Former Buccaneers QB Chris Simms has brutal assessment of Tom Brady

"Simms added that he believes the Bucs are a dangerous playoff team if they get in because of clutch Brady, but that doesn’t mean he’s playing good football," Joe Bucs Fan noted. 

Last month, Simms and Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio both suggested Brady could retire during the ongoing season in part because of behind-the-scenes issues hovering over the status of the 45-year-old. Brady and Gisele Bündchen confirmed their divorce after 13 years of marriage on Oct. 28, but the seven-time Super Bowl champion has shown no signs of quitting and guided the Buccaneers to a come-from-behind 16-13 win over the Los Angeles Rams this past Sunday. 

Before Tampa Bay lost a third consecutive game and fell to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8, Cale Clinton of Football Outsiders pointed out that Buccaneers targets such as Mike Evans and Cade Otton were routinely getting open and that Brady was missing "on short to intermediate quick passes" and lacking "the same zip on the ball into those tight-window areas." 

However, several stats indicate Brady remains better than "not very good." Per ESPN, he began Thursday second in the league with 2,547 passing yards, and his 51.4 total QBR was good for 16th. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers are dead last in rushing, averaging just 60.7 yards on the ground per game. 

Brady and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich seem to agree the 4-5 Buccaneers need better "effort" during games, beginning with this Sunday's matchup against the 6-3 Seattle Seahawks.