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This notion is cropping up on the main forum. In part because I made a joke about Tom > Bill which prompted some rebuttal (and my dismissal from the thread without even saying another word). But to answer my own question here, the answer is NO.
The idea that Brady is having a bad season is overrated. Statistically his numbers are decent... he leads the NFL in attempts and completions yet he has the fewest INTs (1) and the lowest INT% (0.3%). He's 2nd in yards and 3rd in first down completions (Mahomes and Burrow are 1 & 2). He's 2nd in completed air yards (total yards completed passes traveled in the air past the line of scrimmage before being caught).
All that despite the Bucs having the worst running game in the NFL by far. 32nd (last) in yards, 32nd in yards per attempt, and 30th in TDs. Fournette is 10th in attempts but 25th in yards, 49th in yards per attempt, and 29th in rushing yards after contact per rush.
The Bucs offense has been unusually bad in the red zone this season. Currently ranking 29th (tied with the Patriots!) in team red zone scoring percentage (TDs only). Passing game, running game, pass and run blocking, play-calling... all bad in the red zone. Really this is the key to turning their season around offensively as a team. This must improve, including Brady's play. The passing game has been good between the 20's. The running game has been putrid in all situations but hopefully at least they can get tougher in the low red zone.
Is Bowles a complete loser as a head coach? Yes. But supposedly so was Arians. All I heard for two seasons was how much of a clown Arians is and how he was only getting in the way until Brady dispatched him before this season. Now people (including me lol) bemoan his absence because the team looks lifeless (like the current HC) and is currently second in the division behind freaking Atlanta.
Although I think Arians could infuse some enthusiasm in the locker room, and get players to hold themselves more accountable, I'm not sure he can impact the on-field product. Players need to execute better. The defense needs to at least maximize their effort, which truthfully is lacking in some of their supposed bigtime players. Leftwich needs to do some serious self-evaluating, and film study, and figure out where he needs to make significant changes in his play-calling.
Regarding Belichick, while the IBWT crowd wants to scoff at Brady's season, the Patriots are probably a quarterback away from being relevant. Their primary weakness has been quarterback play. The supposed guy – Mac Jones – is now fitting in nicely with the other disappointments taken in the 1st round of the 2021 draft. Right now, they all suck (except for the unavailable Trey Lance), some worse (Zach Wilson) than others (Justin Fields might be a poor man's Lamar Jackson).
Mac Jones is currently 33rd in TD% and 35th in INT% (dead last among qualifiers). He hasn't been any good since the 3-pass attempt game vs Buffalo in week 15 of last season... there are all kinds of ugly numbers to back this up. He's probably a roughing the passer call away from losing his starting job to Bailey Zappe... who may or may not be the better option but I guess we're going to bury him because of one bad half when really the entire team fell apart against a bad opponent.
So, in summary since Brady and Belichick split:
Brady
27-14 regular season
5-1 postseason
Division title
Super Bowl title
Super Bowl MVP
105 passing TDs
Belichick
21-20 regular season
0-1 postseason
3rd, 2nd & 4th in the division (after 16 straight 1st place finishes with Brady)
46 passing TDs (all QBs combined)
If we're answering the question honestly then it seems obvious who needs who more. I mean Brady won a SUPER BOWL. Brady has nothing left to prove regardless of how this season, or his career, ends. And the current season has a long way to go yet. By its end it's a good bet that Brady has a better record, better standing in his division, and a better chance in postseason. While Belichick is probably looking at a lot of uncertainty at the quarterback position for the remainder of this season and possibly for the remainder of his career.
The idea that Brady is having a bad season is overrated. Statistically his numbers are decent... he leads the NFL in attempts and completions yet he has the fewest INTs (1) and the lowest INT% (0.3%). He's 2nd in yards and 3rd in first down completions (Mahomes and Burrow are 1 & 2). He's 2nd in completed air yards (total yards completed passes traveled in the air past the line of scrimmage before being caught).
All that despite the Bucs having the worst running game in the NFL by far. 32nd (last) in yards, 32nd in yards per attempt, and 30th in TDs. Fournette is 10th in attempts but 25th in yards, 49th in yards per attempt, and 29th in rushing yards after contact per rush.
The Bucs offense has been unusually bad in the red zone this season. Currently ranking 29th (tied with the Patriots!) in team red zone scoring percentage (TDs only). Passing game, running game, pass and run blocking, play-calling... all bad in the red zone. Really this is the key to turning their season around offensively as a team. This must improve, including Brady's play. The passing game has been good between the 20's. The running game has been putrid in all situations but hopefully at least they can get tougher in the low red zone.
Is Bowles a complete loser as a head coach? Yes. But supposedly so was Arians. All I heard for two seasons was how much of a clown Arians is and how he was only getting in the way until Brady dispatched him before this season. Now people (including me lol) bemoan his absence because the team looks lifeless (like the current HC) and is currently second in the division behind freaking Atlanta.
Although I think Arians could infuse some enthusiasm in the locker room, and get players to hold themselves more accountable, I'm not sure he can impact the on-field product. Players need to execute better. The defense needs to at least maximize their effort, which truthfully is lacking in some of their supposed bigtime players. Leftwich needs to do some serious self-evaluating, and film study, and figure out where he needs to make significant changes in his play-calling.
Regarding Belichick, while the IBWT crowd wants to scoff at Brady's season, the Patriots are probably a quarterback away from being relevant. Their primary weakness has been quarterback play. The supposed guy – Mac Jones – is now fitting in nicely with the other disappointments taken in the 1st round of the 2021 draft. Right now, they all suck (except for the unavailable Trey Lance), some worse (Zach Wilson) than others (Justin Fields might be a poor man's Lamar Jackson).
Mac Jones is currently 33rd in TD% and 35th in INT% (dead last among qualifiers). He hasn't been any good since the 3-pass attempt game vs Buffalo in week 15 of last season... there are all kinds of ugly numbers to back this up. He's probably a roughing the passer call away from losing his starting job to Bailey Zappe... who may or may not be the better option but I guess we're going to bury him because of one bad half when really the entire team fell apart against a bad opponent.
So, in summary since Brady and Belichick split:
Brady
27-14 regular season
5-1 postseason
Division title
Super Bowl title
Super Bowl MVP
105 passing TDs
Belichick
21-20 regular season
0-1 postseason
3rd, 2nd & 4th in the division (after 16 straight 1st place finishes with Brady)
46 passing TDs (all QBs combined)
If we're answering the question honestly then it seems obvious who needs who more. I mean Brady won a SUPER BOWL. Brady has nothing left to prove regardless of how this season, or his career, ends. And the current season has a long way to go yet. By its end it's a good bet that Brady has a better record, better standing in his division, and a better chance in postseason. While Belichick is probably looking at a lot of uncertainty at the quarterback position for the remainder of this season and possibly for the remainder of his career.