Tom Brady, Buccaneers rally to beat Cardinals 19-16 in OT

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — There were times during a Sunday night football game when Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady looked frustrated. There were other times he looked angry. There were a few times when he looked deadpan.

But there were also six throws in overtime where Tom Brady looked like Tom Brady. And that’s all the Buccaneers needed.

Brady completed all six of his passes in overtime and helped the Bucs overcome a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter and beat the Arizona Cardinals 19-16 to maintain a one-game lead in the NFC South .

“If we keep it close in the fourth quarter, we know we have a chance,” Brady said. “I think we’re all comfortable in those situations.”

Ryan Succop hit the decisive 40-yard field goal with 3:41 left in overtime, capping a nine-play drive that covered 66 yards. Brady wasn’t great for much of the night, but came up big on the decisive drive, completing all six of his passes for 69 yards in a vintage display of precision in clutch moments.

It was Brady’s 57th game-winning drive.

“That’s just who he is,” Fournette said. “He’s been doing it for years. Guys like me, Mike (Evans), Julio (Jones), Chris (Godwin), Rachaad (White), everybody, we just play a part in his greatness. Give him what he wants. He wants certain routes to run certain ways.

“We’re just here to make his job easier.”

The Cardinals got the ball to start overtime, but ended up having to punt. Tampa Bay got the big win it needed when Brady Russell Gage Jr. found for a gain of 23 yards.

From there, the Bucs pushed a few more yards before Succop made his fourth field goal of the night.

Arizona (4-11) has lost five straight, while Tampa Bay has snapped a two-game skid. The Bucs (7-8) remained a game ahead of the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints in the NFC South. Tampa Bay has an important home game against Carolina next weekend.

The 45-year-old Brady made his 331st career start at quarterback while the Cardinals were in his first start to Trace McSorley. The former Penn State standout was the team’s third-string quarterback for much of the season, but made his starting debut following injuries to Kyler Murray and Colt McCoy.

Story continues

James Conner broke free for a 22-yard touchdown run with 10:47 left in the fourth quarter to give the Cardinals a 16-6 advantage. But Brady and the Bucs responded with their first touchdown of the night, scoring when quarterback Rachaad White hit a 3-yard pass to cut it to 16-13 with 8:03 left.

The Bucs got a big break on the ensuing drive when Cardinals rookie Keaontay Ingram fumbled a pass from McSorley. Tampa Bay’s William Gholston pounced on the loose ball.

Tampa Bay capitalized nine plays later when Succop made a 42-yard field goal for his third field goal of the night, tying it at 16 and forcing overtime.

Brady was 32 of 48 for 281 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He threw at least two interceptions in three straight games, which tied for the longest streak of his career. Fournette ran for 72 yards and caught nine passes for 90 yards.

“It was a total effort today in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter,” Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles said. “Defense gets a stop and the offense counts.”

Arizona’s McSorley was 24 of 45 for 217 yards and one interception.

“Our guys played hard, battled,” Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said. “I thought the defense played their hearts out and gave us a chance. Just wanted to finish offensively.”

Neither team made it to the end zone in a first half that ended in a 6-6 tie. Cardinals kicker Matt Prater kicked field goals of 56 and 53 yards. His second one – just before the break – bounced off the left upright but still trickled over the crossbar for three points.

Brady was on the offensive early, throwing a deep pass down the right sideline to Julio Jones on the game’s opening play. The pass was incomplete, but Cardinals cornerback Antonio Hamilton was called for pass interference, resulting in a 30-yard gain.

But the 23-year veteran was gone on several other deep balls. Brady was intercepted on a promising drive in the second quarter when the quarterback was hit on the arm trying to throw deep to Evans. The throw was short and picked off by Cardinals cornerback Marco Wilson Jr.

Wilson intercepted two of Brady’s passes.

INJURY

Buccaneers: LT Josh Wells (knee) was carted off the field during the second quarter.

Cardinals: QB McCoy (concussion) and DE Zach Allen (hand) were among the team’s inactives. … DT Trysten Hill (knee) was carted off in the second quarter.

FOLLOWING

Buccaneers: Host Carolina next Sunday.

Cardinals: Next Sunday at Atlanta.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL