New England Patriots: What should we expect from Tom Brady’s return?
Tom Brady is back! As the New England Patriots travel to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, what can we expect from the NFL’s most hated man?
Sunday, October 9. 1:00 pm. Cleveland, the setting. Tom Brady, the hero and Roger Goodell, the villain who doesn’t know what’s coming. The poor old Cleveland Browns, ever the runt of the litter, will once again become nothing more than a baseball bat with which Brady will swing in wild anger at the establishment, all under the mindful eye of Bill Belichick, who simply watches as his endlessly victorious New England Patriots celebrate the return of their biggest star.
Cody Kessler will once more marshall a hopeless Browns offense, headlined by Tyrell Pryor and Isiaih Crowell — that’s when you know you’re in trouble, people — in a futile attempt to match the Brady-led Patriots. But, under Hue Jackson, the Browns have played with something that has been somewhat lacking; heart. Yes, they’re 0-3, very soon to be 0-4, after an absolute mauling at the hands of Brady and his gang.
More NFL coverage from FanSided.com:
2017 NFL Mock Draft: South Beach has a new QB
NFL Week 5: Picks and predictions
50 Shades of Fantasy Football, Vol. VIII
Brady is, for all his flaws cut out by pure jealousy and hatred — let’s be honest, Brady is pretty much the man we all wish we were — a truly wonderful football player. His dissection of defenses, his touch and poise, his unnerving will to win combined in a rocket arm and a brain that could most likely understand rocket science itself, has seen him lead his team to four Super Bowls victories and earn host of personal accolades.
So, what can we expect on Sunday when the quintessentially perfect quarterback comes up against a defense that allowed ‘you like that’ Kirk Cousins to score three touchdowns at a completion rate of 77.8 percent and QBR of 116.5?
Well, football slaughter is the word that springs to mind.
Rob Gronkowski, Brady’s preferred weapon of choice, is hamstrung by an imperfect hamstring. But throughout his career, Brady has laughed in the face of weaponless offenses, simply making awful players average and good players great. Brady is more like a force of nature who enjoys sticking it to the NFL, rather than someone who is hampered, harnessed and limited to the apparatus around him. Hell will freeze over if he throws anything less than 4,137 yards against the Browns and 167 touchdowns, as well as a token QB sneak for a rushing touchdown, just to ensure that if you were ever forgetting of his greatness.
Julian Edelman will, after flirting with the chance of playing quarterback after injuries to both Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett, return to his role as the quick hitting slot receiver that seeps life out of a tiring defense as he and Brady continually hook up to convert that 3rd and 4 that stops other teams but never the Patriots. Chris Hogan will rub salt into Rex Ryan’s Patriot shaped wounds, being made to look like a hall of fame receiver thanks to his now hall of fame quarterback and James White, after sitting and watching LaGarrette Blount hurdle his way to 352 yards and four touchdowns, will re-enter the fray as the perennial receiving back out the backfield that Brady uses so exceptionally well.
Next: NFL Power Rankings: 30 Best QB of All-Time
Sympathy, then, is perhaps the overriding feeling afforded towards the Browns. As they continue their downtrodden existence, even the schedule now works against them. The return of the Brady is not the easiest game at the best of times. After a 0-3 start? Well, let’s just hope that New England goes easy on them.
Brilliant Brady is back, much to the annoyance of every non-Patriot fan, the dismay of Hue Jackson and the fear of Roger Goodell. Look out commissioner, he’s back, and he’s not happy.