TAMPA BAY — The Patriots avoided the first 2-3 start under Bill Belichick and Tom Brady with an ugly but gutsy 19-14 victory that was decided by the kickers.
Stephen Gostkowski was 4-for-4 on field goals, while his Tampa Bay counterpart, Nick Folk, was 0-for-3.
The Patriots' defense as vastly improved in this game. They ended up surrendering 409 yards, but most of that came late after the Patriots took a 16-7 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Patrick Chung was a standout with three passes defensed against tight end Cameron Brate. Top receiver Mike Evans was held to five catches for 49 yards as he constantly drew double coverage.
Tom Brady overcame an early interception to complete 30 of 40 for 303 yards and the lone touchdown to Chris Hogan.
Game updates...
11:40: Bucs try to rally but a final effort is broken up at the goal line. Patriots improve to 3-2.
SCORE: Gostkowski 48-yard field goal is good. Patriots 19, Bucs 14.
11:30: Patriots go 2-yard run (final Bucs timeout), incomplete pass to White (two-minute warning). Third and 8 at Tampa 35.
11:26: TD, Winston to Brate, 18 yards over good coverage from Chung and under McCourty.
https://twitter.com/TBBuccaneers/status/916143143627538432
11:22: Looks like Deatrich Wise will get a big sack back near midfield after Winston can't handle the snap.
11:16: Patriots punt as Brady gets folded up like a lawn chair trying to run for a first down. 4:26 remaining. Bucs only have one timeout left.
11:10: Nick Folk misses his third field goal, this one from 31 yards.
11:04: Patriots had a chance to get off the field, but Harmon takes a bad angle and Jackson goes for 41 yards.
11:01: Patriots again pass up a field goal inside the 40 yard-line. Downed by Slater at the 3. Ballgame coming up on this drive.
10:57: Big third-and-8 conversion from Brady to Amendola into field-goal range.
10:53: Stuffed by Elandon Roberts and others. Good surge up front. 49-yard field is....no good.
10:51: Going to the 4th quarter, Bucs have a big third-and-2 at the NE 31 coming up.
10:49: First third-down conversion of the game for the Bucs comes with less than 2 minutes left in the third quarter. Brate on a slant against Chung.
10:47: Brady is hit and fumbles, Bucs recover. Not sure what happened on that play. Didn't appear to be a busted play. 16 sacks now, one more than all of last year.
10:42: 12 penalties... Patriots recent mark for most penalties in a game is 15, set on 9/14/14 vs. Minnesota.
From Price:
Pats special teams have taken more penalties than any other positional grouping (CBs, LBs, etc.) this year.
Stephen Gostkowski is now 11-for-11 on field-goal attempts to start the season.
10:35: Chung continues to do a nice job, is all over Brate on third down to make the Bucs punt. Bucs have 158 total yards, 86 passing to this point.
10:32: Another stupid penalty on the Patriots, this one on Bolden (offsides on a punt) gives Bucs a first down. 10 penalties for 97 yards.
SCORE: Patriots settle for a 45-yard field from Stephen Gostkowski. Patriots 16, Bucs 7. Drive: 8-67, 3:25.
From Price: 9 penalties tonight for the #Patriots. That's a season-high, and we're not even halfway through the 3rd.
10:21: Back-to-back pass plays for Cooks for 51 yards. I think Brady is 12 of his last 12 for 151 yards.
https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/916127537121468416
10:15: Here we go, second half. Bucs with the ball. Three-and-out, after Winston misses an open DeSean Jackson vs. Butler.
9:58: Belichick is going to kill someone. Back-to-back roughing the passer penalties on Wise and Marsh gives the Bucs a chance at a field goal from 56 yards. .... No good.
Hey Malcolm, he's on your team. pic.twitter.com/obMgyYIPWW
— Matt (@McCefali) October 6, 2017
Patriots expect TE Rob Gronkowski and RB Rex Burkhead to be ready for their next game in 10 days vs NY Jets, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 6, 2017
Steve Smith Sr just referred to Kyle Van Noy in coverage as "a tortoise in quicksand". No one is as candid or as honest in critiques on TV.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) October 5, 2017
Here are a few quick links to get you ready for tonight...
