NFL: One bold prediction for every team in 2021-22
![Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) rushes back to the locker room after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]Browns Extras 10](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F954d021f769fef845fdf11f1b6e38fba1938440b3910b3d1749056b1111c073e.jpg "Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) rushes back to the locker room after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]Browns Extras 10")
One bold prediction for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021-22: Undefeated immortality
For Tom Brady, the clock continues to move in reverse.
At the age of 44 going on 24, there doesn’t appear to be any end in sight to his greatness. Just when you thought he lost a step in 2019, Brady goes out there and throws for 40 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 4,633 passing yards and completed 65.7% of his passes on a new team without ideal practice timing.
That, of course, led to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers winning it all. But while he was incredible last season, there’s reason to believe that he’ll be even better this time around.
Despite the end result, there were times where the Buccaneers and Brady in particular, looked incredibly ordinary. During a week 9 game at home against the New Orleans Saints, just about everyone threw dirt on Brady’s name. The Saints destroyed them on their home turf, winning 38-3 and Brady looked ancient out there. He completed only 22 of 38 passes, no touchdowns and three interceptions.
The Buccaneers would also go on to lose two out of their next three games before running the table. Now, with one full year away from Belichick and after bringing back every single offensive piece, you can expect Brady to look even better.
We can envision a scenario where the Buccaneers win every single one of their games, Brady throws for over 5,000 yards and over 40 touchdowns while coughing up the rock single digits. His comfortability coupled with Antonio Brown still being in the middle of his prime and one of the best receivers ever, will do nothing but make the Bucks pretty much impossible to stop.
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin will of course shred defenses and Leonard Fournette will prove that he isn’t just some throw in piece. Let’s also not forget about the defense. With Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul causing opposing signal-callers to rush through their reads or simply eat dirt, they’ll be a nearly impossible unit to deal with.
All of that will equal to an undefeated season for the Buccaneers for only the third time in NFL history.