Tampa Bay erases 16-3 deficit with two touchdowns in the final 3:03.
— Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stormed back to take the lead with three seconds remaining and defeat the New Orleans Saints 17-16 on «Monday Night Football.»
The Bucs overcame the 16-3 deficit to score two touchdowns in the final 3:03 and swept the season series against their NFC South rival.
In a complete role reversal from last week — when the Cleveland Browns trailed nearly all game and came back to defeat the Buccaneers in overtime — the Bucs (6-6) overcame a disastrous deficit to score two late touchdowns to defeat the Saints.
Quarterback Tom Brady connected with rookie tight end Cade Otton for a 1-yard touchdown to cut the Saints’ lead to 16-10, and then on the next possession completed two passes to Julio Jones, Chris Godwin and Scotty Miller to go with a 10-yard run from Leonard Fournette.
A holding call on left tackle Donovan Smith wiped out a Godwin touchdown in the back of the end zone, but Brady connected with running back Rachaad White for the 6-yard game winner. It was Brady’s 44th career fourth-quarter comeback, breaking Peyton Manning’s record.
QB breakdown: Without All-Pro right tackle Tristan Wirfs, Brady struggled with not only the deep ball but also the screen game. He also failed to account for linebacker Demario Davis dropping into coverage, and he was picked off on a pass intended for Russell Gage that set up a 38-yard field goal just before halftime. While it was just Brady’s third interception all season, it was his second time failing to account for a linebacker in coverage. Of course, none of that mattered when Brady eventually led the two scoring drives to clinch the victory.
Troubling trend: The red zone continues to be an issue — if they can even get down there. And the franchise’s leading receiver, Mike Evans, who was targeted nine times and mustered just two catches last week, didn’t even see his number called until 1:26 to go in the first half despite cornerback Marshon Lattimore being inactive.
