The New England Patriots didn’t do everything well every year that Tom Brady was there.
It only seemed that way.
But there were years the Patriots struggled to win on the road – 4-4 in 2013 and 3-5 in 2018 – even when they were undefeated at home. So, Brady is encouraged that his Tampa Bay Buccaneers have become road warriors, winning seven straight (including playoffs) after losing two of their first three away from home to start the season.
The Buccaneers won at the Washington Football Team and at the Saints to advance to Sunday’s NFC Championship game against the Packers at Lambeau Field. The win against the Saints avenged one of the Buccaneers’ two road losses, back in Week 1 of the regular season. The other was in Week 5 at the Bears.
“We’ve been pretty good on the road all year outside of the first game and the Chicago game,” Brady said. “For one reason or another, we’ve just done a good job. Some years it’s been like that. I’ve been a part of other teams where it wasn’t quite like that. Let’s keep that streak going – that would be pretty sweet. Let’s get another one.”
Brady holds every imaginable postseason passing record and is 32-11 in his career, but he was just 4-4 on the road with the Patriots. Three of those losses came in Denver.
Of course, playing on the road this year is unlike any other because of COVID-19 limiting crowd sizes. The Packers are expected to have 6,500 fans inside a stadium that can fit more than 80,000.
“We’re going to be challenged to get it because we’re going up against a great football team,” Brady said. “Playing on the road, it’s about good football, execution, communication, all the fundamentals, the blocking, tackling, throwing – all those things. It’s a great environment. This is one of the coolest stadiums in the league to play in. I know they’re excited, we’ll be excited, and it will make for a great football game.”