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New England Patriots

New England Patriots

New England Patriots

Final: Patriots fall to Bucs 19-17 in Brady’s return

By Matt Dolloff
L-R: New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady. (Maddie Meyer/Harry How, Getty Images)

The night has finally arrived for Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. The former partners will do battle against each other as opponents for the first time in their careers Sunday night, as Belichick’s Patriots take on Brady’s Buccaneers at Gillette Stadium.

Keep checking back and hammering that “refresh” button before, during, and after the game as we deliver live updates, highlights, and analysis from the stadium. There should be plenty to talk about and cover throughout Sunday night, including pre-game updates.

  • FINAL: Buccaneers 19, Patriots 17.

    In the end, the Patriots came up just short in a game where few felt they had a real chance to win. If they were just a few yards closer for Nick Folk, perhaps the kicker makes the kick of his life.

    All in all, a valiant effort for Mac Jones, who was 31-of-40 for 275 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. The defense had their share of stops and limited the Bucs to just 19 points, but a pass interference call on Kyle Van Noy helped move the Bucs 31 yards downfield for the eventual game-winning field goal by Ryan Succop.

    The Patriots can come out of this game saying they gave the GOAT their best shot, but they are now 1-3 and in need of a serious turnaround to get into playoff contention for the rest of the season.

  • Q4, 0:55: Nick Folk's field goal no good

    The Patriots couldn’t quite get into good-enough field goal range for Nick Folk. He’s barely no good from 56 yards back, and the Bucs take over. Tom Brady will kneel it out.

  • Q4, 2:00: Bucs take lead back, Pats have one more chance

    The Patriots’ last chance is coming up. Tom Brady and the Bucs do just enough to get into field goal range for Ryan Succop, who hits it from 48 yards to give the Bucs a 19-17 lead.

    Mac Jones and the Patriots take over with a chance for a come-from-behind win. All they’ll need is a field goal…

  • Q4, 4:34: Pats get lead back

    Nick Folk’s field goal attempt is good and the Patriots have the lead back at 17-16.

    Mac Jones nearly threw an interception on a second-down play, but it fell incomplete. The Patriots got into the red zone on the strength of yet another trick play, as Jakobi Meyers threw a 30-yard rainbow to Nelson Agholor.

  • Q4, 7:58: Bucs grab another field goal

    The ensuing Bucs drive after the Patriots’ fourth-quarter touchdown looked like an inevitable touchdown. But once again, the Pats’ red zone defense held and forced another field goal attempt after Tom Brady has to throw it away on third down.

    Ryan Succop’s attempt is good, and the Bucs have the lead back at 16-14.

  • Q4, 14:57: Patriots get the lead back with touchdown

    Mac Jones goes 7-for-7 for 77 yards and a touchdown, throwing it to Jonnu Smith in the end zone to get the lead back for the Patriots. Nick Folk’s extra point is good, and it’s 14-13 Pats.

    The Patriots showed run in “Jumbo” personnel, with guard Mike Onwenu in as an extra tackle. Jones executed a play-action fake and found Smith wide open in the back of the end zone for the score.

    Still way too much football left for anyone in New England to feel comfortable…

  • End Q3: Buccaneers 13, Patriots 7.

    Hold on to your butts. This is really all anyone in New England could have asked for … it’s a close, competitive game into the fourth quarter. The Patriots’ defense has been excellent, considering it took the Bucs almost three full quarters to score a touchdown. The offense has been inconsistent, but they’re on the 1-yard line with a great chance to punch it in to start Q4.

  • Q3, 3:29: Brady, Bucs take back lead with touchdown

    It took them until almost the fourth quarter, but the Bucs have their first touchdown of the game. Ronald Jones runs it in from eight yards out.

    Tom Brady was just 2-of-3 for 20 yards on the drive. Bucs running backs, meanwhile, rushed five times for 26 yards to key the scoring drive.

    Injury Update: The Patriots announced that special teamer Cody Davis is questionable to return with a knee injury.

  • Q3, 7:17: Penalty negates Pats fumble recovery on punt

    Confusing sequence of events that has the fans upset: the Patriots appear to force and recover a fumble on a punt, but a penalty on Matthew Slater for running out of bounds negates it. Since the Patriots recovered the ball, by rule, they replay the punt. Bucs hold onto the ball this time, so Tom Brady has yet another chance to take the lead back.

