Tom Brady: Why This Preseason Gives New England Patriots Fans Reason for Concern

Seeing that Tom Brady has thrown 64 touchdowns to only 17 interceptions in his last two seasons, it would be easy to imagine him having another monster year in 2011.

But after watching stretches of the preseason, some concern should creep into Patriots fans' heads—concern that usually is never there when thinking about Mr. Brady.

Against the Detroit Lions, who were without rookie defensive lineman Nick Fairley and veteran Kyle Vanden Bosch, New England struggled mightily to protect No. 12.

He took some scary hits and was intercepted late in the second quarter.

In Week 2 of the preseason, while playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team who's still building their defensive front and pass rush, Brady was his usual self, calmly standing in the pocket before carving up Raheem Morris' defense.

Those aren't the teams that should worry the Patriots.

Teams like the San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos and New York Jets should.

Without a true downfield threat (still waiting on Chad Ochocinco), Brady must be effective in the short-to-intermediate passing game like he was last year and most likely will be in 2011

However, because of the absence of that home run threat on the outside, team's will be able to send more blitzers Brady's way.

We saw what the Giants did in the Super Bowl and how the Jets beat the Patriots twice last year.

Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Dan Koppen, Dan Connolly and Sebastian Vollmer still formulate one of the most sound offensive fronts in the NFL, but their age showed on occasion during the exhibition games, and if Brady isn't provided with the necessary time in the pocket, we might be looking at a Patriots team that must rely on their defense to win games.

Do not take this the wrong way.

Tom Brady is still going to be Tom Brady for the majority of the season.

But are we in for more games in which we'll see the reigning MVP flustered, frequently put to the ground and making some rare bad decisions because of the pass rush?

I think so.

If I'm a Patriots fan that makes me a little uneasy.