Tom Brady encouraged Leighton Vander Esch to go out and get an interception next week.
Leighton Vander Esch will never forget what Tom Brady said to him after their playoff game.
While Vander Esch’s Dallas Cowboys were able to advance past Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the final game of Super Wild Card Weekend, it would have been sweeter if the linebacker was able to pick off The GOAT. Vander Esch nearly intercepted Brady twice, but came up empty-handed on both occasions. With a road trip to San Francisco coming up, Brady hopes Vander Esch will get his.
Watch Vander Esch’s face after speaking with Brady, and you will see him giddy with excitement!
Tom Brady had Leighton Vander Esch smiling from ear to ear after playoff game
For a young man from rural Idaho to not only be living out his dream as a star linebacker on America’s Team, but to essentially be complimented by the greatest quarterback to ever play the game, that has to feel absolutely incredible. With a chance of being part of the first Cowboys team to advance to the NFC Championship Game since 1996, the job is not yet finished for Vander Esch.
Should Dallas upset the hotter than the freaking sun 49ers in Santa Clara, the Cowboys will face one of their biggest rivals in the 2022 NFC Championship game. An upset win over the 49ers will get the Cowboys either road date with the Philadelphia Eagles, or a home date vs. the New York Giants. For this to even be a possibility, Vander Esch and the defense need to steal possessions.
Ultimately, Dallas has been on a shortlist of teams that could win the NFC for much of the season. While the Cowboys were on the lower end of this spectrum, they are now indisputably one of the four best teams in their conference. Given how down the NFL has been as a whole this season, there is not a better time for the Cowboys to prove their haters wrong and just win games anyway.
The only way Dallas upsets San Francisco is if Vander Esch and the defense come ready to play.