Tom Brady's 2021 Super Bowl triumph a testament to his NFL legacy
Tom Brady is no longer in the NFL, but the most accomplished quarterback of all-time is far from forgotten. One of the last places to move on from the quarterback's playing days could be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who got their first Super Bowl win since 2002 thanks to the quarterback.
Two years ago today, the Buccaneers defeated Patrick Mahomes in what would be the quarterback's final Super Bowl appearance. Mahomes, coming off a Super Bowl victory, seemed invincible to the majority of fans.
However, Tom Brady served as one of the only QBs able to get the better of Mahomes and had a 2-2 record against him heading into the game. Many expected a shootout or at least a close contest between the two based on the history of their matchups.
Will the Buccaneers win a Super Bowl in the 2020's without Tom Brady?
Instead, the quarterback coasted to a 31-9 victory, handing Mahomes arguably the worst defeat of his career. Brady completed 21 of 29 passes for 201 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Meanwhile, Mahomes completed 26 of 49 passes for 270 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Many remember the defensive line of the Buccaneers taking over the game, effectively forcing Mahomes to run for his life on most downs. However, the game could have been quite different had Brady not cashed in for 21 points through the air.
The Buccaneers certainly think so. In an Instagram post, they recalled the victory, adding the caption:
"We’ll never forget."
Had the Buccaneers been forced to settle for field goals, they would have only had 19 points. This could have changed the playcalling of the Chiefs and the tone of the match. Most agree that Tom Brady is a different beast in close games but in helping defeat Kansas City, Brady deserves plenty of credit.
Tom Brady set numerous records in the win over Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs
Of course, the circumstances of the win matter as much as the win itself. Heading into the contest, Brady was the oldest quarterback to ever start in a Super Bowl. At 43 years old, he also accomplished a unique feat.
Brady joined Peyton Manning as the second quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl with two different franchises.
“That loss. That stings. It motivates you for years.”
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes on losing Super Bowl LV and being motivated to win #SBLVII.
https://t.co/TCZIPj6ZVU
The win also kicked off a trend in the NFL of teams attempting to land franchise quarterbacks from other teams to reach the Super Bowl. The Los Angeles Rams succeeded in their attempt to duplicate the feat with Matthew Stafford. However, the Denver Broncos, who attempted to hit the ground running with Russell Wilson, failed spectacularly.