Tom Brady will play the 23rd season of his career in the 2022 NFL season and he is predicted to be one of the top quarterbacks to win Super Bowl LVII.
According to the lead NFL writer of the Associated Press Rob Maaddi, Brady is aiming for his eighth Super Bowl ring, and his second in three years with the Buccaneers.
Maaddi said that Brady’s 11-day absence during the training camp and his 40-day retirement announcement earlier this year led people to doubt his focus on the 2022 NFL season.
Nonetheless, he mentioned that Brady did not return to be “mediocre” heading into the season since the 45-year-old player has an “unfinished business” in claiming his next Super Bowl ring.
On Thursday, Brady said that he was on his self-confident from the first time he play for the Buccaneers. Before signing with the Buccaneers and winning the Super Bowl LV, Brady played for New England Patriots from his rookie season on the year of 2000 to 2019, when he claimed six Super Bowl rings.
Brady said that he has been confident in himself since his first game with the Buccaneers.
“That hasn’t changed at all. We’ve still got to go do it,” Brady said.
“It doesn’t matter. You’ve still got to go out there and execute under pressure, which is when the fans are watching and the TV is turned on. You’ve got to go out there and do a great job.”
Before joining the Buccaneers and winning Super Bowl LV, Brady played for the New England Patriots from his rookie season in 2000 to 2019, earning six Super Bowl rings.
Last season, Brady led the Buccaneers’ offense but could not manage to make their way to Super Bowl. They were defeated by the Los Angeles Rams, who were throned as champions after defeating Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl.
According to Maaddi, several factors determined the Buccaneers’ performance last season, including Rob Gronkowski’s retirement.
Maaddi noted that the Buccaneers must overcome a “big challenge” after losing Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen to a knee injury and Pro Bowl left guard Ali Marpet to retirement.
On the other hand, the Buccaneers left tackle Donovan Smith said that he would “protect” Brady as the main QB together with other players in offensive lineups.
“When you’ve got the GOAT back there, you have got to do a little better,” Smith said.
“So, we’re going to go out there … and do what we’re supposed to do. It’s just one of those things that we get paid to do. We’re out there to protect and have fun.”
Divisions’ winner prediction
Aside from his prediction about Brady winning the Super Bowl with the Buccaneers, Maaddi gave his take on each division winner.
For the NFC East winner, Maaddi predicted that Philadelphia Eagles would top the division. It was the performance of their head coach Nick Sirianni and main quarterback Jalen Hurts, which lead the Eagles to the playoff last season for the main reasons.
Maaddi predicted that the Philadelphia Eagles would be the NFC East champions. In addition, Maaddi said that A.J. Brown’s addition to the roster could present a strong offensive line and improve the Eagles’ defense.
Meanwhile, in the NFC North, Maaddi named the Green Bay Packers as one of the division’s top contenders. According to him, the presence of two-time AP NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, combined with coach Kevin O’Connell’s strategy, could lead to the Packers winning the NFC North.
Furthermore, Maaddi predicted that the AFC East’s Chicago Bills, AFC South’s Indianapolis Colts, AFC West’s Kansas City Chiefs, and AFC North’s Baltimore Ravens would win their respective divisions.