(Atlanta) Tom Brady threw four touchdown passes and for 368 yards on the fly, leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 30-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
The Buccaneers (9-3) won their third straight game and extended their lead atop the National Association’s Southern Section to four games. The Falcons, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints are all 5-7 with five games to go.
Brady brought his career record against the Falcons to 10-0, including four consecutive wins in the Buccaneers uniform.
The 44-year-old veteran quarterback completed 38 of his 51 assists, including two in the end zone to Rob Gronkowski. The prolific duo now have 90 touchdowns this season, leading Phillip Rivers and Antonio Gates to second in NFL history. Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison are far ahead, with 112 touchdown passes.
Brady recovered after being intercepted by defensive lineman Marlon Davidson. The latter brought the ball into the end zone to reduce the Buccaneers’ lead to 20-17 at halftime.
The Tampa Bay squad opened the game by throwing the ball. For the first time since 2004, she attempted a pass in her first 13 games of the meeting.
Brady completed 11 passes during that offensive streak, including a six-yard pass to Leonard Fournette on a fourth down. The two players once again combined their efforts for a three-yard major a few plays later.
The Falcons responded with a touchdown, but they did the majority of their damage on the ground. Cordarrelle Patterson escaped 39 yards before Mike Davis hit a 17-yard major.
The Buccaneers finally ran with the ball on their next possession, but Brady resumed his own through the air. He joined Chris Godwin for a 25-yard game and Mike Evans for a 36-yard gain. Those games set the table for a three-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Brate.
The Falcons missed an opportunity to take the lead when they had to settle for a 21-yard field goal from Younghoe Koo after wasting a first down gate.
Brady’s 27-yard pass to Gronkowski put the Buccaneers on the verge of distance, but Davidson gave the Falcons hope with his defensive touchdown.
This hope did not continue in the second half. Quarterback Matt Ryan was sacked five times and was fined for deliberately throwing the ball away. Russell Gage also lost a fumble in Buccaneers territory.