Tom Brady's Last Stand? QB Could Be In Last Days With Patriots

New England's flabbergasting loss to Miami Sunday not only knocked the Patriots out of the top two seeds in the AFC playoffs, it accelerated what could be the final game for one of the greatest athletes in a region built on them.

Tom Brady will take the field for the 326th — and potentially final — time for the Patriots this Saturday when New England hosts the Tennessee Titans in an AFC wild card game. While playing wild card weekend is rare for the Patriots, Brady faces a completely new situation: He enters a do-or-die contest without a contract beyond that game.

Brady, 42, technically signed an extension that would take him through the 2021-22 season. But the contract voids on the final day of this NFL year, meaning that for the first time in his career, the winningest quarterback of all-time will be a free agent.

While Brady could always re-sign with the Patriots, this is uncharted territory, made murkier by language in the contract keeping the team from using the franchise tag on Brady. (The franchise tag would essentially automatically lock Brady in for one more year.)

Brady has given no direct indication that he would not be with the team beyond this year, but he has made more headlines for being curt in his press conferences than for his play in what has been arguably the most trying year of his career. His numbers, including completion percentage and touchdown passes, are some of the worst of his career, and he has struggled to connect with pass catchers outside of Julian Edelman.

Off the field, things are pointing to a possible change. Brady and wife Giselle put their Brookline mansion on the market this summer, and Brady's personal body coach and business partner Alex Guerrero also has his home for sale. Brady also recently stepped down as honorary co-chair of the Best Buddies Challenge, an organization he has been locally involved with.

Win or lose this Saturday — or this postseason in general — Brady could leave with his health and a resume that dwarfs any other NFL player in history in almost every regard. But Brady has repeatedly expressed a desire to play until he's 45, and he'd have no shortage of suitors if he tested free agency.

If Brady does want to come back to New England, it may have to be on Bill Belichick's terms. Brady getting a multi-year deal that takes him through his age-45 season seems unlikely, particularly given his play this season, but the Patriots could bite on a year-to-year situation — though Brady may feel as if he's earned the security of a longer-term deal.

Whether Brady is quarterbacking the Patriots or another team next season, or if he's just a fan enjoying retirement, expect the fact that this could be it not to be lost on the Gillette Stadium crowd. The "Brady" chants will ring out long after the game, win or lose, stay or go.