Tom Brady’s return to New England with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drew a lot of attention, including for boos when the Bucs’ offense took the field and for the moment where Brady surpassed Drew Brees’ passing record. In the end, though, Brady and the Bucs bested the Patriots, winning 19-17. The final notable play there was a go-ahead field goal try from New England’s Nick Folk with 56 seconds left, from 56 yards away, and that hit the upright:
A very loud DOINK. Bucs beat the Pats on SNF. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/fkvtrceC12
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 4, 2021
That came shortly after the Buccaneers’ Ryan Succop hit a 48-yard field goal just ahead of the two-minute warning:
The @Buccaneers get the FG to take the lead at the 2-minute warning! 🚨#GoBucs | #TheReturn
📺 NBC and @peacockTV pic.twitter.com/m8aNsBBzw7
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) October 4, 2021
On the night, Brady completed 22 passes on 43 attempts for 269 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Meanwhile, Mac Jones completed 31 of 40 attempts for the Patriots for 275 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. But Brady’s team came out with the win, helped by a strong rushing showing from Leonard Fournette (20 carries for 91 yards) and some good work defensively. And in the end, they managed to make their late goal shorter than the Patriots’ one, and they managed to hit it.
[NFL.com; photo from Paul Rutherford/USA Today Sports]
