NFL Game of the Week: Buccaneers and Saints

Across the country in 2018, over 16.5 million people tuned in to watch the NFL over CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN and the league-run NFL Network. Now with no fans being allowed at games, it is estimated that more than 20 million people will be tuning in over those networks. With that being said, week one was a closer week than normal. 

This week’s game of the week was featured with six time super bowl champion Tom Brady on his new team (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) against NFL record holder for passing yards (77,736) and passing touchdowns (549) Drew Brees and the Saints.

The game started off with Tom bringing the ball down the field and rushing his first touchdown in a Buccaneers uniform for two yards. The next score was a handoff to Kamara for a 12 yard rushing touchdown to even the score at seven a piece. In the middle of the second quarter, Kamara had another touchdown, this one being six yards to put the Saints up 14 to 7. Late in the second quarter with about 46 seconds left to go on the clock, Wil Lutz nails a field goal from the 19 yard line to extend the Saints’ score to 17. 

After the halftime kickoff, Tom and the Buccaneers did a decent job moving the ball up the field until Brady threw a pick-6 to let the Saints go up 23-7, and after the extra point 24-7. With 12 minutes and 25 seconds left in the game, Brady threw his second touchdown to make the score 24-14 Buccaneers. Then late in the third quarter, Buccaneers kicker (R. Succop) nails one from the 27 yard line to make it a one possession game (24-17). Drew Brees then tacks on another touchdown with 11:44 on the clock (31-17). The Saints then ended up recovering the kickoff, and nailing a field goal from the 11 yard line to make the score 34 to 17 Saints.

Late in the fourth quarter, Brady threw a touchdown to Mike Evans to make the score 34 to 23, failing the two point conversion. With a first down conversion and a couple knees, the Saints finished the game with a final score of 34 to 23.