setting up the Tampa game … us, reporters, analysts, etc.

“Brady, 44, is older than the three opposing NFC head coaches remaining in the “playoffs. That’s right, the head coaches of the three other remaining teams on the NFC side are all younger than Brady. Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay is 35 and the San Francisco 49ers’ head man, Kyle Shanahan, is 42, the same as Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur” (ESPN).

Brady is 44.

That is really pretty ridiculous.

But George Blanda was 48 when he retired. 26 seasons.

wv wrote:

But the game is changing…

Ah well. I cant pick against Brady at home.

On the 2nd point, you famously picked the Cardinals to win, so you are out of the office pool already. It’s single elimination, and you’re a goner.

On the first point, I was thinking about that yesterday.

Remember…

… when WRs would line up outside in a 3-point stance? They would put a hand in the dirt before the snap.

… when you first saw a tight end STANDING at the line of scrimmage? I mean…WTF?

… when the most common formation had a FB and a RB in the backfield. Sometimes parallel, sometimes in the I-formation.

… when the Dallas Cowboys OL would come to the LOS, then all stand up in sync, and plant themselves in a 3-point stance in unison?

… when you couldn’t make out some guys’ jersey numbers because of the mud and grass stains?

… the single-bar and double-bar facemasks?

… the school marching band performance at halftime was actually televised?

… the only highlights we ever saw were narrated by Howard Cosell at halftime of the Monday night game?

… when networks all broadcast double-headers, so depending on where you lived, you had a buffet of games to watch without subscribing to some service?

Raheem Morris was once a young head coach for tampa. That fact escaped me.
—

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/some-of-tom-bradys-teammates-are-bracing-for-his-retirement-with-this-playoff-run-potentially-his-last/

“…with the Bucs facing a difficult task of keeping this team together in 2022, several of his teammates are prepared for this playoff run to be Brady’s last, sources said. ”

It’s so exciting. I can’t wait for tomorrow to watch Tom Brady’s final game as a professional football player.

And it is only fitting that his career should come to an end against the team he cheated against to launch his legendary career.

I don’t see TB winning, even if Fournette plays. Tampa – if they are better than the Rams which is questionable – are not better with 4 of their WRs out, including 2 of their best 3. And their #2 RB is officially out. If Fournette can’t go, and with 2 stating OL hobbled (or out), I just can’t see how TB is going to pressure the Rams’ defense much. If Fournette, Wirfs, and Jensen are OUT, I don’t think Tampa puts up much more than 10 points. At least on offense.

And the Rams put up 34 on the Bucs last time they played. Of course, none of those points roll forward, and the Rams have lost Whitworth and Woods since. But they’ve got Noteboom and OBJ, and the falloff there is not a game-changing drop. Plus they have added Akers and (basically Michel). Barring a meltdown, the Rams are going to win this game.

And if SF pulls off a miracle, I think the Rams are going to the SB.

I don’t love the matchup in GB if that happens (the high is projected to be 23 degrees next Sunday), and I don’t much fancy meeting TN (which is underrated, imo), or Buffalo. But… you know… one game at a time, and all that rot, right-o! Jolly good.

Well, if you love the Bucs so much, why don’t you marry them?