Leonard Fournette runs for a 47-yard touchdown run against the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium on December 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked up their 10th win of the season with a heart-pounding 33-27 win in overtime over the Buffalo Bills Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.
A Breshad Perriman 58-yard touchdown reception in overtime secured the win for the Buccaneers.
It was both Josh Allen's legs and arm that spurred the Bills' second-half comeback after being down 24-3 at the half, as Allen ran for a score and threw for two more, his second TD pass came with 4:53 left in the game to Gerald Davis to cut the Bucs' lead to three, 27-24.
Buffalo LB Pat Milano's sack of Tom Brady with 3:11 left forced Tampa Bay to punt, and Josh Allen took over with 3:05 and a chance to take the lead. Buffalo converted a 4th and 4 with under two minutes left to maintain their final drive, and a huge 24-yard completion to Dawson Knox left the Bills knocking on the Buccaneers' door. But the drive stalled, and Tyler Bass came on to tie the game at 27 with 16 seconds left.
After dominating the Bills in the first half, the Bucs allowed the Bills to have a shred of hope after an 18-yard Josh Allen touchdown run to make it 24-10 with 7:34 left in the third.
In the third, the Bucs could not match their offensive output of the first half, failing to muster any offensive momentum, even failing on 4th down after stopping the Bills on a fake punt in Buffalo territory on their first series of the second half.
But an 84-yard drive that resulted in a 24-yard field goal by Ryan Succop that spanned the end of the third and start of the fourth took some momentum back for Tampa Bay and gave them a three-score lead at 27-10.
The Bills, however, didn't quit, as they used the run to quickly move down the field and set up a 15-yard touchdown reception by Dawson Knox to cut the Buccaneers' lead to 27-17. That drive went 75 yards in only five plays and 2:13 ticked off the clock.
And with 8:08, Buffalo got the ball back at the Tampa Bay 46 with 8:08 left and a chance to cut the deficit further, which they did.
Mike Evans scores a 13-yard touchdown reception against the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium on December 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
The Buccaneers really took over this game in the first half, dominating on both sides of the ball. Josh Allen barely had time to breathe in the pocket, as the fearsome Bucs pass rush put immense pressure on the Bills quarterback, sacking him three times in the first half, and pressuring Allen to force throws that weren't there.
After both teams stalled on their first possessions, the Bucs scored first on a 47-yard touchdown run by Leonard Fournette for the game's first score.
After trading field goals early in the second quarter, Tampa Bay took control with a seven-play, 75-yard drive that took only 2:17, ending in a leaping 13-yard touchdown reception by Mike Evans.
Buffalo took a page out of the Tampa Bay playbook, passing on almost every play in the first half, the exceptions being Josh Allen runs. No running back ran the ball in the first half for the Bills.
It almost seems as if Tom Brady sets a new career record every week, this being no exception. With his 20-yard completion to Mike Evans in the 2nd quarter, Brady passed Drew Brees as the all-time league leader in pass completions, with his 7,143rd.
Two plays later, Brady sneaked in from a yard out, to make it 24-3 Bucs with 1:29 to go before halftime.
Next Sunday, the Buccaneers have their rematch with the New Orleans Saints in a much-anticipated prime-time game at Raymond James Stadium. The Saints won the first meeting on Halloween over Tampa Bay in New Orleans, 36-27. We'll start our coverage at 6 p.m. here on 95.3 WDAE as Tom Krasniqi and Michael Clayton bring you Countdown to Kickoff. The kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m., which you can hear on our sister station, 98ROCK.
Cover Photo: Getty Images