It wasn’t pretty, but the Bucs found a way to right the ship in a 16-13 victory over the Rams on Sunday. The defense played well all game, special teams was phenomenal and the offense came through when it mattered most. The list is a bit longer than it’s been in recent weeks as the Bucs move into first place in the NFC South, even with a 4-5 record.

Tom Brady

Oops, he did it again. Just when you think he’s down and out, Brady pulls out the magic. That’s just what he did at the end of the game against the Rams. Down four with little time to work with, the Bucs had to have a touchdown. Brady would turn to the hurry-up offense and the Bucs would get their shot. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to pound it in on their first attempt, but they would have another.

With just over 40 seconds left, Brady did what he does best, finding Cade Otton for a big 28-yard gain before hitting Scotty Miller on consecutive throws to bring them down inside the red zone. He found the Otton for the game-winning score two plays later. Brady finished the game with 280 yards and a touchdown on 36-of-58 passing while eclipsing the 100,000 passing yards mark for his career.

Cade Otton

Otton came up with clutch play after clutch play as the Bucs marched down the field on two separate attempts to try to win the game. On the Bucs’ first drive to the red zone, he had a big 19-yard catch to set the team up in the red zone. Brady went back to Otton at the goal line on third down, but the ball was punched out. The Bucs ultimately didn’t score, but they would get another chance.

That’s when Otton shined. On the first play of the drive, Brady found him for a 28-yard gain, setting the Bucs up in Rams territory. Six plays later, and after a defensive pass interference call set the offense up at the 1-yard line, Brady hit Otton for the game-winning score. The rookie tight end caught five of his six targets for 68 yards and his first career touchdown.

Ryan Succop

Bucs K Ryan Succop – Photo by: USA Today

On his attempts that weren’t blocked, Succop was again perfect, knocking field goals in from 20 and 38 yards out in the first half. The Bucs turned to him again the the fourth quarter, when he connected on a 50-yarder to bring the game within four points.

Vita Vea

With Akiem Hicks back to take on some of those double teams, Vea made his presence felt. He had a big sack on Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford for a nine-yard loss that led to a punt. Vea showed up big again when the Bucs needed it most, dragging Stafford down for a six-yard loss to set up 3rd and 17 that eventually forced a punt.

Carlton Davis

Davis returned from injury and had a heck of a game. He was reading and reacting quickly, making multiple tackle for losses in both the screen game and running game. He had tight coverage and played mostly mistake-free football.

Joe Tryon-Shoyinka

Tryon-Shoyinka had good pressure on Stafford all game. The second-year pass rusher almost had an interception that went right through his hands. Despite him missing on the pick, it ultimately ended a drive for the Rams. Tryon-Shoyinka was right there for Vea’s second sack of the night as well, and it was almost his to make. He had another near-sack again late in the fourth quarter, but just couldn’t wrap Stafford up. The pressure did its job, though, as Stafford was dropped by Genard Avery for the sack. Tryon-Shoyinka also recovered the fumble on the final flea flicker scramble to close out the game.

Nick Leverett

Leverett turned in another solid performance. He didn’t let up a sack and held A’Shawn Robinson and Aaron Donald in check for the most part. Donald did have a play where he slipped by him in the first half to make a tackle for loss, but it was his lone tackle in the first half.

Jamel Dean

Dean turned in yet another stellar performance on the day. You didn’t hear about him much because he wasn’t often targeted, as his coverage has been on point all year.

Jake Camarda

Camarda’s punts were booming all game. He consistently flipped the field and tied a Bucs record with a whopping 74-yard punt. The rookie hit punts of 68, 53, and 48 yards. Perhaps his most impressive punt of the night came in the fourth quarter when he dropped a 66-yard punt on the one yard line, but the refs call it a touchback and no challenge was issued on the play.

Jaelon Darden

Darden continued to impress against the Rams with some big punt returns, including one for 17 yards. He fielded six punts for 71 yards with an 11.8 average.