After a rocky start, Tom Brady orchestrated a winning streak to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a decisive 19-16 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Ryan Succop put the finishing touches on with a 40-yard field goal.
With this victory, the Pirates (7-8) retained the exclusive first place in the very weak Southern Division of the National League.
Brady signs the 11th overtime victory of his career, two behind Drew Brees’ record. It is also the 250th career victory, a peak in NFL history.
The Pirates came close to squandering this golden opportunity against a weak team that had entrusted its offense to Trace McSorley, the Cardinals’ third quarterback (5-10) who was making his first career starts without Kyler Murray and Colt McCoy.
After a field goal transaction in the first three quarters, James Conner increased the Cardinals’ lead to 16-6 by scoring his first touch of the game with 10:47 on the clock in the fourth.
The Bucs cut the gap to three on the next stretch on a three-yard Rachaad White touchdown run. Succop then tied the game 16-16 with a 42-yard kick with 2:27 to go.
Brady completed 32 of 48 passes for 281 yards with a touchdown pass and two interceptions.
Leonard Fournette caught nine balls for 90 yards and added 72 yards on the ground.
McSorley was 24-for-45 for 217 yards with 1 interception and Conner had 79 yards on the ground for the Cardinals, who suffered their fifth straight loss.
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