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Count Tom Brady among the standouts of Sunday’s NFC Wild Card playoff game and telecast from Philadelphia.
Though he’s far less refined at punditry than he was at quarterbacking, Brady again showed he’s growing into his broadcasting role with Fox.
The rookie broadcaster has passed up top CBS analyst Tony Romo for explaining Xs and Os.
The game wasn’t very exciting. The favored Eagles never trailed and beat the sloppy Packers, 22-10.
Injuries knocked out several Packers players, further diluting Green Bay’s offense. Potentially weakening the Eagles’ defense in the coming Divisional Round game, excellent linebacker Nakobe Dean exited on the cart with a knee injury.
Brady rewarded viewers by bringing expertise and edge to his commentary.
The former quarterback’s best moment came when he called into question Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts running numerous designed rushes in his first game since sustaining a concussion on Dec. 22.
“For being out three weeks with a … I just hate seeing quarterbacks run the ball … it’s not my favorite play in the world,” said Brady, who won seven Super Bowls and leads all quarterbacks in career games played.
Brady is more current with the fast-evolving NFL than most former players and coaches who work as game analysts because he played recently. His final game, a playoff contest with the Buccaneers, came two Januarys ago.
Deeper into this NFL season, Brady has become more willing to question or criticize performances. His expertise enables him to educate without getting personal in his critiques.
Take the third-and-long conversion by Packers quarterback Jordan Love on a deep out to a wide receiver against a safety.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is regarded as NFL royalty by the football media for good reason. But Brady suggested the particular coverage scheme may have been too cute – showing man coverage, then switching to zone – and resulted in a mismatch that favored the Packers.
Brady cut Love no slack for a decision that badly hurt Green Bay. The QB’s second-and-10 throw at midfield went to Eagles linebacker Zach Baun for an interception late in the first half, preserving a 10-0 score.
“Love doesn’t see him one bit,” Brady said “That’s just an absolute gift.”
The game’s top storylines involved health. The Eagles had all 22 preferred starters available at kickoff, a stunning development for any NFL team entering its 18th game.
The pristine look didn’t last for long. Dean went down in the first half, depriving Philly’s defense of a rising playmaker who played in 92% of the defense’s snaps this season.
Green Bay lost its best offensive lineman and two receivers to injury while the game’s outcome was still in doubt.
Both defenses played well, yet the Eagles’ offensive line had another strong game. Effective blocking factored into Saquon Barkley exceeding 100 rushing yards for the 12th time this season. Enabling the game’s first touchdown, a pass from Hurts to receiver Jahan Dotson, the blocking held up for nearly seven seconds.
Better next year
Nevermind that the Packers went one step further last year by upsetting the Cowboys in a Wild Card game before losing to the Super Bowl-bound Niners on the road, but Green Bay made crucial gains this year in physicality and toughness, setting up a potential breakthrough next season to a long-standing impasse.
The biggest upgrade came from running back Josh Jacobs, the former Raiders star who arrived in March on a four-year contract.
Jacobs, who has a rare knack for gaining tough yards but can pop long gains too, was the top individual performer in Sunday’s game. He punished one of the NFL’s more physical defenses.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur, who has a .670 win rate but no Super Bowl appearances through six seasons, made an effective hire in Jeff Hafley as defensive coordinator. The unit improved under the former Boston College head coach, who switched to a 4-3 scheme.
Rookie Edgerrin Cooper, a second-round choice, evolved alongside the defense, giving Green Bay a build-around second-line defender.
Love is an honorary San Diegan due to training here last offseason here under Todd Durkin, who worked with Aaron Rodgers. Love is dating a member of the San Diego Mojo women’s volleyball team.
The QB’s performance resembled Justin Herbert’s showing Saturday for the Chargers at Houston – a few spectacular throws, but multiple interceptions. The two QBs, each 26, went in the same draft, Love going 20 spots after Herbert and sitting behind Rodgers before taking over in 2023.
Originally Published:
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