa, it has already happened three times that Brady has lost two consecutive games, but without a third. If they fall against the Ravens this Thursday, the team would be 3-5, with the dangerous Rams and Seahawks as their rivals for the next few weeks.
A series of unfortunate events
Much of Tampa Bay and Brady’s complicated situation is due to injuries to key offensive players, especially receivers Julio Jones, Chris Godwin, Breshad Perriman and Russell Gage, while Mike Evans was suspended one game.
However, since the start of 2022, there were situations that destabilized Brady’s brilliant trajectory. On January 29, word leaked out that he had decided to retire, which was confirmed on February 1.
Eight weeks later, the seven-time NFL champion withdrew and announced that he would return to the field for the 23rd season of his career.
“In these last two months, I’ve realized that my place is on the field and not in the stands. That time will come. But it’s not now. I love my teammates and the support of my family. They make it all possible. I will be back for my 23rd season in Tampa. Unfinished business.
Far from ending, the controversies continued prior to the start of the 2022 season, when Brady was absent 11 days from Tampa’s practice field.
Then, with the season underway, Brady continued to raise the issue of his retirement date, without setting a concrete position, which led to a rift with his wife, Gisele Bündchen, who, according to media reports, had asked him for a divorce.
A final controversy occurred in October when he was accused of receiving preferential treatment from head coach Todd Bowles because Brady attended the wedding of Robert Kraft, owner of the Patriots, in the same week that the Buccaneers lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
