Tom Brady threw for 307 yards and two touchdowns and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the New York Giants 30-10 on Monday night.
The Super Bowl champion Buccaneers (7-3) snapped a two-game skid as Brady avoided losing three in a row for the first time since 2002.
“We’re at a decent point but we can play a lot better than we’ve played,” Brady said. “Hoping our best football is ahead of us.”
Brady started 10 for 10 before misfiring on a deep ball to Mike Evans. On the next play the 44-year-old, who was not known for his speed even when he was young, scrambled 10 yards on third-and-four to extend a drive that ended with Ryan Succop kicking a 25-yard field goal that made it 10-3.
“Eleven-yard run. They don’t happen very often so I do remember how far they go,” Brady said, unaware it was officially ruled 10 yards.
Rob Gronkowski joked that he was open for a touchdown on the play.
“He could’ve just chucked it up but I saw him running and that was pretty dope,” Gronkowski said. “That was pretty impressive.”
Daniel Jones threw a TD pass to left tackle Andrew Thomas and the Giants (3-7) stayed close for one half before unraveling.
“We have to do a better job of putting our players in position to make plays,” Giants coach Joe Judge said. “We have to make sure we sit down [on Tuesday] as a coaching staff and understand how we’re going to play this game and give our players a chance to make plays. We have too many good players. We have to put them in better position to capitalize on it. That’s it.”
Giants running back Saquon Barkley was asked after the game if he still had confidence in the team’s offensive coordinator, Jason Garrett.
“Yes, I believe in [Garrett],” Barkley said. “At the end of the day, like I said, it’s easy to just go and everyone wants to blame the coaches. Sometimes, instead of pointing the finger, you have to look yourself in the mirror.
“As players, we’re not making plays. It is just that simple. We have to go out there and make plays.”