Why the Bengals will likely see the best version of Tom Brady that we've seen this season
The Cincinnati Bengals are set to take on Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend. Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time and he'll be in the Hall of Fame the moment he's eligible. But this hasn't been his best season. He's starting to look his age, which is far from an […]
The Cincinnati Bengals are set to take on Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend.
Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time and he'll be in the Hall of Fame the moment he's eligible. But this hasn't been his best season. He's starting to look his age, which is far from an insult considering he's still playing at a higher level than many quarterbacks despite being 45 years old.
I have a feeling, though, that Cincinnati will see vintage Brady on Sunday in Tampa.
There have been a lot of Joe Burrow/Tom Brady comparisons this week. Burrow's demeanor is similar to Brady's — ultra-competitive, great leader, finds a way to win when things go wrong.
That ultra-competitive part is why I think we'll see prime Brady against the Bengals.
Brady hears the comparisons and we know he thrives on feeling disrespected or slighted.
Sometimes those pushes land on the backs of opponents. Sunday will be one of those times. It will be the first Burrow versus Brady meeting, but it will be only the latest “the next Brady” versus Brady matchup.
Brady hears the comparisons and he almost always finds a way to crush them. But this won’t be a case of a young quarterback chasing the G.O.A.T. up the mountain, it will be Brady trying to impede Burrow’s climb and slow his own descent.
Brady won’t be face to face with Burrow on the field, of course, but he’ll view it as nothing less than three hours of direct competition.
“He’s definitely paying attention to it. He’s definitely watching,” Faulk said. “That’s what competitors do. That’s where they get their competitive edge. They try to get an advantage somewhere, somehow. Tommy’s a little older now, so he has to get that edge somewhere. He’s got to try to find it.”
This matchup against Burrow — the quarterback that many feel is "the next Tom Brady" — is probably going to lead to an inspired Brady playing against the Bengals. The legendary quarterback will be looking to shut down yet another comparison.
Burrow, however, isn't just any other quarterback. The comparisons are legitimate. Burrow has that "it quality" that very few quarterbacks have. And he has the physical abilities to be as good as Brady on the field.
This has the makings of a classic game. Burrow, though he'll never say it, will be looking to prove that the comparisons are deserving while Brady will be hoping to show folks that there will never be another Brady. It should be a fun one down in Florida on Sunday.
Featured image via Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
