Tom Brady is set to return to Gillette Stadium in three weeks and could leave his 20-year place of employment as the NFL's all-time leading passer.
The Boston Globe's Ben Volin reports Brady -- who has thrown for 79,583 yards during his 22-year career -- is now 775 yards away from Drew Brees' league record of 80,356 career passing yards and could easily break it against his former team, the New England Patriots, on October 3 if he throws for more than 300 yards in his next two games.
"If Brady throws for 300+ in his next two games, he could conceivably break the record in the second or third quarter against the Patriots," Volin tweeted.
On Thursday (September 9), trailing by one point with 1:24 left in the fourth quarter, the 44-year-old quarterback led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers down the field to set up a 36-yard field goal by Ryan Succop that propelled the Bucs to a 31-29 win over the Dallas Cowboys in the first game of the 2021 NFL season.
The final drive culminated a stellar performance for the 44-year-old quarterback, who finished with 379 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions -- one coming on a halftime Hail Mary pass -- on 32 of 50 passing.
ESPN Stats & Info reports Brady has now successfully led 49 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime during his career, trailing only Peyton Manning (54) and Brees (53).
The upcoming matchup in New England will also be a homecoming for Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski, who spent his first nine NFL seasons with the Patriots, which included winning three of the franchise's six championships during Brady's 20-year tenure at quarterback.
Gronkowski also appeared to be in midseason form during Thursday's victory, catching eight passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns.