Tom Brady comes up empty on possible finale at Gillette Stadium as a Patriot

FOXBORO — While no one knows if this was the last time Tom Brady would appear at Gillette Stadium in a Patriots uniform, the final time he would lead the team out of the tunnel, this had the feel of a farewell.

From the hugs with Robert and Jonathan Kraft on the Patriots sideline when he came out of the tunnel, which was an unusual occurrence at that point, to Kraft saying on a pregame interview with Channel 4’s Steve Burton, “We’re pretty lucky to have had him,’’ it was a goodbye to Brady disguised as a first-round playoff game against the Titans.

It was an event within an event.

Beyond the edge-of-your-seat playoff football that played out, the game might have doubled as a farewell to the greatest quarterback to have ever played because at age 42, Brady will be an unrestricted free agent when his contract automatically voids March 18, the last day of the 2019 NFL year.

And, as send-offs go, under foggy and drizzly conditions, this one ended in massive disappointment. The Foxboro Faithful prayed all night Brady could pull off his 31st post-season career win during the wild-card playoff nail-biter, only it didn’t materialize.

Hearing “Brady” chants with almost every offensive possession, the Patriots quarterback found himself in need of a score late in the fourth quarter. It was the perfect set-up for the perfect sendoff.

But with 17 division titles, nine Super Bowl appearances, four Super Bowl MVPs, three NFL MVPs and six Lombardi Trophies in his back pocket, Brady failed to deliver. He had his chances, but unlike much of his storied career, came up empty.

He had one last gasp attempt, but starting from the 1-yard line, with 15 seconds to play, needing a field goal, was as close to a miracle as you could get. Brady wound up throwing a pick-six to old friend Logan Ryan.

So the legend walked off a loser, possibly for the last time in a Patriots uniform, as the Titans came away with a 20-13 win to advance to the divisional round against the Chiefs. He threw no touchdown passes, save the one to the opposing team, as the offense could muster just one touchdown against the Titans defense. He finished 20 of 37 for 209 yards and a 59.4 passer rating.

When the game ended, Brady shook hands with several Titans then disappeared into the locker room.

It started out rather promising. The Patriots scored on three of its five first half possessions, but still trailed 14-13 to the visitors. There were plenty of signs of vintage Brady, with laser throws to Julian Edelman, and plays made as he deftly maneuvered in the pocket to buy time before delivering a throw.

But many of the usual problems that haunted them during the season once again showed up for the offense – no finish in the red zone. The Pats went 1-for-3 in the first half, as Josh McDaniels tried to run the ball from in close, but was forced to kick field goals. Their third-down conversion rate also disappeared after a good start, going 5-for-13 on the night.

Their opening drive of the third quarter was killed by a penalty, as Brady hit Benjamin Watson for a 38-yard gain on third down, only to have the play brought back because Shaq Mason was ruled an ineligible man downfield. Brady and the offense also couldn’t do anything after the defense forced a turnover, with Duron Harmon picking off a Ryan Tannehill pass at the Patriots 41-yard-line at the start of the fourth quarter.

Mike Vrabel’s defense just wasn’t into allowing any heroics from No. 12. And so it went.

Brady, who was on the cover of the GameDay program, arrived at Gillette Stadium just after 4 p.m., decked out in a trench coat, winter hat, and dark sunglasses. Members of his family were on hand, as wife Gisele Bundchen posted a picture on Instagram of daughter Vivian eating popcorn from high above in a luxury box.

Brady had put out an inspirational Instagram post prior to the game. The narrator introduces a lion, the king of the jungle. Then a picture of Brady appears to draw the connection. Next we see a pack of jackals “barking at him, laughing at (the lion).”

The punch line: “Every once in a while, the Lion has to show the jackals who he is. It’s too late to be scared. It’s time to kill.”

Only, the jackals got the better of the lion.

If this was the end, what Brady has done for the Patriots the past 20 years will never be duplicated. And it most assuredly won’t ever be forgotten.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/37As5VS