The thing to remember about Tom Brady is the guy is one of the smartest football players in NFL history. One does not win seven Super Bowls without that being the case. Yet even the smartest players aren’t immune to brain lapses from time to time. Amidst another great year in 2020, Brady had one of his more infamous moments at Soldier Fields against the Chicago Bears.
After leading 13-0 to open the game, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers watched their lead evaporate before halftime 14-13. The game went back and forth into the 4th quarter. It was there Chicago managed a late drive that concluded in a 38-yard field goal to take a 19-17 lead with 1:13 left. Brady started trying to move his team into position for a winning field goal. However, the drive stalled near midfield.
It was here things got weird.
After an incompletion to Rob Gronkowski on 3rd down, Brady had one last chance on 4th and 6 to keep the game alive. His pass down the middle to Cameron Brate was broken up by DeAndre Houston-Carson. The problem was Brady hadn’t known it was 4th down. He’d thought it was still 3rd down. That is why he was seen holding up four fingers after the pass fell incomplete. For the first time, the Hall of Famer reviewed that moment on TikTok. His reaction is priceless.
Brady has always had a sense of humor. Though ridiculously competitive, the man isn’t above directing barbs at himself. Then again he can afford to feel this way since he ended up winning the Super Bowl anyway. Still, that moment launched probably one of the most popular sports memes of 2020. So many pictures of him holding up four fingers and accompanying jokes. It was certainly one of the highlights of the year for Bears fans.
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Tom Brady will have his chance at revenge this year
The Bears will have to visit him and the Buccaneers in October. One can imagine Brady, who has a sharp memory, will be eager to send a message in that game. A team doesn’t get a laugh at his expense without eventual consequences. It will be interesting to see which QB will be going against him by that point. Will Andy Dalton still hold the job or will Justin Fields have assumed control?
Either way, that is going to be a tough game for the Bears. Winning in Tampa Bay has proved a challenge for them going back years. Since 1996, they’re 4-12 against the Buccaneers in Tampa. That includes back-to-back losses in their most recent visits in 2016 and 2017. One should not expect the Bears defense to hold Tom Brady in check like they were able to before.
The offense will have to step up.
A tall order against a talented and aggressive Buccaneers defense. Suffice to say most people won’t be picking the Bears to win that game. Not unless one of their quarterbacks is playing some really good football at the time. Or if Brady is somehow injured. Neither seems like a strong likelihood.