Bucs survive Cardinals in extra time

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Ryan Succop kicked 4 subject targets, together with the 40-yard winner in extra time, because the Bucs rallied from a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Cardinals 19-16 Sunday evening in Glendale, Arizona.

After Tampa Bay’s protection compelled a punt on Arizona’s extra time possession, Tom Brady accomplished all six of his passes for 69 yards to arrange Succop’s 40-yard subject aim with 3:41 left within the additional interval.

The Bucs (7-8) maintained their one-game lead over the Panthers and Saints (each 6-9) within the NFC South and may clinch the division and homefield benefit for the wild-card spherical of the playoffs with a win over Carolina subsequent weekend at Raymond James Stadium.

After a William Gholston fumble restoration close to midfield gave Tampa Bay possession with about 5 minutes remaining, Succop’s 42-yard subject aim tied the sport with 2:27 to play.

Brady accomplished a 3-yard scoring go to rookie operating again Rachaad White on the Bucs’ earlier possession to convey them inside three factors at 16-13.

Succop transformed from 38 and 35 yards earlier within the sport.

James Conner’s 22-yard landing run with 10:47 remaining gave the Cardinals a 16-6 lead.

Matt Prater kicked subject targets of 56, 53 and 39 yards in a dropping effort for Arizona.

Brady completed 32-of-48 for 281 yards and one landing with two interceptions. Working again Leonard Fournette amassed 162 whole yards (72 speeding and 90 receiving).

Cardinals quarterback Hint McSorley, making his first profession NFL begin, was 24-of-45 for 217 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.

Right here’s the way it occurred:

Bucs get a break

The Bucs obtained the break they wanted when the Cardinals’ Keaontay Ingram fumbled a pitch close to midfield and William Gholston recovered with about 5 minutes remaining.

Tampa Bay rapidly took benefit, as Tom Brady accomplished passes of 4 yards to Rachaad White, 12 to Chris Godwin, 8 to Russell Gage to rapidly transfer the ball to the Arizona 31.

Brady threw deep over the center to Godwin on third and eight, however his go was damaged up by Jalen Thompson.

Ryan Succop’s 42-yard subject aim tied the rating at 16 with 2:27 to play.

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Wake-up name

Seemingly, all it took to get up the Bucs’ offense was a Cardinals landing.

Down 10 early within the fourth quarter, Tampa Bay wasted no time getting again into the sport, as Leonard Fournette took a Tom Brady go 44 yards to the Arizona 23-yard line.

Three performs later, Brady and Fournette related on a 10-yard completion to the 8. After a 5-yard completion to Cade Otton moved the ball to the three, Brady discovered Rachaad White for a 3-yard landing, pulling Tampa Bay again to inside 16-13 with 8:11 remaining.

Desk-setter

Pharoh Cooper arrange the Cardinals with nice subject place with a 28-yard punt return to the Bucs 33 with 12:26 to play.

Three performs later, Hint McSorley ran 2 yards up the center to select up a primary down on the 22.

James Conner lined the space two performs afterward a run round left finish, extending the Cardinals’ result in 16-6 with 10:47 remaining.

Making a splash

The Cardinals made the primary huge splash play of the sport on a 47-yard go from Hint McSorley to Marquise Brown to the Bucs 20 on the next-to-last play of the third quarter.

The play put Arizona within the purple zone, nevertheless it was so far as it could get.

Three extra performs misplaced a yard, and the Cardinals needed to accept Matt Prater’s third subject aim of the sport, a 39-yarder.

The distinction? This one put Arizona forward for the primary time within the sport, 9-6, with 14 minutes remaining.

Powerful sledding

Leonard Fournette picked up the primary, first down by both group within the second half with a 3-yard run to the Bucs 41 with simply over eight minutes to play within the third quarter.

Two performs later, Chris Godwin took a large receiver display screen 10 yards to the Arizona 46 for an additional first down.

After a false begin penalty pushed Tampa Bay again to its 49, Brown hit Russell Gage over the center for 11 yards and a primary all the way down to the 35.

However J.J. Watt dropped Fournette for a 2-yard loss two performs later, making it third and 11, and Brady’s go for Mike Evans was intercepted by Marco Wilson on the Cardinals 19.

Alternative misplaced

The Bucs blew an excellent scoring alternative late within the first half when cornerback Marco Wilson intercepted a Tom Brady go meant for Mike Evans on the Cardinals 2 and returned it 39 yards to the 41.

Although Tampa Bay misplaced an opportunity so as to add to its lead, the turnover wasn’t pricey.

After three James Conner runs netted 12 yards, Hint McSorley threw incomplete, making it third and 11. McSorley was flushed out of the pocked and compelled into one other incompletion, leading to an Arizona punt.

Going to Godwin

The Bucs obtained Chris Godwin concerned early within the second quarter.

The vast receiver took quick passes from Tom Brady 5 yards and 12 yards to select up first downs and got here near a 3rd conversion with a 5-yard catch on third and 6 from the Cardinals 23.

Brady picked up the remaining yards on a quarterback sneak, giving Tampa Bay a primary down on the 16.

After a 5-yard Leonard Fournette reception, the Bucs confronted third and 4 from the ten. Brady’s landing go to Julio Jones was nullified by an unlawful shift penalty, making it third and 9.

Tampa Bay appeared to select up the primary down on a Brady go to Cade Otton, however proper sort out Tristan Wirfs was referred to as for holding, establishing third and 19 from the 25.

Brady dumped the ball over the center to Fournette, who was stopped after an 8-yard acquire.

The Bucs took a 6-3 lead on a 35-yard Ryan Succop subject aim with simply over eight minutes remaining within the half.

