East Rutherford, NJ – Tom Brady has previously been uncomfortable against the New York Giants. Especially in Super Bowl losses.
He did not find his Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 25-23 victory on Monday night too artistic. At least for Star Quarterback, it’s a good ending.
“We clearly didn’t play the way we were capable of, but it was good to win,” Brady said.
Lacking much of the game, Brady did his best in the second half. He threw touchdown passes to Rob Grankowski and Mike Evans, giving him another career lead on the TD Troll.
Saints Drew Breeze overtook Brady on Sunday, but are now back with a six-time Super Bowl champ 561. Evans diving provided 8-yard catch go-forward points.
But Tampa Bay (6-2) had to sweat it out. Daniel Jones drove New York (1-7) 70 yards in 13 plays with 28 seconds left for a 19-yard touchdown with the Golden Tate. The 2-point exchange failed as authorities chose a flag for defensive pass intervention.
“You never apologize for winning,” Bucks coach Bruce Arians said. “We created calculated plays.”
Brady and Gronkowski had previously met for a 3-yard scoring pass, on which Gronk held the ball longer. It finished second behind the old New England combination TD 93, 21 behind Peyton Manning and Mart Harrison of the Colts.
Unable to connect with Evans in a 2-point exchange, Brady still has bucks at 15-14.
After New York took the lead on Graham Gano’s 33-yard field goal, Daniel Jones cleverly dismissed Sean Murphy-Bunting at Tampa 33. It was the venue for the 66-yard drive to Touchdown. By Evans.
Jones had two expensive options that helped reject New York’s strong defense effort.
“The interruptions are too big for us,” Brady said.
“Young quarterback, he’s still trying to do a lot more,” Arians added.
First-year Giants coach Joe Judge, who won three Super Bowls with Brady in New England, did not disappoint the team record on its schedule.
“I see a lot of improvement, our guys are getting better day by day,” the judge said. “We have a good foundation. I see a major part of the developing team. ”
New York got an early break – and soon after the touchdown – when Brady’s pass was hit by Dalvin Tomlinson and caught by Bucks running back Ronald Jones. He stumbled when Blake Martinez and Rookie Dorne Holmes recovered at Tampa Bay 12.
Dion Lewis caught the sliding in the third down end zone corner for a 7-3 lead.
Ronald Jones is the other half non-factor as Leonard Fournet gets a lot of action.
The Giants’ next scoring drive was a model of efficiency, including two gains at 11 yards, 12 yards, 14 yards and 17 yards run by Wayne Galman. He finished the 10-play series with a score of 2 and a 77-yard lead of 14 games.
Brady, as has been his practice for two decades, guided his team to the score, but it was only the second of Ryan Sukap’s four field goals, 40 yards and half seconds left. Sukap had a 37-yard field goal in the opening drive of the game, a 43-yard set by Carlton Davis’ interception early in the third quarter, and a 38-yard lead of 3:41. Decisive points.
Soon after Sukap made 14-9, Gronkowski was in the end zone – only to see Daniel Jones connect with his tight end Evan Engram for a 30-yard game. It was Gano’s 33-yard kick and a 17-15 New York lead into the fourth period.
But it’s usually Brady time.
Statistics pack
Brady scored 28 for 40 off 279 yards, while Jones scored 25 for 41 off 256 yards. … Evans led Tampa Bay with five catches for 55 yards, and Gronkowski was injured with four receptions for 41 yards. … Former Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul had a stretch in his five tackles … Giants WR Sterling Shepherd had eight receptions for 74 yards.
Throwback
The Giants wore the 1990 Super Bowl title team uniforms, white jerseys and pants with blue and red stripes, while the Giants wore a helmet decollete instead of the familiar “ny” and white face masks in place of the traditional gray.
Next
Buccaneers: Host Saints are fighting for the top spot in the NFC South. New Orleans beat Tampa Bay 34-23 in the season opener.
Giants: Next Sunday at Washington.
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