After completely shocking the New Orleans Saints with another successful drive in the game, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterback Tom Brady fixed his unzipped jacket as he entered the press conference room and said the only thing you’d expect him to say at this point in his illustrious career.
“Just as we drew it,” Brady said, smiling To a laughing audience of reporters.
The mixture of emotions from Brady throughout the game — yelling on the sidelines in frustration at the way the offense was fading to celebrate Rashad White’s game-winning touchdown to seal a stunning 17-6 win — was an edge-of-your-seat kind of thing.
Rachaad White #29 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scores against Demario Davis #56 of the New Orleans Saints late in the fourth quarter during the game at Raymond James Stadium on December 5, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the New Orleans Saints, 17 to 16.
(Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
But after watching that same movie played out for years, it’s almost predictable at this point when Brady will have enough time in the game to win it if the outcome suggests a chance.
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The score was 16-3 going into the fourth quarter, and Brady has only won a game by dropping 13 or more points in the fourth once in his career. This was Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons that led to an overtime win with New England Patriots.
No additional work was required for this one. Instead, Brady only needed to find the end zone for the first time of the game as rookie tight end Cady Otton pulled in one GOAT bootleg pass to bring the Bucs within six points.
pressure feeling, New Orleans Needing a few first touchdowns to snow the game, the Bucs had all three timeouts on the sidelines.
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Instead, Andy Dalton and his group went three-and-out, burning only two Pirates timeouts and the two-minute warning not yet reached, giving Brady two timeouts and more than enough time to win the game with a touchdown and a successful extra point.
At that point in the game, yeah, it’s like Brady has drawn it many times before. He dissected the Saints’ defense with short methodical passes to let his receivers slip out of bounds.
Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stretches before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium on December 5, 2022, in Tampa, Florida.
(Kevin Sabitos/Getty Images)
And when he needed that big play, he found Julio Jones, who caught a pass on a massive jump that put the Bucks at the Saints’ five-yard line.
Then, Brady found Chris Goodwin for what could have been the game-winning touchdown left Donovan Smith, the NFL’s most punished offensive lineman this season, and was not called to wait.
However, Brady found Godwin again for a nine-yard touchdown run to give the Bucs a chance from the Saints’ six-yard line.
That’s when Brady waited for White to win linebacker Demario Davis and stretched his body into the end zone. Ryan Succop’s extra point was good and Brady added his 44 game winning runs to his future Hall of Fame resume.
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The season is not set out the way Brady would like it to at this point, with Tampa Bay picking up only their sixth win of the season.
But the Bucs sit atop a terrible NFC South division, separating themselves a bit from the pack with this win.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) touches down again for a pass against the New Orleans Saints in the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium.
(Nathan Ray Sibeck-USA Today Sports)
So, while there wasn’t much smiling or joking during most of this game, all that mattered was winning — something Brady was used to doing in times of crisis.
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Brady finished the game with 281 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on 36 of 54 passes.
“Student. Incurable problem solver. Amateur baconaholic. Introvert. Infuriatingly humble music fanatic.”