Patriots take road victory over Tampa

After a disappointing loss to the Carolina Panthers, the New England Patriots came down to Florida to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers are coming off a last second victory over the New York Giants. Who would come out on top on Thursday night football in Tampa Bay? Let's find out. The Patriots would start with the ball. Tom Brady would go to Danny Amendola for five yards on second and 4. Brady would then go to Chris Hogan for six on second and 5. On the next play, Brady would be intercepted by Justin Evans. Jamesis Winston would start off with a 10 yard pass to Mike Evans but would fail to get another first down as they would be forced to punt. The Tampa defense would force a three and out to give their offense the ball back. Winston would start with another 10 yard pass to Mike Evans, but like the last drive, they would be forced to punt and the Buccaneers would down the ball at the two yard line. The Patriots would face a third and 5 and Brady would find Hogan for 12 then Brady would find Brandin Cooks for 17 on the next play. The Patriots would face another third down, but a holding penalty on Tampa would give them another first down. Mike Gillislee would go for seven. After a holding penalty on New England, a holding penalty on Tampa would give them another first down. Dion Lewis would go for 31 yards on the next play. The Buccaneers would hold New England to a 27 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Patriots and would lead 3-0 at the end of the first quarter. The Buccaneers would get a three and out to get it back to their offense. Winston would go to Cameron Brate for 16 yards. On a second and 4, Winston would go to Desean Jackson for 11. Doug Martin would go for 11 and 17 yards on the next two plays. After a holding penalty on second down, the Buccaneers would face a third and 20 but a holding penalty on New England would give Tampa a first down. Winston would go to Chris Godwin on second and 1. Doug Martin would go for 10 yards to the one yard line and would score from one yard out. The PAT would make it 7-3 with 8:33 remaining in the second quarter. On the next Patriots possession, Brady would go to James White for 18 yards. The Patriots would face a third and 5 and Brady would find Amendola for 10. Brady would go to White for 24 on the next play. Gillislee would go for five yards to make it first and goal at the six. On second and goal at the five, Brady would find Hogan in the end zone for a five yard score and the PAT would make it 10-7 with 3:48 remaining in the second. The Patriots defense would force a Tampa three and out. As we headed toward the two-minute warning, the Patriots would face a third and 2 and Brady would find Amendola for another 10 yard completion. The Patriots would get a 23 yard field goal by Gostkowski to make it 13-7 with 1:30 remaining in the second quarter. After a couple New England penalties, the Buccaneers would line up for a 56 yard field goal and it would sail wide right and the Patriots would lead 13-7 at the half. Tampa Bay would get the ball to start the second half. The Buccaneers would go three and out and give the ball back to New England. Brady would go to Cook for 17 on the first play then to Cooks for a 34 yard completion. Dion Lewis would give the Patriots their third straight first down on a 10 yard run. The drive would end with a Gostkowski 45 yard field goal to make it 16-7 with 9:59 remaining in the third quarter. It looks like a three and out for the Bucs, but an offsides on the Patriots would give Tampa a first down. Winston would find Humphries for a 16 yard completion. The Buccaneers would fail to move the ball afterwards and would be forced to punt. Brady would find Amendola for 14 on second and 13. Brady would find Hogan for 16 yards on the next play. Brady would get a 19 yard pass to Hogan. The drive would end in a fumble recovered by the Buccaneers. Tampa would face a third and 2 as the third quarter came to a close with the Patriots leading 16-7. The New England defense would stop Martin for no gain and the Bucs would go for a 49 yard field goal and Folk would miss wide left. The next Patriots possession would result in a punt and would be downed at the Tampa three yard line. On third and 2 of the Bucs drive, Winston would find Jackson for 41. Winston would go to Jacquizz Rodgers would go for 13 then to Mike Evans would go for 15 and a first and goal. The Buccaneers would go for another field goal and Folk would miss again. The Patriots would go three and out to give the Bucs the ball. Winston would find Humphries for 15 on the first play of the drive. The Bucs would face a third and 3 and Winston would find Sims for 10. The Bucs would face a third and 15 and Winston would find Jackson for 29. Then on second and 10, Winston would find Brate for an 18 yard score. The PAT would make it 16-14 with 2:09 left. The Patriots would be denied the first down and go for a 48 yard field goal attempt with 1:14 left in the game. Gostkowski would make it with 1:10 left. Making the lead 19-14 Patriots. Tampa would get the ball back at their own 25 and 1:10 remaining and no timeouts. Winston would go to Jackson for 24. A false start would back the team five yards and causing a ten second runoff. Winston would find Humphries for 20 and Winston would find Brate for 17 and would go for one final play with three seconds left. On the final play, Winston would go to the end zone and the pass would fall incomplete as the Patriots take the 19-14 road victory over Tampa Bay.

Thoughts on the game: The Buccaneers had their chances to take the victory but three missed field goals including two in the fourth quarter killed their chances. The Patriots defense played their best game of the season, allowing only 14 points on the game.