TB’s Homecoming Win

The first battle between Bill Belichick and Tom Brady goes to the quarterback. With a minute remaining in the game, kicker Nick Folk’s 56-yard field goal attempt through the New England rain was no good, clinching the Buccaneers a 19-17 victory in Brady’s first trip back to Gillette Stadium since leaving the organization as a free agent in the spring of 2020. 

After trailing by one with 4:34 to play in the game, Brady was able to move the Buccaneers offense 45 yards down the field to set up a Ryan Succop field goal to give Tampa Bay the edge. At that point, Bruce Arians’ defense was able to fend off New England’s offense from setting up a more manageable field goal attempt with the clock ticking under a minute. Brady finished his night completing 22 of his 43 throws for 269 yards. 

While the Buccaneers were able to come out on top, it was a valiant effort by the Patriots, especially by rookie quarterback Mac Jones, who at one point completed 19 straight passes. Jones finished 31 of 40 passing for 275, two touchdowns and an interception.  

Prior to the game, Brady was honored with a one-minute video tribute by the Patriots, highlighting his many accomplishments with the franchise. The Gillette Stadium video board also recognized when Brady surpassed Drew Brees to become the NFL’s all-time leading passer early in the first quarter with a pass to Mike Evans. 

The Patriots made just enough mistakes to give them an opening and they capitalized on it. Jones threw an interception. J.J. Taylor lost a fumble. Special teams ace Matthew Slater committed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that nullified a muffed punt and fumble recovery. Facing 14-13 and 17-16 deficits in the fourth quarter, Brady engineered back-to-back field goal drives that totaled 22 plays, 113 yards, and took a combined 9 minutes and 36 seconds off the clock. In the biggest moment of the game, Tampa’s star defender Lavonte David made a huge play, and forced the Patriots into a tough decision of whether to go for it on fourth-and-3 just inside the 40-yard line, or kick a 56-yard field goal. They chose the latter, and the Football Gods smiled on the Buccaneers this time around.