Patriots vs. Buccaneers: Highlights, game tracker and more

The New England Patriots faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, Oct. 5 in Week 5 of the 2017 NFL season. Here are highlights from the game.

It was a battle of the future and the present for the NFL as 40-year old quarterback Tom Brady led his New England Patriots into Florida to face 23-year old Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston. For Week 5 in the NFL and for the second time during the 2017 season, New England kicked things off with a Thursday Night Football contest.

Coming into this matchup, the thought was that the Patriots and Buccaneers would be putting on an offensive showcase. After all, the New England defense had been bad, but their offense had continued to look like one of the best in the league. However, that was a far cry from what the fans got on Thursday night.

The ever-reliable Brady threw an interception on his first drive of the game, his first pick of the season. Tampa was unable to convert, though, getting off the field in only four plays, then picking up a stop before having another fruitless drive. That’s when Brady found a little footing and drove down the field for a field goal.

When the Pats scored, it seemed to spark the Buccaneers offense a bit. They punted again on the next drive, but came away with another stop before piecing together a nice drive. Winston and Co. got deep into the red zone before giving it to Doug Martin, who leapt over the pile for a score in his first game back from suspension this season. As they’ve done so many times before, though, the Patriots answered on the next drive, with Brady hitting Chris Hogan to cap off a nice drive.

That’s when the real narrative of this game started to take place, coming in the form of Tampa Bay kicker Nick Folk.

After a punt by the Bucs, New England had a relatively short field and was able to kick another field goal with under a minute left in the first half. Thanks to a big late-hit penalty on a play that should’ve ended the half, Folk had a chance from 56 yards going into the break. