Rain poured down on Gillette Stadium in the Bucs 19-17 win against the New England Patriots. An emotional week ended with a win for Tom Brady against his former head coach and mentor Bill Belichick. Penalties on both sides of the ball and drops continue to hamper this Bucs team. Energy and execution limited them in a game that could’ve been more lopsided than the final score would indicate.

Tom Brady became the NFL’s all-time passing leader on a 28-yard completion to wide receiver Mike Evans. Brady finished the game going 22-43 for 269 yards and zero touchdowns. The Bucs finally got the run game going behind Leonard Fournette’s 91 yards and a Ronald Jones touchdown. Antonio Brown caught seven passes for 63 yards in his homecoming, but dropped a late touchdown that could’ve sealed a Bucs win.

Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka – Photo by: USA Today

The pressure finally got home against the Patriots. Rookie Joe Tryon-Shoyinka logged his first and second career sacks. While Shaq Barrett and William Gholston both recorded their second sacks of the season. Antoine Winfield Jr. recorded his second career interception after a Ross Cockrell tip. Devin White brought the heat on the play, hitting Mac Jones as he threw. Winfield also had a forced fumble that was recovered by Richard Sherman.The defense limited the Pats to -1 rushing yards on the game.

More bad news on the injury front for the Bucs secondary. Carlton Davis left the game late in the second quarter, and had to be carted back to the locker room. He would be ruled out for the remainder of the game. Winfield also left the game in the fourth quarter under concussion evaluation and would not return.

The game started with the Patriots receiving the ball first. After a couple of punts by the Pats, sandwiched by one from the Bucs themselves, things started to get going for them on the next possession. Brady led the team 71 yards, breaking the all-time passing record on the way, to a Ryan Succop 29-yard field goal.

A tipped interception by Antoine Winfield ended the Patriots next drive, but the Bucs couldn’t capitalize on the turnover. Brady got the Bucs in field goal range, but Succop pushed it wide right. The Patriots marched down the field, on the back of two defensive pass interference calls. Mac Jones found Hunter Henry for the touchdown to pull them ahead 7-3.

The teams traded punts on their next two possessions, but the Patriots left too much time on the clock for Brady. He would methodically lead the Bucs down the field for a 44-yard field goal. The score cut the lead to 7-6 before halftime.

The Bucs received the ball after halftime, but couldn’t get anything going. A drop by Cameron Brate and a penalty on a deep completion to Antonio Brown led to yet another Bucs punt. The Patriots would give the ball right back on a Winfield forced fumble, recovered by Richard Sherman, but couldn’t capitalize on it, going three-and-out.

Another punt by the Patriots, and it was time for Brady to turn it on. He led the team 52 yards down the field where Ronald Jones capped off the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run, pulling the Bucs ahead by six. The Patriots made quick work on the ensuing drive. New England took a 14-13 lead after going 77 yards, scoring on a 1-yard touchdown catch to Jonnu Smith.

On a drive that saw Brady scramble for a first down, the Bucs scored to re-take the lead on another Succop field goal. A trick play on the Pats next drive led to a field goal and a 17-16 Patriots lead. Once again the Patriots left too much time on the clock. Brady led the Bucs down the field, where another Succop field goal would give the Bucs a 19-17 lead. A penalty and a blown coverage in the flat put the Patriots in position for a long field goal attempt. But the 56-yard boot by Nick Folk bounced off the goal post, giving the Bucs a 19-17 win.