In Week 1 Tom Brady got beat up on the field. At night, he took a bigger whooping on the internet, getting meme’d so hard Alex Guerrero needed an extra pliability session to get Brady prepped for Week 2.

It’s OK to say you were fine with it. You can say you laughed or smiled at all the “Bad Brady” memes, especially coming off a Week 1 where Cam Newton and the Patriots got a dub while Brady and his six rings and no heirlooms stunk up the Superdome in Tompa Bay’s loss to the Saints.

Last year when Tom Brady puked away a game like he did last week, you’d do a deep dive into your book of excuses why things were going to be OK for Tommy Boy and the Patriots. He was your guy. He won six Super Bowls. He was aging, but talking heads had been calling him finished for almost a decade. You didn’t care. He’d figure it out. He’s Tom Brady, after all.

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It’s a different world now. He’s a Buccaneer and not a Patriot. All that offseason talk about “we’re gonna support Brady” talk was great, but Sunday was like seeing an ex who broke your heart end up with someone else. Yeah, you wanted to remain friends, but you’re perfectly OK with seeing them miserable.

Brady isn’t one of your guys anymore so when he stinks, you don’t need to search for irrational ways to defend him and why he’s going to get things turned around.

Fact of the matter is, Week 1 might have finally been the day we can admit we saw Brady take a step toward the edge of the cliff he’s supposedly been falling off of the last six years.

Now before you get all worked up, let’s make one thing clear – Brady is not a bad quarterback. He’s just not what he was even three years ago, which shouldn’t be breaking news.

In New England, Brady always got the benefit of the doubt. Six rings over two decades of infinite success will do that.

Last year, the excuses for Brady and the Patriots’ struggling offense were because Belichick didn’t give him weapons.

But what if it wasn’t the weapons? What if it was Brady?

What if Tom Brady’s endless drive for perfection didn’t work with what he had? Brady knows what he does well – he outthinks the opposition and uses timing and precision to pick apart their mistakes.

Could things have gone differently if Brady tried to adjust his game to suit those receivers vs. asking them to try and do things exactly the way he wanted? Or were those players so bad no functioning NFL quarterback could have success with them?

This year, that question shouldn’t be asked.

Brady is surrounded by as many talented offensive options as he’s had in his career. Last year the Buccaneers were one of the highest-scoring offenses in the NFL with Jameis Winston at quarterback so if they can’t at least replicate that success, it’s not because the skill position players got worse.

Mike Evans and Chris Godwin give Brady the best receivers he’s had since Moss and Welker. Scotty Miller is his new Edelman. Old Gronk isn’t the same player as Young Gronk, but O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate give the team tight end depth. Tampa’s stable of running backs were good before Leonard Fournette arrived.

There’s big play ability all over the field, so if Brady can’t put up points with this group, who do you blame?

He’s not with you anymore, so there’s no need to defend him.

Brady makes mistakes and now, like the rest of the country for the last 20 years, you get to enjoy them.

So after that smoldering hot take, let’s move on to the picks.

EARLY GAMES

NEW YORK GIANTS at CHICAGO (-5.5, O/U 42)

I can’t imagine a worse way to spend a Sunday than watching this game. Oh wait, I forgot, I’ve got a youth soccer doubleheader today.

THE PICK: Bears 24, Giants 17

ATLANTA at DALLAS (-3.5, O/U 54)

I drafted Zeke Elliot in fantasy and my wife is already growing sick of my “feed me” celebrations after he scores. She’s gonna be even more mad when she sees my cut-off shirts I’m having made.

THE PICK: Cowboys 31, Falcons 28

DETROIT at GREEN BAY (-6, O/U 50)

People around here are like ‘I can’t imagine what it’s like to be a Lions fan’ but if you’re over the age of 35, you know – it’s the same as being a Red Sox fan from 1919-2003.

THE PICK: Packers 27, Lions 24

JACKSONVILLE at TENNESSEE (-7.5, O/U 44.5)

Is there anything better than trying to watch a late game to see if you win a fantasy matchup, falling asleep, then waking up and the game is over and finding out you got that dub? Sorry, maybe it’s an old guy thing.

THE PICK: Titans 28, Jaguars 10

MINNESOTA at INDIANAPOLIS (-3, O/U 49)

Took the Colts last week in a suicide pool and I really wish I would have bought Frank’s Red Hot and poured it in my eyes while lighting a $20 bill on fire instead.

THE PICK: Vikings 46, Colts 2

BUFFALO at MIAMI (+5.5, O/U 42)

Wonder if Belichick ran that RPO offense last week in part to help the Dolphins prepare for the Bills in Week 2? That would be some next-level wizardry.

THE PICK: Bills 20, Dolphins 14

SAN FRANCISCO at NEW YORK JETS (-7, O/U 41.5)

What’s the fun in being a Jets fan? They won a Super Bowl with Joe Namath and the No. 2 franchise highlight is Rex Ryan on Hard Knocks screaming about getting a snack. Yuck.

THE PICK: 49ers 28, Jets 3

LOS ANGELES RAMS at PHILADELPHIA (-1.5, O/U 46)

Those new Rams’ uniforms were the laughingstock of Twitter over the summer, but they looked almost better than the team did vs. Dallas.

THE PICK: Rams 31, Eagles 20

DENVER at PITTSBURGH (-7, O/U 40.5)

Fantasy players should know the name, but Noah Fant in Denver is fun to watch. His skillset reminds me a little of Aaron Hernandez, minus the murder stuff, and he’s Drew Lock’s favorite target.

THE PICK: Steelers 20, Broncos 19

CAROLINA at TAMPA BAY (-8.5, O/U 47)

If the Buccaneers lose and the Patriots win Sunday, does sports talk radio spend time on the Cam win or the Brady loss?

THE PICK: Buccaneers 35, Panthers 30

LATE GAMES

WASHINGTON at ARIZONA (-7, 46)

I didn’t think it was possible, but DeAndre Hopkins is going to get more targets playing with Kyler Murray than he did with DeShaun Watson. For a guy with garbage at QB for the start of his career, he deserves it.

THE PICK: Cardinals 27, Football Team 6

KANSAS CITY at LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (+8.5, O/U 47)

I’ll say it every week – other than injury, I don’t see how the Chiefs lose this season.

THE PICK: CHIEFS 42, Chargers 21

BALTIMORE at HOUSTON (+7, O/U 49.5)

Can a 9-year old walk from Smithfield to Foster? I really would prefer watching this game in its entirety than what I’m going to see live from Deerfield Park today.

THE PICK: Ravens 35, Texans 27

SUNDAY NIGHT

NEW ENGLAND at SEATTLE (-4, O/U 45)

Russell Wilson vs. the Patriots Defense is a better matchup that Buffalo Wings vs. Pizza.

THE PICK: Seahawks 21, Patriots 20

MONDAY NIGHT

NEW ORLEANS at LAS VEGAS (-6, O/U 49)

I had to stop a think for a second about who Las Vegas was. Really look forward to 2022 or so when I start remembering they’re the Raiders.

THE PICK: Saints 34, Raiders 14

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On Twitter: @EricRueb