LAS VEGAS- Tampa Bay Lightning are Stanley Cup champions. Tampa Bay Rowdies are in the United Soccer League championship game. Tampa Bay Rays are in the World Series. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are on top of the NFC South and everything seems to be going just like the doctor ordered.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one of the hottest teams in the NFL and Sunday was another example of why they could be a Super Bowl contender. The Buccaneers were behind 369 yards, four touchdowns from quarterback Tom Brady, they were able to get by the Las Vegas Raiders 45-20 at Allegiant Stadium. With the win, the Buccaneers are now 5-2 on the season heading into Monday Night Football versus the New York Giants.
A three-and-out to start the game for Tampa Bay’s offense didn’t look promising, as Las Vegas (3-3) followed it up with a scoring drive to go up 7-0 initially. The Buccaneers answered back with a touchdown drive of their own, capped off with a 1-yard sneak by Brady. After a Raiders’ 42-yard field goal put Las Vegas up 10-7, Tampa Bay struck again and this time the all too familiar connection between Brady and Rob Gronkowski occurred, a 5-yard touchdown pass on a back-shoulder throw.
Up 14-10 and with the ball heading into halftime, Tampa Bay (5-2) remained aggressive offensively and went to the air, as Brady connected with speedy wideout Scotty Miller on a 33-yard touchdown to put the Buccaneers up 21-10 heading into intermission. Though it looked like Las Vegas might get themselves back into the game, Tampa Bay never relinquished control of the lead back to the Raiders in the second half.
The closest Las Vegas would get within Tampa Bay was 24-20 early in the fourth quarter, but that’s when Brady and the offensive put their proverbial foot on the gas pedal and never looked back. A touchdown run by Ronald Jones followed up with scoring throws to Chris Godwin and rookie Tyler Johnson helped put the game well out of reach. Brady is second in the NFL in touchdowns with 18 and seventh in yards at 1,910.
Tampa Bay now shifts its focus on the New York Giants, who are 1-6 on the season. The Giants are coming off a 22-21 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Andy Villamarzo can be reached at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @avillamarzo.
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Andy Villamarzo Phone- 727.946.5950 Email- [email protected] Twitter- @avillamarzo