  • Q3, 9:51: Patriots force another punt

    Facing a third-and-2 against Brady and the Bucs, the Patriots get yet another stop. This time, Deatrich Wise bats down the pass attempt at the line of scrimmage. Mac Jones and the Pats get another chance.

  • Q3, 11:11: Taylor fumbles, Bucs recover

    Patriots running back J.J. Taylor fumbled the ball away on his second touch of the game. After catching a swing pass from Mac Jones, Taylor loses the ball as he gets hit. Richard Sherman recovers the fumble. Tom Brady suddenly has the ball back at the Bucs’ 33-yard line. Giving him a second chance at scoring the first points of the second half is certainly the last thing the Patriots wanted…

  • Q3, 12:46: Penalty wipes out big gain, Bucs punt

    The Bucs’ first drive of the third quarter looked like it was getting off to an explosive start, but a penalty on left tackle Donovan Smith wiped out what would’ve been a huge pass by Tom Brady to Antonio Brown. Pats get a stop to begin the third quarter.

  • HALFTIME: Patriots 7, Buccaneers 6.

    An impressive first half for the Patriots. Outside of one turnover, a few bad penalties, and a handful of coverage breakdowns in the middle of the field, they’ve played a clean, disciplined game and have held the Bucs without a touchdown so far.

    The defense has been admirable, led by the pressure up front by Matt Judon (sack, two tackles). The tackling in the secondary after the catch has been strong, as Jonathan Jones leads the team with seven total tackles.

    Mac Jones, meanwhile, has just the one blemish with a third-down interception that was effectively a punt. The Patriots rookie quarterback is 15-of-20 for 130 yards and a touchdown pass to Hunter Henry to go with the pick. Other than the INT, Jones has kept the dangerous throws to a minimum.

    It goes without saying for Patriots fans who lived through Tom Brady for 20 years … it’s going to take a hell of a lot more good football to actually pull the upset.

  • Q2, 0:13: Brady drives down field, Bucs snag three points

    Tom Brady couldn’t quite get the Bucs into the end zone, but he completed a couple of big plays to get them into field goal range. Brady made two completions for a combined 54 yards to Chris Godwin to help set up Ryan Succop’s field goal. Patriots and Bucs likely to head into halftime with the Pats up 7-6.

  • Q2, 1:49: Brady gets a chance at double-score

    The Patriots completed a double-pass from Jakobi Meyers to Kendrick Bourne on third-and-19, but it’s unfortunately two yards short of the first down. So the Patriots end up punting it back to Tom Brady with halftime looming.

  • Q2, 4:54: Patriots follow up TD with defensive stop

    The Patriots have some momentum. They force a Bucs punt on their first defensive drive after scoring a touchdown. A Matt Judon sack made it third-and-18, and Jalen Mills quickly tackles Chris Godwin to finish off the stop. Mac Jones gets the ball back with a chance to get some late points before halftime.

    Injury updates: Patriots DL Henry Anderson is questionable to return with a chest injury.

  • Q2, 8:28: Patriots go 74 yards in 14 plays for touchdown, take first lead

    The Patriots have the lead midway through the second quarter. Mac Jones hits Hunter Henry for an 11-yard touchdown pass and Nick Folk’s extra point is good to give the Pats a 7-3 lead.

  • Q1, 14:49: Pats get another red zone stop, kick is no good

    The Patriots got another third-down stop in the red zone, as Matt Judon bursts in untouched and Brady has to get rid of the ball. It’s low and incomplete for Leonard Fournette.

    Ryan Succop’s field goal attempt is no good, so it’s still 3-0 Bucs. Patriots take over at the 18.

  • End Q1: Bucs 3, Patriots 0.

    Slow start for both offenses, but the Bucs are threatening to start the second quarter. So far, the Patriots defense has been respectable, considering the lack of pressure on Tom Brady. The offense, meanwhile, can’t get much going and is turning the ball over.

  • Q1, 3:39: Mac Jones intercepted

    Mac Jones has thrown the first interception of the game. It came on a third-and-10 play with a delayed blitz coming in untouched. The pass was intended for Nelson Agholor deep down the field, and tipped before the Bucs’ Antoine Winfield Jr. came down with the ball.

