Setting the Stage
Ever since the release of the 2021 NFL schedule, the Week 4 matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New England Patriots has been on everyone’s calendar. Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback of all time, will face off against his former coach, Bill Belichick.
Whether you are a fan of either team or not, this is the game that every NFL fan who loves football can’t wait to see. Brady is a quarterback who has done almost everything, except beat his former team.
Oh yeah, let’s talk about the ticket prices.
The average ticket price to see Tom Brady in his return to face the New England Patriots on Sunday night is $1,101, which ranks among the most expensive tickets for any sporting event in Boston-area history, according to Vivid Seats.
Quarterback Matchup
Mac Jones has a tall order to complete ahead of Sunday’s game. While the spotlight will be on Tom Brady, Mac Jones can be the light in the dark for the Patriots. Jones has been conservative with the ball through three weeks; his farthest pass has been 32 yards. Jones has also been a worshiper of the dink and dunk Patriots way and so far it hasn’t paid dividends. Jones has only two touchdowns this season with three interceptions. However, the Buccaneers are banged up on defense, so expect Jones to play much more aggressively.
Making his return to New England, all eyes will be on Tom Brady as he potentially plays his final game in New England. Brady is tearing up the league (once again) at the age of 44-years-old. He leads the league with 10 touchdowns, he is second in yards with just over 1,000, and his QBR of 66.7 is seventh-best in the league. Brady will likely continue his dominance because there isn’t a team he wants to beat more than the Patriots.
Oh, yeah. We forgot to mention that Brady is only 67 yards shy of the NFL’s all-time regular-season passing yardage record.
Injuries
Tampa Bay
Rob Gronkowski was set to make his return to Foxborough. However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Saturday that Gronkowski will not travel to New England, and he will miss the “Sunday Night Football” matchup against the Patriots.
In addition to Gronk (ribs), RB Giovani Bernard (knee) and CB Jamel Dean (knee) will miss Sunday’s game.
New England
RB James White (rib) is the only Patriot listed as “out” ahead of Sunday’s matchup.