LANDOVER, Md. -- There was nothing wrong yesterday with Tom Brady's arm.
As for his decision-making, well . . .
The MVP of Super Bowl XXXVI hurt the Patriots badly yesterday by throwing three interceptions, including one in the end zone and another at the Washington 9-yard line -- both of those coming in the final 3:05 of the first half.
He had a third pass picked off early in the fourth quarter and then, with the Pats needing to pick up a first down to keep their comeback hopes alive in the closing seconds, he failed to connect on fourth down with tight end David Graham over the middle.
"Just bad plays, man. Just bad plays," Brady, obviously disappointed and dejected, said.
Physically, Brady had no problems throwing the ball. Mentally, however, he caused problems for the Pats by throwing too many passes to the wrong places at the wrong time.
"It's my job to make good decisions and good throws," he said. "Instead, I made some bad decisions and tried to squeeze some balls in that didn't have any chance of getting (to the receiver.) The one deep to Deion was the one that ticked me off the most."
That was the first one he had picked off -- a long lob toward Deion Branch in the right corner of the end zone that 'Skins strong safety Ifeanyi Ohalete intercepted with the ease of a player catching a punt.
"I shouldn't have thrown it," Brady said.
He could have said the same about his other two interceptions, as well.
"The other ones -- trying to squeeze balls in just doesn't work," he said.
The Pats were trailing only 6-3 late in the first half when Brady was intercepted in the end zone, and then was picked off again trying to go deep down the right sideline to David Givens.
"I saw David running down the sideline and let it go," Brady said. "I didn't put enough on it."
Washington cornerback Champ Bailey, who had inside position on Givens, came down with the ball.
Brady again was trying to get the ball to Givens when he was intercepted by cornerback Rashad Bauman at the Washington 44 early in the fourth quarter.
Although he was playing behind an offensive line that was missing three starters -- guard Mike Compton (out for the season), center Damian Woody, and tackle Adrian Klemm -- Brady was sacked only once and, for the most part, had more than adequate protection.
"They did a great job -- everything I could ask for," Brady said. "We had some guys out there who haven't played much, but they did a hell of a job. They went out and fought every single play."
The Patriots fought back from a 20-3 deficit with a little over 20 minutes remaining, as Brady threw touchdown passes of 29 yards to Givens, late in the third quarter, and 7 yards to running back Larry Centers with 2:10 left to play.
The Pats had a chance to at least move into range for a game-tying, field-goal attempt when they gained possession following a punt at the Washington 45 with 1:39 to go.
Instead, they failed to make a first down.
Brady threw incomplete, then connected on a 5-yard toss to Centers, coming out of the backfield. On third down, Centers was able to gain just two yards on a draw play.
"We tried to catch them off guard," Brady said.
On fourth down, Graham couldn't make the catch, and the Patriots let a good scoring opportunity slip through their fingers.
"I thought I had Dan," Brady said. "I just couldn't get the ball to him. When you get the ball in that position and can't make a first down, that's a bad feeling."
Asked how his arm was feeling, he said: "It's fine. It really is."
Emotionally, he wasn't so good.
"I'm really disappointed," he said. "This is a game I really feel we should have won. It's my job to make those throws. I expect to make good reads and good throws to help the team win. That's why, when we lose, it really takes a toll."
