The Buccaneers hadn't led since the second quarter against the Saints on "Monday Night Football," but after the clock hit triple zeroes, they had somehow managed to eke out a 17-16 victory, courtesy of two fourth-quarter touchdown drives led by Tom Brady.
A team that had managed to largely contain Brady since he departed New England for Tampa fell victim to the GOAT as it blew a 16-3 lead in the final three minutes, a collapse punctuated by on-field mistakes and coaching missteps.
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After the game, Brady took the podium for his press conference in high spirits, and he made a classic joke for when things go right in the most wrong way possible: "Just like we drew it up."
"Just like we drew it up." 😭
— 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 (@sportingnews) December 6, 2022
🎥: @Buccaneerspic.twitter.com/07ba6Kg0N7
For the first 57 or so minutes Monday, Brady experienced yet another maddening game against Dennis Allen's Saints. He finished 36 of 54 for 281 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. He was visibly frustrated at times, and at one point he was seen yelling on the sideline, as he is wont to do while facing Allen's defense.
Tom Brady is not having a good night. Letting it all out on the sideline.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 6, 2022
(🎥 @cjzero) pic.twitter.com/UUcqgIGsH6
But on the last two drives, the Saints defense appeared to loosen up. And, as great quarterbacks do, Brady took advantage. He led the Buccaneers on drives of 10 and 11 plays (for 91 and 63 yards, respectively).
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It took the Buccaneers until 59:57 into the game to do it, but they reclaimed the lead. Just like they drew it up.
"Great route by Rashaad (White)," Brady said of the touchdown pass that tied the game 16-16 with three seconds to play. Ryan Succop's PAT gave Tampa Bay the lead. "Great catch. (Offensive coordinator) Byron (Leftwich) made a great call."
Brady also commented on the Chris Godwin touchdown reception earlier in the drive that was nullified by a holding penalty, saying he felt he got rid of the ball in "half a second."
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Brady and the Buccaneers are hardly having the season they expected, and this game can be viewed as a microcosm of it. But they are 6-6 and leading the lowly NFC South by 1.5 games. If they're able to turn things around, maybe Brady will be saying things went "just like we drew them up" at the end of the year, too.