(New Orleans) Tom Brady sparked a scrum and then spotted Breshad Perriman in the end zone to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 20-10 win over the New Orleans Saints, sunday.
Posted at 5:40 p.m.
The scuffle led to the ejection of Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore and Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans.
Brady, who had lost his last four regular season games to the Saints, again struggled for the first three quarters of the game against a National Conference South rival.
A visibly frustrated Brady was caught on camera throwing a tablet at the team bench.
“It was a tough game all the way,” Brady admitted. They are a very good team, very well trained, a team against which we have a lot of difficulty. So it feels good to win. »
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.
“It was an emotional duel,” Brady said bluntly. Getting better at execution has helped everyone. I think the defense played well again and the offensive line fought well. »
Evans was ejected, like five seasons ago. But this time, Lattimore was too.
“It hurts to lose your best cornerback,” defensive end Cameron Jordan said. Guys go after him because they know he’s one of the best cornerbacks in the league. »
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.
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.