In a game with major playoff implications in the NFC, Tom Brady and the Buccaneers (6-3) were taken to the woodshed by Drew Brees and the Saints (6-2) in front of a national TV audience on Sunday Night Football.
The Bucs were throttled 38-3 on SNF in the first game in which Brady threw multiple interceptions (three) and no touchdowns since 2009. The 35-point loss was also the worst of 43-year-old Brady’s career.
Coming in riding a three-game winning streak that included a beatdown of Aaron Rodgers and the Packers a few weeks ago, the Buccaneers were outplayed by the Saints in every phase of the game and could not match New Orleans’ aggressiveness on both sides of the ball.
“It was shocking,” said Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians. “To watch us practice the way we practiced all week and the confidence we had coming in … we have to go back and look in the mirror as coaches, players, everybody.”
Brees completed 26-of-32 passes in the win and tossed four touchdowns to put him three spots ahead of Brady on the NFL’s all-time TD list with 564.
The Saints also defeated the Bucs in Week 1 in Brady’s debut with Tampa and now hold the tiebreaker over their divisional rivals should the teams finish with the same record in the NFC South.
In the win, New Orleans got receivers Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders back on the field and the defense, which has struggled at times during the season, looked good and was able to create a good amount of pressure with nine quarterback hits and three sacks.
“Each time you can win and find different ways to win, I think it just builds confidence and creates momentum,” Brees said. “Obviously, tonight was a great night. All the way around, in all three phases, it was pretty exceptional.”
The Saints, who have won the NFC South for three straight seasons, have now won five in a row and will take on a San Francisco team that is reeling from injuries on Sunday afternoon in New Orleans. Tampa will play Carolina.
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