TAMPA- Tom Brady headed into the game with a personal record of 32 wins and 3 losses against the Buffalo Bills as a starting quarterback. There’s been no signal-caller who’s played quite as well versus the AFC East Club.
Sunday evening was just another example of Brady displaying his clutch ability when it seems like he might be down and out. The 44-year old threw his 700th touchdown pass on a game-winning 58-yard touchdown throw to wide receiver Breshard Perriman in a 33-27 overtime victory for Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers improved to 10-3 on the season and a win next week over the New Orleans Saints would wrap up an NFC South division championship.
What appeared to be a potential snoozer, turned into a game for the history books on many levels. Yes, Brady got to keep the 700th touchdown throw of his career without having to trade-off with any fans in stands, but it came with dramatics at the very end. Tampa Bay got off to a fast start like they usually have when running back Leonard Fournette broke loose for a 47-yard touchdown run.
After a Ryan Succop field goal put the Buccaneers up 10-0, Brady and the bunch scored a couple more touchdowns on a nifty throw into the corner to wide receiver Mike Evans and then a 1-yard sneak by Brady himself. Buffalo only had a field goal make and found themselves down 24-3 heading into halftime, but the Bills would come roaring back to make it a game.
In the second half, Tampa Bay’s defense played back a lot and Buffalo Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen obliged as he ended the game rushing for 106 yards. Though Allen found it tough to make passing plays in the opening half, he didn’t have much difficulty in the second, finishing the game completing 36-of-54 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.
A controversial no-call in the waning seconds of the game, with Tampa Bay cornerback Carlton Davis covering Buffalo’s Stefon Diggs in the end zone with contact on both sides, led to a game-tying field goal to send the contest into extra time. It would be there that Brady reached deep down to lead Tampa Bay to win No. 10, as he targeted Perriman for the first time all day and connected for the go-ahead score. Brady finished 31-of-46 passing for 363 yards and two touchdowns.
Andy Villamarzo can be reached at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @avillamarzo.
