Tom Brady, Bucs escape with close victory over Patriots

It was far from pretty but Tom Brady broke an NFL record and beat New England on the same night

Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers escaped with a win on the road against the New England Patriots on Sunday night, 19-17.

Mac Jones led the Patriots down the field to set up Nick Folk for a potential go-ahead 57-yard field goal in the pouring rain. However, Folk’s kick would doink off the uprights and fall to the ground. Brady and the Bucs would go into the victory formation to seal the deal on their next possession.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) calls out a play at the line of scrimmage during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Tampa Bay kicker Ryan Succop hit a 48-yard field goal with 1:57 left to give Tampa Bay the lead and eventually the win.

Brady and Bill Belichick would congratulate each other at the end of the game. The former Patriots quarterback was greeted by plenty of ex-teammates on the field after the game.

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, bottom, is sacked by Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (9) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

The entire storyline going into the week was Brady vs. Belichick and who would get the better of who. But on a rainy and sloppy night on the field, Tampa Bay’s victory wasn’t exactly convincing. The Buccaneers were down 7-6 at halftime and really needed to dig deep to get into the game.

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New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (85) celebrates after his touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Brady finished 22-for-43 with 269 passing yards. He didn’t have a touchdown pass.

Ronald Jones II made an appearance in the game and score a crucial touchdown in the third quarter to have the Buccaneers take the lead. Jones only ran the ball six times and finished with 25 yards. Leonard Fournette led the way with 91 yards on 20 carries. He also had three catches for 47 yards.

Brady was driving down for a touchdown in the final minutes but Antonio Brown lost one pass in the lights and dropped another one as he slid into the end zone. The Bucs settled for the field goal.

Brown finished with seven catches for 63 yards. Mike Evans led the team with seven catches for 75 yards. Chris Godwin finished with three catches for 55 yards.

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, left, celebrates after his touchdown pass to tight end Hunter Henry (85) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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Jones kept his cool and showed incredible poise down the stretch. He finished with 31-for-40 with 275 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Jakobi Meyers had eight catches for 70 yards and was also 2-for-2 passing with 45 yards. Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith each had a touchdown pass.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, right, is sacked by New England Patriots outside linebacker Matt Judon, left, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. () (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Oct 3, 2021; Foxboro, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) celebrates a touchdown by tight end Hunter Henry (not pictured) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter at Gillette Stadium. (Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports)

Brady became the fourth quarterback to beat all 32 NFL teams. He joined a club that already included Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and Drew Brees.

Brady also eclipsed Brees’ mark for most passing yards in NFL history. He now sits on the top of the list with 80,560. Brees finished his career with 80,358.

The matchup on Sunday night between the Bucs and Patriots marked Brady's return to New England after leaving for Tampa Bay last offseason. The future Hall of Fame quarterback spent 20 years in New England and won six Super Bowls with the franchise.

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Tampa Bay improved to 3-1 on the year and New England fell to 1-3.

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