Earlier within the drive, Fournette ran for 23 yards round left finish to maneuver the ball from the Bucs 38 to the Cardinals 39.

Bucs left sort out Josh Wells, who stared rather than injured Donovan Smith, left on a cart through the drive after inuring his left leg early within the second quarter. He was changed by Brandon Walton.

Tangled up

Good subject place, a greater run and an enormous leg was all it took for the Cardinals to get on the board late within the first quarter.

Arizona began at its 39-yard line after Pharoh Cooper returned a Jake Camarda punt 9 yards.

Large receiver Greg Dortch carried round left finish for 20 yards to the Tampa Bay 41.

Hint McSorley twice threw incomplete earlier than scrambling for 3 yards to the 38.

That introduced on Matt Prater, whose 56-yard subject aim tied the sport at 3 with 32 seconds left within the first quarter.

Nothing doing

The Bucs gambled halfway by way of the primary quarter and misplaced, giving the Cardinals the ball close to midfield.

After a false begin penalty in opposition to guard Josh Wells pushed Tampa Bay again 5 yards, Leonard Fournette powered his manner for 14 yards over proper sort out, establishing second and inches from the Arizona 48.

However three extra Fournette runs failed to select up the remaining yardage, and the Bucs turned the ball over on downs.

It didn’t damage Tampa Bay, nevertheless, because the protection held, forcing a three-and-out and Arizona punt.

Fooled, then forceful

The Cardinals transformed a pretend punt on their first possession, as punter Andy Lee accomplished a 4-yard go to Kamu Grugier-Hill on fourth and a pair of, giving Arizona a primary down at its 45-yard line.

The pick-up gave the Cardinals some momentum, as James Conner ran up the center for 11 yards and Hint McSorley discovered Greg Dortch over the center for 23, transferring the ball to the Bucs 17.

However simply when it appeared like Arizona may put factors on the board, Tampa Bay’s protection compelled a turnover.

Exterior linebacker Anthony Nelson sacked McSorley from behind, knocking the ball from the quarterback’s fingers. Inside linebacker Devin White recovered for the Bucs, returning the ball to the 13 yards to the Tampa Bay 43.

Earlier within the drive, it appeared the Bucs had gotten a fast cease when cornerback Carlton Davis broke up a go for Marquise Brown down the best sideline, making it fourth and a pair of.

Attacking from the beginning

The Bucs aggressively attacked the Cardinals’ protection on the their opening possession and took a fast lead.

Tom Brady threw deep to Julio Jones down the best sideline on the primary play from scrimmage, and the receiver drew a pass-interference penalty in opposition to cornerback Antonio Hamilton, transferring the ball 30 yards to the Cardinals 45-yard line.

Rachaad White gave Tampa Bay one other first down, carrying for 18 yards to the 27. After a 7-yard run by White, a Brady incompletion arrange third and three from the 20.

Brady threw into the tip zone for a wide-open Jones, however the go was overthrown.

The Bucs settled for a 38-yard Ryan Succop subject aim and 3-0 lead simply over a minute and a half into the sport.

Winfield, Edwards, Jones will play

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Bucs secondary may get a raise with beginning safeties Antoine Winfield Jr. and Mike Edwards anticipated to play tonight in opposition to the Cardinals.

Edwards, who was nursing a hamstring damage, didn’t observe till Friday, when he was restricted.

Winfield aggravated an ankle damage in final Sunday’s loss at Cincinnati and didn’t observe through the week. Each gamers have been listed as questionable.

As well as, the Bucs can have receiver Julio Jones within the lineup regardless of a recurring knee damage that restricted him in observe all week.

Learn Rick Stroud’s full story right here.

Bucs management their future

Tom Brady might need mentioned it finest.

“The entire season comes down to 3 actually necessary video games,” the Bucs quarterback mentioned earlier this week, “and (Sunday) is the primary of the three.”

Not the most necessary, thoughts you, however nonetheless of consequence.

The Bucs’ playoff possibilities hinge on them successful the NFC South, and so they’ll possible be decided by subsequent weekend’s head-to-head matchup with the Panthers, who path them by a 1/2-game (together with the Saints), at Raymond James Stadium. Carolina defeated Tampa Bay 21-3 Oct. 23 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

For now, the Bucs management their future: Win tonight and Jan. 1 in opposition to the Panthers, and they’re going to take the division.

However a Tampa Bay loss to Arizona would permit Carolina to maneuver into first place primarily based on the head-to-head tiebreaker. Wins over the Bucs subsequent week and the Saints within the season finale would give the Panthers the division title.

Bucs losses the subsequent two weeks and a Saints win over the Eagles may arrange a Carolina-New Orleans showdown for the division title. However the Saints can not end with the identical document because the Bucs (head-to-head) or Panthers (division document) and win the division primarily based on tiebreaker disadvantages.

The Falcons (5-10), who led the NFC South as late as Week 9, have been eradicated from playoff rivalry with Saturday’s loss to the Ravens, Atlanta’s sixth in its previous seven video games following a 4-4 begin.

The Bucs will get a lift tonight from the return of proper sort out Tristan Wifs, who missed three weeks with a excessive ankle sprain.

However they are going to be with out left sort out Donovan Smith (foot), defensive sort out Vita Vea (calf), cornerback Jamel Dean (toe) and outdoors linebacker Carl Nassib (pectoral). Josh Wells is anticipated to maneuver from proper to left sort out to fill in for Smith.

The postseason doesn’t get underway for an additional three weeks.

However the place the Bucs are involved, it would as nicely begin now.

Who’s in/out

Pregame scene

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Just a little gentle studying

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