Two of the top teams in the National Football League faced off on Sunday as the Buffalo Bills battled it out with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Pundits across the country had circled this game as the matchup of the week across the NFL.
Through the first half, it wasn't looking like this game would live up to it's billing, as the Bills found themselves in a 24-3 hole. However, Buffalo was able to claw back in the second half and erase that deficit to make the score 27-27 to force overtime.
Unfortunately, quarterback Tom Brady and the Buccaneers were able to manufacture a game-winning drive in overtime, as he so often has in the past. This one was capped by a 58-yard touchdown catch-and-run by wide receiver Breshad Perriman to give the Bills their sixth loss of the season.
After the Bills were able to stop the Buccaneers on their first drive of the game, the Bills were unable to get on the board on the following drive which lasted five plays. The Bucs broke the scoreless tie with a 47-yard touchdown run. It came courtesy of running back Leonard Fournette with 8:13 left in the first quarter.
The Bills defense bent but never broke to start the second quarter. They surrendered a 15-play, 80-yard drive to the Buccaneers, but it only yielded Tampa Bay three points. It came thanks to a 23-yard field goal from Buccaneers kicker Ryan Succop.
On the Bills first drive of the second quarter, they were also able to maestro a long drive that only yielded with three points. Tyler Bass hit a 21-yard field goal after the Bills' seven-play, 70-yard drive which lessened Tampa Bay's lead to seven with 9:28 left in the first half.
Buccaneers scored their second touchdown of the game after a seven-play, 75-yard drive which lasted 2:17. This time it came courtesy of a highlight worthy touchdown throw and catch from Brady to Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans.
Tasked with cutting into Tampa Bay's 14-point lead, the Bills were forced into a three and out. Buccaneers linebacker Devin White got his first sack of the game, third overall for the Buccaneers, which all but killed the drive for Buffalo.
Tampa Bay responded with their third touchdown drive of the first half. After effortlessly marching down the field 71 yards on nine plays, Brady ran his signature quarterback sneak for a one-yard touchdown run to help give the Buccaneers a 24-3 lead over the Bills with 1:29 left in the second quarter.
Things managed to get worse for the Bills as quarterback Josh Allen threw an interception to Buccaneers cornerback Richard Sherman with 60 seconds left in the first half. The Bills weren't able to add to their total before halftime.
The Bills opened the second half employing a fake punt on fourth and two on their own 45-yard line, but it was to no avail as the play went for a loss of three. Brady and the Buccaneers took over on the Bills' 42-yard line, but were forced into a turnover on downs.
With 7:29 left in the third quarter, Allen scored an 18-yard rushing touchdown for his 29th career rushing touchdown. Combined with the following PAT, that touchdown trimmed Tampa Bay's lead to 24-10.
The Bills forced the Buccaneers to punt on the ensuing possession. Much to the chagrin of Bills fans, the Bills elected to punt on 4th-and-3, down 14 points, with 2:11 remaining in the third quarter on their own 45-yard line.
The scoring in the fourth quarter begun when Succop drilled a 24-yard field goal with 11:20 left in regulation to put the Buccaneers up three scores, 27-10 to be exact.
The Bills responded by compiling a five-play, 75-yard drive. It ended with tight end Dawson Knox hauling in a 15-yard touchdown pass, his eighth of the season.
After forcing the Buccaneers to a three-and-out, the Bills drove 46 yards in just 3:15 to score a touchdown. Wide receiver Gabriel Davis caught Allen's second touchdown pass of the game.
As that touchdown collectively raised the heart rates of Bills fans everywhere, they were raised even higher as Bills linebacker Matt Milano was able to sack Tom Brady and force the Buccaneers into punting.
With a chance to force overtime, the Bills offense came up with a clutch 14-play, 70-yard drive which ended in a 25-yard field goal made by Bass. With the score at 27-27, the Bills successfully erased a 21-point halftime deficit, and managed to force overtime
The Bills chose tails on the opening kickoff, and chose wisely. They won the coin toss and elected to receive. However, it was all for not as the Bills went three-and-out on the opening possession of overtime. Brady and the Buccaneers were dealt a tough hand as Bills punter Matt Haack's ensuing punt traveled 63 yards and was downed at the nine yard line.
Despite starting deep in their own territory, Brady and the Buccaneers were able to muster a six play, 94-yard touchdown drive to strike a dagger in the Bills' comeback hopes. Brady was able to find Perriman on a crossing route around midfield, Perriman evaded Bills middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and ran in for the game-winning touchdown.
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GAME SUMMARY:
First Quarter:
- 7-0 TAMPA BAY: Buccaneers touchdown (8:13) - Leonard Fournette breaks free for a 47-yard touchdown run. (Ryan Succop's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 5 plays, 67 yards, 1:42
Second Quarter:
- 10-0 TAMPA BAY: Buccaneers field goal (13:36) - Ryan Succop's 23-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 15 plays, 80 yards, 6:43
- 10-3 TAMPA BAY: Bills field goal (9:28) - Tyler Bass' 21-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 7 plays, 72 yards, 4:08
- 17-3 TAMPA BAY: Buccaneers touchdown (7:11) - Tom Brady tosses a 13-yard touchdown pass to Mike Evans. (Ryan Succop's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:17
- 24-3 TAMPA BAY: Buccaneers touchdown (1:29) - Tom Brady keeps the football and runs in a touchdown from one yard out. (Ryan Succop's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 10 plays, 72 yards, 2:43
Third Quarter:
- 24-10 TAMPA BAY: Bills touchdown (7:29) - Josh Allen keeps the football and runs it 17 yards for a touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 9 plays, 81 yards, 3:40
Fourth Quarter:
- 27-10 TAMPA BAY: Buccaneers field goal (11:20) - Ryan Succop's 24-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 11 plays, 84 yards, 5:51
- 27-17 TAMPA BAY: Bills touchdown (9:07) - Josh Allen fires a 15-yard touchdown pass to Dawson Knox. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:13
- 27-24 TAMPA BAY: Bills touchdown (4:53) - Josh Allen connects with Gabriel Davis for a four-yard touchdown pass. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 9 plays, 46 yards, 3:15
- 27-27 TIE: Bills field goal (0:22) - Tyler Bass' 25-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 14 plays, 70 yards, 2:43
Overtime:
- 33-27 TAMPA BAY: Buccaneers touchdown (5:31) - Tom Brady finds Breshad Perriman for a 58-yard catch-and-run touchdown.
Drive info: 6 plays, 94 yards, 3:17
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
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The Bills host the Carolina Panthers next Sunday afternoon for a 1 p.m. EST kickoff at Highmark Stadium. Hear all the play-by-play action on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550 - with John Murphy, Eric Wood and Sal Capaccio on the call.
