‘We’ve just done a good job’: Tom Brady and the Buccaneers prepare for a third straight road playoff game
Brady and the Bucs look to be just the fifth team to ever win three road games in the playoffs.
For the third straight week, Tom Brady and the Buccaneers prepare themselves to hit the road.
The Buccaneers will leave the warm confines of Tampa Bay to travel north to take on the Packers for the NFC title on Sunday. A win would of course send Brady to his 10th Super Bowl and Tampa would be just the fifth team to win three road games in the playoffs.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Brady didn’t seem too concerned about having to play on the road.
“We’ve been pretty good on the road all year,” Brady said. “Outside of the first game (a loss in New Orleans) and then the Chicago loss, 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. It’d be pretty sweet. Let’s get another one.”
Maybe Brady is right to seem not too concerned about playing on the road. The Bucs are 8-2 on the road this season, winning their last seven road games, including two road playoff games.
That said, the Packers present a tougher challenge than their last two opponents. Green Bay held the best record in the NFC this season, going 13-3 during the regular season with an 8-1 record at Lambeau Field.
Brady recognizes the challenge the Packers bring and what he and his team has to do in order to win.
“We’re going to be challenged to get it because we’re going to be going up against a great football team,” Brady said. “Playing on the road is about good football – execution, communication – all of the fundamentals – the blocking, tackling, throwing, all of those things. So, it’s a great environment. This is one of the coolest stadiums in the league to play in. I know they’re excited, we’re excited. It’ll make for a great football game.”
Sunday will be Brady’s 14th conference title game (his first in the NFC). Several of his teammates hadn’t even made the playoffs prior to this season, let alone this far into the postseason. While this is a new stage for a lot of Buccaneers players, Brady believes they know the significance of Sunday’s game and will be ready despite the difficulties COVID has brought in preparation.
“We’re not allowed in the building Monday [and] Tuesday,” Brady said when asked about guiding his teammates through the week. “Today’s the first day we’ve been here and we’re really only halfway through the day. We haven’t had too much of a conversation about those things yet. I think everyone understands the significance. It’s really difficult to get to this point of being four of 32. We’re excited for it, but we certainly understand we have a lot of prep to go. We’re going to take every minute up to kickoff to get ready to go.”
If the Buccaneers do pull off the upset, Brady will accomplish something that’s never been done in NFL history. With the Super Bowl being held in Tampa Bay this season, the Buccaneers have a real chance of becoming the first team to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium.
Staffers at Raymond James Stadium are putting up the signs for Super Bowl LV this week, but Brady said he’s focused on the task at hand.
“I think the teams have worked really hard to put ourselves in this position,” Brady said of this upcoming weekend “The coaches have done a great job of preparing us for this moment. We’ve really come along strong here over these last six weeks. We’ve played our best football of the year when we needed it the most. The bye week was really good for us. We got a chance to get a little mental refresh, physical refresh.
“The team’s done a great job coming together under pressure. Two road playoff wins. It gives us a great opportunity on the road again to beat one of the best teams in the league. The Packers were in the NFC Championship Game last year and lost a tough one to San Francisco. I know the kind of team they are and what they’re capable of. They’ve got a great offense, one of the best in the league. They’ve got a really talented defense, they’re well-coached. It’s how it should be. The two best teams in the conference getting together and seeing how it all goes down. I’m excited for it. We’ve still got a lot of preparation.”
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