Sleepwalking through the first half during their Monday Night matinee with the Giants, Tom Brady and the Buccaneers found themselves down 14-6 heading into halftime. Able to force him to hold the ball in the pocket early on in the game, the Giants looked well on their way to handing Tampa Bay their third loss of the season.
Doing what he does best in the second half, Brady was able to bring the Buccaneers offense to life, finding wide receiver Mike Evans and tight end Rob Gronkowski for scores. After a late rally attempt by Daniel Jones and the Giants offense would ultimately end up falling short, Bruce Arians group would hold onto survive a scare in the meadowlands, with a 25-23 victory.
Receiving the ball first in this one, Brady and the Buccaneers offense looked to continue their recent success over the past few weeks. Using a nineteen-yard pass play to wide receiver Scott Miller to kickstart the possession, Tamp Bay would find itself deep inside Giants territory. Ultimately stalling out after an incomplete pass to tight end Jaydon Mickens, the team would settle for a field goal to take an early 3-0 lead. Looking to keep pace in the miserable NFC East, New York would find the end zone late in the first quarter.
Taking advantage of a fumble by Buccaneers running back Ronald Jones, a seven-yard touchdown reception by Giants running back Dion Lewis would give his team the lead at 7-3. Following back to back Buccaneer’s punts, Daniel Jones and the New York offense would look to add to their point total. Orchestrating a ten-play 77-yard drive, a two-yard touchdown plunge by Wayne Gallman gave the Giants a commanding 14-3 lead with 1:46 to play in the opening half. Trying to cut into the deficit before the break, Brady would find three different receivers to set up a Ryan Succop 40 yard field goal to pull his team within a score at the game’s intermission.
Looking to build on one of their best halves of football this season, turnovers would cost the Giants once again. Dropping back on just the second play of the half, Jones’s pass would be intercepted by Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis. Unable to turn the interception into seven points, an incompletion on third and three inside the New York 25 yard line would force the team to settle for their third field goal of the day.
Able to force a three and out on the Giant’s next possession, Brady and the Tampa Bay offense were finally able to find the end zone. Finding Gronkowski twice on the possession, a three-yard score by the longtime Patriots tight end would give his team the lead once again at 15-14. Not going away on this night, Joe Judge’s team would regain the lead late in the third quarter. Benefitting off three catches by tight end Evan Engram, a 33-yard field goal by kicker Graham Gano would flip the lead back to 17-15 Giants heading into the final quarter.
After a Tampa Bay punt to begin the last 15 minutes of play, a crucial mistake would end up costing the Giants once again. After becoming pressured by Buccaneer’s pass rusher Shaquil Barrett, Jones’s ill-advised throw would be intercepted by Sean Murphy Bunting to keep Tampa Bay within a score. Making the Giants pay off the turnover, Brady’s brilliance would be on display on national tv once again. Taking just seven plays and three minutes and thirteen seconds off the clock, a seven-yard touchdown reception by Mike Evans would regain Tampa Bay’s lead at 22-17.
After adding a late field goal to extend their margin, the stage would become set for Jones to play hero for New York. Needing a touchdown and a two-point conversion to force overtime, the former first-round pick would convert two fourth downs on the drive. Capping off the drive with a 19-yard touchdown strike to Golden Tate, the team would be set up with a game-tying two-point conversion try. Trying to squeeze the ball into running back Dion Lewis, the attempt would ultimately fall short, allowing Tampa Bay to survive.
Highlights
Blake Martinez forces the fumble! @Giants take over in the red zone.
📺: #TBvsNYG on ESPN
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/UfeikXPSJW pic.twitter.com/B9TyeG13Wg— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2020
.@DionLewisRB makes an impressive sliding grab for the @Giants TD! #TogetherBlue
📺: #TBvsNYG on ESPN
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/UfeikXPSJW pic.twitter.com/S2dlCf9RGW— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2020
.@WayneGallman powers into the end zone! @Giants open a 14-3 lead. #TogetherBlue
📺: #TBvsNYG on ESPN
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/UfeikXPSJW pic.twitter.com/86Jg67sYjD— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2020
.@TomBrady to @RobGronkowski for the 93rd time in their careers.@Buccaneers take the lead! #GoBucs
📺: #TBvsNYG on ESPN
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/UfeikXPSJW pic.twitter.com/PR4HbQoI5G— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2020
.@MikeEvans13_ extends and secures the TD catch!@Buccaneers take a 22-17 lead with 9:02 remaining. #GoBucs
📺: #TBvsNYG on ESPN
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/UfeikXPSJW pic.twitter.com/Nu42qhIaHM— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2020
Jones to Tate! @Giants TD!
📺: #TBvsNYG on ESPN
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/UfeikXPSJW pic.twitter.com/0Ir9IkekDw— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2020
Looking to get back in the win column after a heartbreaking finish, the Giants travel to FedEx Field next Sunday to battle the Washington Football team. With both teams still alive in the NFC East, this will be one of the most intriguing matchups of the early slate of games. Trying to maintain pace with the NFC leading Seattle Seahawks, the Buccaneers return home for a divisional class with the New Orleans Saints on Sunday Night Football. Losers of their previous matchup during week one of the season, expect Tom Brady and company to be extra motivated in this one as they maintain just a single game lead on the Saints for the NFC South crown.
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