Brady shines late as Tampa slips by

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Tom Brady has felt uncomfortable against the New York Giants before. Most notably in a couple of Super Bowl losses.

He recognized Monday night’s 25-23 victory by his Tampa Bay Buccaneers wasn’t very artistic. At least, for the star quarterback, it had a better ending.

“We obviously didn’t play the way we’re capable of, but itwas good to get a win,” Brady said.

Lackluster for much of the game, Brady did what he does best in the second half. He threw touchdowns passes to Rob Gronkowski and Mike Evans, giving him 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.

But Tampa Bay (6-2) had to sweat it out. Daniel Jones drove New York (1-7) 70 yards in 13 plays and hit Golden Tate for a 19-yard touchdown with 28 seconds left. The 2-point conversion failed as the officials picked up a flag presumably for defensive pass interference.

Brady and Gronkowski earlier combined for a 3yard 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 2-point conversion, Brady still had the Bucs on top 15-14.

After New York went back ahead on Graham Gano’s 33-yard field goal, 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.

Bucs kicker Ryan Succop made the last of his four field goals, a 38-yarder, with 3:41 to go for what proved to be the decisive points.

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 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.