The Bucs’ offense is one full of high-end talent, with the two leading receivers in franchise history – Mike Evans and Chris Godwin – at the forefront of a passing attack led by seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady.

But when it came down to the wire in Monday night’s 17-16 come-from-behind win over the Saints, it was two rookies stepping up when Tampa Bay needed them most. With three minutes to go, rookie tight end Cade Otton caught a 1-yard touchdown from Brady to get the Bucs within 16-10.

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

Then, after the defense got a quick stop, the offense went back to work again. And with three seconds to go, rookie running back Rachaad White caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Brady to tie the game. It was Ryan Succop’s PAT that made the ultimate difference, but White and Otton went down as two of the game’s biggest heroes.

Yes, Brady’s big throws to Evans, Godwin, Julio Jones, Leonard Fournette and Scotty Miller set up those two big touchdowns. But when it came to do-or-die time in the red zone, the Bucs’ 45-year-old quarterback trusted two guys whose combined age of 46 is only one year older than him. As a result, Brady finished off his 44th career fourth-quarter comeback, marking a new NFL record.

Bucs RB White’s First Career TD Catch Is A Game-Winner

“It’s just amazing,” White said. “I believe I was just born when TB (Tom Brady) had first gotten in the league. I was born in ’99, so just to be able to be part of that years later down the road, you just be grateful. You’ve just got to cherish these moments.”

It was an electric moment for the Bucs’ 2022 third-round pick, who finished the night with six catches for 41 yards and the touchdown in addition to his 28 rushing yards on nine carries. It was a moment, though, that wouldn’t have come without the earlier touchdown to Otton, a fourth-round pick from this year’s draft.

For Otton, it was another clutch-time moment in the span of a month. He scored the game-winning touchdown in the closing seconds of Tampa Bay’s thrilling win over Los Angeles on Nov. 6. Despite that, the former Washington Husky doesn’t think of his heroics as anything more than Brady simply trusting everyone on the field and hitting whoever gets open.

“I think he’s gonna trust whoever’s on the field to find the open guy,” Otton said. “But it means a lot to have the trust of the coaches to be out on the field in critical situations, and [I] just want to keep trying to earn that trust.”

Otton may chalk it up to Brady just finding the open receiver, but it’s no coincidence that he’s been on the receiving end of two key touchdowns in the Bucs’ two late comeback wins this season. It’s adding to the rise of the rookie tight end, who now has 32 catches for 309 yards and two touchdowns through the first 11 games of his career.

Bucs TE Cade Otton – Photo by: USA Today

“It’s just the self-belief that you’re gonna make the play when it comes to you,” Otton said. “It’s huge that Tom just goes to me in those situations. I don’t think he’s necessarily picking me out, but he trusts everyone on the field. He’s gonna throw it to the open guy and trust them to do their job, and I’m just doing my best to do it in those situations.”

Someone who is used to seeing looks from Brady in crunch time is Evans, who gave a lot of credit to the two rookies for their contributions in the Bucs’ win over the Saints.

“They’re really great players, really great young men,” Evans said. “And they help us win. That’s why they’re in there.”

Otton takes pride in the rookie class and the impact it has made on the Bucs through the first 12 games of the season. Between him and White, as well as punter Jake Camarda, the 2022 class is off to a great start for Tampa Bay.

“It’s so fun, going through rookie camp [and] training camp with my fellow rookies and just seeing them help our team and grow,” Otton said. “Guys on the practice squad, too. I love this rookie class and how we’ve helped the team. We’ve just got to keep going.”