SNF: Bucs, Tom Brady Defeat Divisional Rival Falcons 21-15

After a Week 4 defeat at home to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers successfully defended their home turf from their NFC South divisional rivals. On Sunday the Bucs defeated the Atlanta Falcons 21-15.

With the victory, Tampa Bay avoided their third consecutive defeat. Quarterback Tom Brady and Co. are now 3-2 after managing to win their fifth game against the Falcons since 2020.

Atlanta is in bad shape. A failed comeback of 20-17 Week 4 defeat to the Indianapolis Colts and the one to the Bucs pushed their position further down to third in division standings, behind the New Orleans Saints.

Sunday marked yet another time for Brady to show his football greatness despite being a 45-year-old. The seven-time Super Bowl champ was on a serious passing yards streak that day, hitting 35 successful passes out of 52 attempts for 351 yards to accompany his single touchdown. The feat came after his 39 passes of 52 for 385 yards in Week 4’s blowout loss to the Chiefs, where he made three touchdowns.

A roughing-the-passer penalty that extended the Bucs’ drive in the fourth quarter helped them claim the win. Falcons defensive lineman Grady Jarrett performed a takedown on Brady, which game referees ruled out as a penalty.

Many fans claimed the call was unnecessary since the star QB’s head did not make any contact with Jarrett or the ground. However, the move was similar to the tackle that gave Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa a severe head injury. Referee Jerome Boger explained that the decision was made based on that fact.

“What I had was the defender grabbed the quarterback while he was still in the pocket, and unnecessarily [threw] him to the ground. That is what I was [basing] my decision … upon,” Boger said.

Leading the NFC South, the Bucs will play the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 16. The Falcons will take on the San Francisco 49ers on the same date.