National Football League

Brady, Patriots prep for familiar foe in Revis

Published Sep. 20, 2013 10:43 p.m. ET

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Darrelle Revis haunted and taunted Tom Brady and New England's offense at least twice a year for the past six seasons before the New York Jets traded him to Tampa Bay in April.

Brady and the Patriots finally were free.

Then the 2013 schedule was released, revealing a Week 3 matchup against who else?

The Buccaneers.

''To go out of our division into the NFC, and of course we get him in Week 3. It's a little bit ironic,'' Brady said. ''He doesn't have any weaknesses. I don't think I've completed many balls on his side of the field very often.

''He's not a guy that you want to test and see how well you're going to do. He's just a great all-around player.''

All of a sudden, Tampa Bay has a couple of those playmakers who could cause problems for Brady and New England's struggling offense on Sunday.

The Buccaneers (0-2) brass emptied their wallets this offseason, overhauling a passing defense that ranked last in the league and quickly turned it into one of the most feared.

They plucked Dashon Goldson away from San Francisco, signing the Pro Bowl safety to a five-year, $41.25 million contract in March. The Buccaneers then acquired Revis in a deal with the Jets and inked him to a six-year, $96 million deal.

The Patriots (2-0) are well aware of Tampa Bay's offseason acquisitions, though. They caught a firsthand glimpse during training camp when the two teams practiced for three days together.

''Just going against them in practice was challenging, at times, to kind of figure out what was going on,'' Brady said. ''It's going to be a big challenge for our offense to stay on the field, convert third downs, and, ultimately, score points.''

Revis, who had 19 interceptions with the Jets, missed most of last season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Week 3. He participated lightly during the joint practices, but never took the field for team drills.

He now appears to be healthy again, which is bad news for New England. And more could be on the way.

Tight end Rob Gronkowski and receiver Danny Amendola both were limited in practice this week. Gronkowski was listed as questionable on New England's practice report Friday, while Amendola was doubtful, possibly leaving the Patriots' shaky offense in jeopardy of struggling again against a much-improved secondary.

Revis and Goldson anchor the revived unit that ranks 17th in the league after slowing Drew Brees and New Orleans' high-powered offense last week.

''New Orleans has a good passing attack. He was matched up against a lot of different receivers,'' New England coach Bill Belichick said of Revis. ''He was out there for almost every snap against New Orleans. They tested him on several plays - on a flea flicker, double moves, slant routes on third down. He played very well.''

So did Goldson, who recorded nine tackles, one of which earned him a one-game suspension for helmet-to-helmet contact. Following an appeal, though, Goldson's suspension - which would have left him sidelined against the Patriots - was reduced to a $100,000 fine.

Brady doesn't believe Goldson is a dirty player. Rather, the two-time league MVP said he admires him on the field.

''I love his style of play,'' he said. ''I always watched him when he was at San Francisco and just love the way he plays the game. He's physical, he's everything a safety should be - covers when he needs to, plays well in space, a great tackler. He really brings an attitude to the whole defense.''

While Tampa Bay's secondary has slowed opposing receivers, tight ends have posed problems.

Kellen Winslow caught seven passes for 79 yards in the Jets' season-opening win, and Jimmy Graham hauled in 10 receptions for 179 yards in the Saints' victory last week.

But Patriots tight end Zach Sudfeld isn't reading too much into their success.

''Those are just two great tight ends who were able to make plays against them,'' he said. ''All I can really do is kind of focus on the game plan for this week, whatever the coaches choose to do.''

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org

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