It has been 19 years since Tom Brady first made the Super Bowl as the 24-year-old quarterback for the New England Patriots.
Now, he returns to the NFL’s biggest stage as a 43-year-old quarterback for the Tampa Bay Bucs.
With the all-time great embarking on his 10th career Super Bowl, we asked the question: which Brady team is better – the first one with the Patriots or his most recent one with the Bucs?
While it is impossible to find a definitive answer to this, there is one method that could give us an idea: a Madden simulation.
On Sunday, RADIO.COM Sports had the 2020 Bucs square off against the 2001 Patriots in a quest to see which Brady team was the better one.
The game began with the two teams exchanging field goals, but the first big blow came at the end of the first quarter when Bucs Brady connected with Rob Gronkowski to give Tampa a 10-3 lead.
Things for the 01 Patriots only unraveled from there.
Early in the second quarter, Troy Brown fumbled the ball, which Tampa recovered.
Minutes later, Bucs Brady connected with Chris Godwin to go up 17-3.
If you were wondering about which team may have the better defense, the Bucs stuffed Antowain Smith on a fourth-and-2 from the Tampa 39 on the next possession while Patriots Brady was sacked at the end of the second quarter.
Two more field goals gave Tampa a 20-6 edge at halftime.
The Patriots appeared to get a big break in the second quarter when Mike Evans fumbled and Bryan Cox had a big return, but the call was reversed after a challenge.
Later in the third quarter, Tedy Bruschi recoverd an Ronald Jones fumble, which set up Patriots Brady to complete a 32-yard pass to WEEI’s own Jermaine Wiggins. That set up a Adam Vinatieri field goal.
The Patriots rallied back in the fourth quarter, with New England Brady connecting with Wiggins again to make it a one-score game.
On the next possession, Bucs Brady threw a pick-six to Ty Law to tie the game up a 23 apiece.
But Bucs Brady was able to put the final nail in the coffin, leading Tampa downfield to set up a Ronald Jones touchdown run to go up 30-27.
Patriots Brady had one last shot to force overtime, but instead threw an interception to Jamel Dean, giving the 2020 Bucs the victory in the RADIO.COM Sports Brady Bowl.
So, while the Bucs were the better team, which Brady was the better QB?
It was close, but the Bucs Brady slightly outplayed Patriots Brady, completing 38 of 36 passes for 370 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. New England Brady finished 29 of 40 with a touchdown and interception that sealed the game.
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