One Tom Brady streak is already in jeopardy.
Barring a seismic shift before Sept. 13, the Buccaneers will be road underdogs in their Week 1 NFC South showdown against the Saints, which will quell Tom Brady’s historic streak as the betting favorite.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, the last time Brady was an underdog was Week 2 of the 2015 season when the Bills were 1-point home favorites (Patriots won that game, 40-32). Since then, he has been favored for 74 consecutive regular season starts, which is the “longest such streak in the Super Bowl era.”
Sportsbooks released the lines shortly after the 2020 NFL schedule was announced on Thursday evening and currently have the Buccaneers at 4.5-point underdogs for Brady’s debut, which has moved from opening at +6.5 at Caesars Sportsbook.
“Can’t imagine that will ever be broken,” executive director of the Westgate Las Vegas sportsbook John Murray said of Brady’s impressive run. “How many guys will ever be that good, play for a coach that good, in a system that good and in a division that bad for that long?”
Ironically, his opponent, Drew Brees, owns the next longest active streak with nine consecutive starts as a favorite.
Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and Saints quarterback Drew BreesBoston Globe via Getty ImagesThe Buccaneers finished with a 7-9 record last year (5-3 on the road), while the Saints finished 13-3 (6-2 at home). Both teams, who are in “win now” mode, have seen significant roster changes since 2019.
In addition to winning the Brady sweepstakes, which was perhaps the biggest storyline of the NFL offseason, the Buccaneers added running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn of Vanderbilt in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft and fortified their offensive line by drafting left tackle Tristan Wirfs of Iowa in the first round. They also signed Brady’s former teammate Rob Gronkowski via a trade with the Patriots.
The Saints drafted tight end Adam Trautman from Dayton in the third round and added former Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston and former 49ers receiver Emmanuel Sanders to their depth chart.



