NFL

Rob Ninkovich on what the ‘Achilles’ heel’ is for Tom Brady and Buccaneers

"If Tom isn't getting the rubber pellets out of his ears and his eyes, they're probably winning this football game."

Tom Brady during the Buccaneers' wildcard win over Washington. AP Photo/Julio Cortez

January 15, 2021

2 minutes to read

As someone who played with Tom Brady for eight seasons, including multiple Super Bowl runs, Rob Ninkovich knows what the veteran quarterback needs to do to win in the playoffs.

Speaking on ESPN during a Friday segment, Ninkovich — who retired following the 2016 season, which ended with the Patriots’ comeback win in Super Bowl LI — explained Brady’s intense mindset.

“Well, look, he’s always competitive, no matter what,” Ninkovich began. “In the regular season, into the playoffs, I think we even saw it last week against Washington. Just that fire inside of him. He wants to make sure that everybody on that field understands that these are one-game seasons, and if you mess up and you don’t have a complete game in these one-game seasons, then your season is over. You’re done.

“So I just think he just, going into the playoffs, steps it up a little bit more as far as accountability to make sure that that motor is running on all cylinders,” Ninkovich added.

Brady’s Buccaneers finished the regular season 11-5, but were 0-2 against the Saints (who Tampa plays on Sunday in an NFC Division round matchup at 6:40 p.m.)

Despite the lack of success against the NFC South champion Saints, Ninkovich thinks that Brady and his teammates have a good chance of figuring it out this time around.

“In the NFL, it’s really hard to beat a team twice,” said Ninkovich. “It’s even harder to beat that same team three times, so if you’re Tampa, you’re looking at those tapes from earlier in the season and you’re trying to gain as much knowledge on that game as you can so you can put your best foot forward.”

As for what the crucial part of the game will be, Ninkovich specified one area: protecting Brady from the New Orleans’ pass rush. He stated his confidence in the Buccaneers’ blocking.

“I can guarantee you that they’re going to protect Tom, because that’s the Achilles’ heel,” concluded Ninkovich. “If they don’t protect Tom, that’s a wrap. If Tom isn’t getting the rubber pellets out of his ears and his eyes, they’re probably winning this football game.”