Despite a slow start to the game for Tom Brady and his offense, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) managed to defeat the New Orleans Saints (1-1) 20-10.
Brady has had quite a bit of success since arriving in Tampa Bay, but games against the Saints have always been a pain. The Bucs earn their first regular-season victory over the Saints since 2018. Brady was 0-4 against the Saints in two seasons in Florida.
The veteran Bucs quarterback was shut out in the first half, but was able to get past the Saints defense in the second half of the game. Brady joined Breshad Perriman for 28 yards to break a 3-3 tie.
Brady’s defense then acted up. Mike Edwards intercepted Jameis Winston’s pass and returned the ball 68 yards for the touchdown. This big defensive play allowed the Bucs to take a comfortable 20-3 lead.
The Saints tried to come back into the game late in the fourth quarter. Michael Thomas scored his third touchdown of the season to close the gap to 10 points. The Saints ran out of time, however, and the Bucs were able to relish a second win in as many games this season.
Brady finished the game with just 190 yards through the air. Winston was the victim of three interceptions.
The match was also marked by a violent altercation between the two teams. After seeing one of his passes go unused on third down in the fourth quarter, Brady garlanded Lattimore. Running back Leonard Fournette then entered the fray and shoved the star cornerback for the Saints. Lattimore responded by shoving Fournette, and Evans rushed in and sent Lattimore to the ground – much like he did in a 2017 game between those teams.
Evans was ejected, like five seasons ago. But this time, Lattimore was too.
Brady spots Perriman in the end zone
Lattimore’s expulsion and Paulson Adebo’s absence with an ankle injury left the Saints without their top two cornerbacks. Brady didn’t ask for more.
On the Buccaneers’ next possession (2-0), Brady led to the Saints 28-yard line and then found Perriman deep in the end zone to give the Florida club a 10-3 lead. .
The Buccaneers defense then snuffed out the Saints’ comeback attempt by intercepting three passes from Jameis Winston in the final 12 minutes.
Jamel Dean made the first two interceptions, including one on the goal line for rookie Chris Olave. Minutes later, safety Mike Edwards returned a 68-yard interception to score a major that made it 20-3.
Brady found takers on 18 of 34 passes for 190 yards.
An interception that is expensive for the Saints!
Winston, who had been restricted to practice with a back injury, completed 25 of 40 passes for 236 yards gained. He also made a touchdown pass late in the game to Michael Thomas.
The Buccaneers scored their first points with 3:09 left in the third quarter when Ryan Succop made a 47-yard field goal. He tied the game at 3-3.
The Saints (1-1) scored a goal on their first possession of the game.
This lead was maintained throughout a first half during which the Buccaneers lacked opportunism.
Adding to Brady’s troubles, Fournette was unable to get the missing yard on a fourth down that would have allowed the Buccaneers to secure the first play at the Saints’ goal gate.
The Buccaneers offensive line has once again been hit by bad luck. Tackle Josh Wells, replacing starter Donovan Smith, left the game in the second quarter with a leg injury. Defensive lineman Akiem Hicks also had to leave the game.
Colts humiliated by Jaguars
The Indianapolis Colts (0-2) were humiliated 24-0 by the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1). Matt Ryan had a terrible game falling victim to three interceptions.
The Jaguars defense had a big game. They were able to make five quarterback sacks off Ryan. Star running back Jonathan Tayor was limited to just 54 rushing yards.
Trevor Lawrence had a good game after a difficult first week. He completed two touchdown passes to Christian Kirk and had 235 passing yards.
James Robinson once again led the Jags’ ground attack. He got 64 yards on 23 rushing attempts and scored a touchdown on a 37-yard run.
The Jets save themselves with the victory in Cleveland
Joe Flacco completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson with 22 seconds left to allow the New York Jets (1-1) to save themselves with a 31-30 victory over the Cleveland Browns (1-1 ).
Flacco had a big game. In his second start of the season, the 37-year-old veteran threw four touchdown passes, including two to Wilson, in addition to collecting 307 passing yards. The rookie receiver had his best game in the NFL with eight receptions and 102 yards.