    The pick sets up the Bucs on their own 34-yard line, so it wasn’t too much worse than a punt.

  • Q1, 4:49: Bucs settle for field goal, take first lead

    The Patriots got a red zone defensive stop, but the Bucs drove down the field far enough for Ryan Succop to make an easy 29-yard field goal. Ten plays, 71 yards, 3:53 off the clock for Brady and Tampa Bay.

    Biggest play of the drive for Tampa was a 28-yard completion from Brady to Mike Evans. Brady officially passed Drew Brees to become the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards on the play.

  • Q1, 9:27: Fumble overturned

    A reprieve for Jakobi Meyers and the Patriots. The fumble call is overturned, and the Pats get to keep the ball – albeit with third-and-14 coming up. (Update: The third-and-14 was not converted, as Brandon Bolden is only able to gain seven yards. Brady gets the ball back.)

  • Q1, 9:31: Meyers fumbles, under review

    A second-and-14 pass to Jakobi Meyers is ruled complete with a fumble, as the Bucs punch the ball out and recover. The play is under review.

  • Patriots get a stop on first series against Brady

    A third-and-5 deep ball attempt for Cameron Brate falls incomplete, as the Bucs have to punt. Brady was 2-of-4 for 14 yards on the Bucs’ first drive, with the longest play being a 21-yard run by Leonard Fournette.

    Gunner Olszewski mishandles the punt return, but it goes out of bounds, so the Pats keep the ball.

  • Q1, 13:09: Patriots have to punt first drive

    The Patriots started promising after the Bucs kicked off out of bounds to start the game, placing them at their own 40-yard line. A third-and-9 attempt for Nelson Agholor is incomplete, and the Pats have to punt to Tom Brady.

  • Bucs win coin toss, defer

    The Bucs called heads and won the coin toss. They deferred to the second half. Patriots receive to start the game as the Bucs defend the north goal.

    Let’s play some football.

  • Herron warming up with starting O-line

    7:54 p.m.: Based on warmups, the Patriots’ starting offensive line looks like this:

    LT Isaiah Wynn
    LG Mike Onwenu
    C David Andrews
    RG Shaq Mason
    RT Justin Herron

    With Trent Brown inactive, Yasir Durant looks like he is still the backup right tackle. Yodny Cajuste looks like the top backup at left tackle.

  • Tom Brady takes the field

    7:33 p.m.: Finally, Tom Brady is back where it all began. The Bucs quarterback took the field to a healthy amount of cheers, followed by a brief “Brady! Brady!” chant. He ran down the field and gave his fist-pump as he got to the end zone, like he did so many times in New England. Then he got into his usual pregame warmups, sharing quick hugs with former colleagues along the way.

    Interestingly enough, the cheers for Patriots quarterback Mac Jones were a little louder when he took the field. So, Pats fans seem to have their priorities straight tonight.

  • Trent Brown among seven inactives for Patriots

    6:55 p.m.: The Patriots have released their inactive players for the game. Right tackle Trent Brown is among them, and will miss his third game in a row. Linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley is also inactive for the first time this season with a shoulder injury. Here are the full inactives:

    OT Trent Brown
    DE Ronnie Perkins
    CB Joejuan Williams
    LB Ja’Whaun Bentley
    CB Shaun Wade
    RB Rhamondre Stevenson
    TE Devin Asiasi

    The inactives mean that wide receiver N’Keal Harry is officially active for the game. Linebacker Josh Uche is also back in the active lineup after missing Week 3 with a back injury.

  • N'Keal Harry getting loose

    6:49 p.m.: Patriots wide receiver N’Keal Harry is preparing as if he’ll be in the active lineup tonight. Here he is on the sideline, just after finishing a quick sprint. Harry has been working off to the side.

    The Pats activated Harry from injured reserve on Saturday, giving him a great chance to make his season debut Sunday night.

    https://twitter.com/mattdolloff/status/1444796829359656960

  • The Reunion

    5:46 p.m.: The Sunday Night Football cameras captured a warm embrace between Tom Brady and Patriots owner Robert Kraft backstage at Gillette Stadium.

MORE: Complete New England Patriots Coverage

Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @mattydsays. You can also email him at [email protected].

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