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Tom Brady Feels Fans Were ‘Spoiled’ by Patriots, Expectations for Late-Game Success Should Be Tempered

The first game-winning drive of Tom
Brady's NFL career came in just his third ever start. Since then Brady has led
the Patriots to 25 more fourth quarter comebacks and 36 game-winning drives,
an impressive resume even for a two-time MVP.

All that late-game success may be
setting the bar too high for the Patriots, though. At least Brady seems to
think so.

Brady led the Patriots to a comeback
win over the Jets on Sunday night, overcoming a three-point deficit with just
under two minutes left in regulation to force overtime. Another strong drive in
the extra session, plus a stellar defensive effort from the likes of Rob
Ninkovich,
saw New England claim the 29-26 victory.

The win marked the first time this
season the Patriots were able to overcome a fourth quarter deficit. It's also
the first time in four chances they've been on the winning end of a three-point
game — losing games to Arizona (two points), Baltimore (one) and Seattle (one).

Brady was on The Dennis and Callahan Morning Show on Monday morning,
explaining that winning such tight games is extremely difficult and the
Patriots will keep working to ensure they end up on the winning end.

"We're trying to do it," Brady
said. "It's not like you flip a switch. I don't think that's it. There's
53 guys that are trying to do their best out there, and we're just not doing
our best. Hopefully we get to that point. That's part of why we practice, why
we meet and why we go to work every day."

While Brady accepted the team's need to
improve in late-game situations, he also acknowledged that maybe Patriots fans
have been "spoiled" by all the comebacks throughout the past decade.

"I wish it were that easy. And
maybe there were times when it has looked that easy. But I think you appreciate
it when it does work. And you realize the preparation that you put into it,
that it pays off," Brady added about closing out games. "Maybe we've
just spoiled some people in the meantime. Because it's hard to win, man. It's
really hard to win."

To be honest, Patriots fans have been
spoiled. One Super Bowl would be enough to appease most fan bases, but fives
appearances and three wins still haven't quenched the thirst for success in New
England. Not that it should, especially since Bill Belichick, Brady and the
rest of the organization always harp on how important it is to win close
games.

Brady's right that the expectations may
be a bit skewed given all the past success, but at least he also recognizes the
Patriots should be doing more to ensure that late game success isn't merely a
thing of the past.

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