Wilson scores his second touchdown and the Jets have the upper hand over the Browns
Jacoby Brissett was unable to keep pace with Flacco. He had 229 yards and was the victim of an interception.
Nick Chubb sounded the charge for the Browns. The running back found the end zone three times and rushed for 87 yards.
Amari Cooper was Brissett’s favorite weapon in the loss. He caught nine balls for 101 yards and scored his first touchdown in a Browns uniform.
Wilson taunts Browns after first NFL touchdown
Pats rebound past Steelers
Mac Jones threw for 253 yards and a touchdown as the New England Patriots beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-14 on Sunday.
The Patriots (1-1) haven’t lost consecutive games to start a season since 2001. They capitalized on a handful of errors from the Steelers (1-1), including a fumbled punt in the third quarter by ex-Patriot Gunner Olszewski who set up a two-yard touchdown by Damien Harris. This gave New England an 11-point lead which they did not relinquish.
Jones went 21 for 35, including a 44-yard touchdown pass to a leaping Nelson Agholor late in the first half. Jones, who had back spasms last week against Miami and missed practice time this week due to illness, also threw an interception on a lob that was easily caught by safety Minkah Fitzpatrick . The sophomore quarterback narrowly avoided a second interception in the third quarter when Cam Sutton dropped a pass that hit him squarely in the hands, one of the few chances the Steelers missed.
Harris rushed for 71 yards, most of it coming on a run-in situation in the final minutes that allowed New England to stay away.
Mitch Trubisky threw for 168 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Steelers, whose offense struggled for long stretches as it struggled to find rhythm.
Trubisky found Pat Freiermuth for a 7-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter to bring the Steelers within three and briefly quiet the chants of fans asking for rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett.
First 2-0 start since 2016 for the Giants
Graham Gano made a 56-yard field goal with 3:34 left and the New York Giants (2-0) beat the Carolina Panthers (0-2) 19-16, giving New York its first start of 2-0 since 2016.
Baker Mayfield’s outfit with the Panthers does not start as desired; the Panthers begin their season with two losses and suffer a ninth straight loss.
Gano was the best player for the Giants in this game. He also converted field goals of 52.36 and 33 yards in that game. Insatiated with the performance of their proteges, Giants fans booed the New York players at the half, when America was 6-6.
Mayfield threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to DJ Moore in that duel. The 2018 first overall pick had just 145 passing yards and completed just 14 of 29 passing attempts.
Saquon Barkley once again did well on the ground with gains of 72 yards.
St-Brown and the Lions shine in Washington
Jared Goff threw two of his four touchdown passes to Amon-Ra St. Brown, lifting the Detroit Lions to a 36-27 victory over Washington on Sunday.
Aidan Hutchinson had three sacks in the first half to help the Lions (1-1) lead 22-0 at halftime, and Will Harris had a second-half interception to stop the Commanders (1-1) as they tried to get back in the score.
Washington made adjustments to give Carson Wentz more time in the second half. The quarterback took advantage, bringing his team within seven points in the third quarter with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Curtis Samuel, a 20-yard pass to Logan Thomas and a 2-point conversion to rookie Jahan Dotson .
Detroit restored its cushion when Goff converted a third down by completing a pass under pressure to D’Andre Swift, who slid to the turf before regaining her footing and cutting down the center for a 22-yard touchdown.
Washington went for the shot on fourth-and-one at their 27-line on the ensuing possession and Terry McLaurin paid for the decision with a seven-yard gain. The receiver converted a third down later on the streak with a 17-yard gain that helped set up Antonio Gibson’s one-yard run for the touchdown.
Commanders coach Ron Rivera went for a 2-point convert and Wentz was intercepted, allowing Detroit to hold an eight-point lead.
In the victory Equanimeous St. Brown became the first player in league history to play six straight games with at least eight catches and a touchdown. The sophomore tied an NFL record with 8+ catches in eight straight games.
