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About the Author: Jon Ledyard
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It was another comeback win for the Bucs on Sunday, as they beat the Jets 28-24 in the final seconds. Tom Brady’s 33-yard touchdown pass to Cyril Grayson with 15 seconds left was the difference. On Bucs Total Access this week, head coach Bruce Arians explained the game-winning play call.
“It was really set up for Cam [Brate],” Arians said. “And Tom read the coverage perfectly. They were playing kind of a matched up zone. He pumped Cam on the out. And the safety hung (deep) and the corner bit (on the out). So he threw a perfect ball and the safety couldn’t get there. So it was just a great play by Tom. And Cyril (Grayson).”
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— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) January 5, 2022
Grayson is quickly becoming one of the best stories of the 2021. The 28-year old is playing his first meaningful snaps in the NFL, and playing well. He now has back-to-back 81-yard performances for the Bucs. On the season, Grayson has 10 catches for 212 yards and two touchdowns. In the wake of Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown’s absence, Grayson has delivered.
“Tremendous hard worker,” Arians said. “Over the last two years, he’s by far the most improved player on our team. He just never stops working. Then when his opportunity came he seized it.”
Bucs WR Cyril Grayson – Photo by: USA Today
Last year, Grayson had zero catches and two drops on three targets. A former track star from LSU, Grayson has toiled away in the NFL for years after not playing football in college. In Tampa Bay, he seems to have found a home.
“Just catching the ball in traffic,” Arians said on the biggest improvements Grayson has made. “That’s very big, especially for a former track guy. They always have the speed, but the in-traffic (play), the cutting. He just keeps working and working at it. I asked Tom a couple weeks ago. He said, ‘Put him in, I trust him.'”
As for Brady, this is old hat for him. The Pro Bowl QB now has 53 career game-winning drives, tying Drew Brees (53) for the second-most in NFL history. Brady trails only Peyton Manning (54) heading into Week 18.
“He’s done it so many times in his career,” Arians said. “When you’re in the huddle with him you’re like, ‘Ok, we’ve got this.’ I thought he played outstanding.”
The Bucs return to action against the Panthers on Sunday at 4:25 pm EST.
