Close victory
James Bradberry (right) of the New York Giants knocks away a pass intended for Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half Monday in East Rutherford, N.J. The Buccaneers rallied past the Giants in the fourth quarter to win 25-23.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Lackluster for much of the game, Tom Brady did what he does best in the second half Monday night.
Brady threw touchdowns passes to Rob Gronkowski and Mike Evans, lifting Tampa Bay to a 25-23 victory over the New York Giants, and giving the Buccaneers quarterback the career lead in touchdown throws once more.
The Saints’ Drew Brees had passed Brady on Sunday, but now the six-time Super Bowl champ is back on top with 561. Evans’ diving 8-yard catch provided the go-ahead points.
“We obviously didn’t play the way we’re capable of, but it was good to get a win,” Brady said.
But Tampa Bay (6-2) had to sweat it out. Daniel Jones drove New York (1-7) 70 yards in 13 plays and connected with Golden Tate for a 19-yard touchdown with 28 seconds remaining. The twopoint conversion failed as the officials picked up a flag presumably for defensive pass interference.
Brady and Gronkowski earlier combined for a 3-yard scoring pass on which Gronk barely held onto the ball long enough. That made the old New England combination second in touchdowns for a duo with 93, 21 behind Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison of the Colts.
Unable to connect with Evans on a two-point conversion, Brady still had the Bucs on top 15-14.
After New York went back ahead on Graham Gano’s 33yard field goal, Daniel Jones was pressured into an unwise throw to Tate that Sean Murphy-Bunting picked off at the Tampa 33. That set the stage for the 66-yard drive to the touchdown by Evans.
Jones had two costly picks, helping negate a strong effort by New York’s defense.
“The interceptions were huge for us,” Brady said.
First-year Giants Coach Joe Judge, who won three Super Bowls in New England with Brady, is not discouraged by the team’s record halfway through its schedule.
“I see a lot of improvement. Our guys improving day by day,” Judge said. “We have a good foundation. I see the core of a team that is developing.”
New York got an early break — and soon after a touchdown — when Brady’s pass was tipped by Dalvin Tomlinson and caught by Bucs running back Ronald Jones. But he fumbled when hit by Blake Martinez and rookie Darnay Holmes recovered at the Tampa Bay 12.
Dion Lewis made a sliding catch in the corner of the end zone on third down for a 7-3 lead.
The Giants’ next scoring drive was a model of efficiency, featuring two gains of 11 yards, a 12-yarder, a 14-yarder and a 17-yard run by Wayne Gallman. He scored from the 2 to finish the 10-play series that covered 77 yards for a 14-3 lead.
Brady, as has been his custom for two decades, then guided his team to a score, but it was merely Ryan Succop’s second of four field goals, a 40-yarder with seven seconds left in the half. Succop also had a 37-yard field goal on the game’s opening drive; a 43-yarder set up by Carlton Davis’ interception early in the third quarter; and a 38-yarder with 3:41 to go for what turned out to be the decisive points.
Soon after Succop had made it 14-9, Gronkowski was in the end zone — only to see Daniel Jones connect with his tight end, Evan Engram, for a 30-yard play. That set up Gano’s 33-yard kick and the 17-15 New York lead heading into the fourth period.
Brady finished 28-of-40 passing for 279 yards, while Jones was 25 for 41 for 256 yards.