EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ –
Antonio Brown was sent off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a strange, shirtless start before Tom Brady coolly led the Bucs on a 93-yard drive in the final minutes to a 28-24 win over New York Jets on Sunday.
Coach Bruce Arians said after the game that Brown had left the team.
“He’s not Buc anymore,” said Arians.
Brown’s mid-game crunch came late in the third quarter with Tampa Bay leading 24-10. He appeared vivacious while speaking to teammate Mike Evans as he stripped off his pads, jersey, gloves and t-shirt – tossing his gloves and t-shirt into the stands – and then walked topless border and at the end of the zone. He then waved to fans as he jogged through the end zone and into the tunnel at MetLife Stadium.
It seemed to be a display of frustration for Brown, who had three catches in 26 metres.
Brown was suspended last month for three games for violating the league’s COVID-19 protocol. He also has a history of personal behavior problems and bizarre behavior.
Brady connected with Cameron Brate for a 4th touchdown and a 4th goal shortly after Brown got out, and QB ended the Bucs rally with a 33-yard touchdown pass to Cyril Grayson as 15 seconds left.
The Bucs stuffed Jets QB in 4th and 2nd at 7 for nothing as New York tried to seal the win, giving Brady and the Bucs the ball back with 2:12 remaining.
That’s more than enough time.
Brady marched the Buccaneers (12-4) down the field for nine innings, passing to Grayson – who was lifted from the practice team – to take the score ahead. It was Brady’s third TD pass in the game and 40th of the season, joining him with Drew Brees as the only players to throw 40 touchdown passes in consecutive seasons.
He finished 34/50 for 410 yards, three TDs and one interception in Tampa Bay, which has the Arians back after he tested positive for coronavirus earlier in the week.
Le’Veon Bell took 2 points against his old team, forcing New York to take the team down. But the Jets (4-12) timed out.
The game has the largest age gap between starting quarterbacks since at least 1950, with 22-year-old Wilson facing 44-year-old Brady.
The Jets took a two-touch lead on Ty Johnson’s 1-yard run, which gave them the lead in the second half.
After Brown’s drop and Brady’s TD to Brate, Ryan Succop hit the net 27 yards to make New York 24-20 with the score remaining at 7:36.
EARLY FLIGHT JETS
New York took a 7-0 lead with a dazzling play to take the lead in an impressive opening half. Running back, Michael Carter was lined up on the wildcat – with Wilson behind the guard on the right – taking a live shot and forwarding it to wide receiver Braxton Berrios, who entered unaffected at the side end. right.
Carter ran 55 yards early in the drive to get the Jets to Buccaneers 12.
Brady and the Bucs marched right down the pitch in their opening game against Evans – coming back from missing last week’s game with a hamstring problem and taking time off this week’s COVID-19 roster – catching a touch pass 4 yards land in a lackluster match to tie it at 7.
This is the seventh opening encounter this season for Tampa Bay.
Wilson, 19, 33 with 234 yards and TD, responded shortly after Berrios caught a short pass and then dived into the bottom area with a 9-yard touchdown and a 14-7 lead.
However, it was a costly drive of 13.74 yards for the Jets, as both Carter (concussion) and left-hander George Fant (left knee) were injured and did not return.
Brady quickly sent the Buccaneers to the Jets 23 with 31-yard passes to Evans and 21 yards to Brown, but the New York defense stiffened and conceded the first third goal of the game. Tampa Bay tackled a 39-yard player by Succop to make it 14-10.
Brandin Echols intercepted Brady in Tampa Bay’s final possession in the first half and returned it 30 yards to the Jets 48. New York made it a point on Eddy Pineiro’s 51-yard field with 1 second left.
MORE HISTORY
Brady, who improved to 31-8 against the Jets, also ranks Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers as the only player to have three seasons with 40 or more TD passes.
Illnesses
Buccaneers: RB Ronald Jones (ankle) and DB Rashard Robinson (groin) did not return after leaving in the second half.
Jets: In addition to Carter and Fant, TE Dan Brown left the field in the second half with a hip injury and did not return.
NEXT
Buccaneers: End the regular season by hosting the Carolina Panthers next Sunday.
Jet plane: Finish their season at Buffalo next Sunday against the AFC East rival Bills.
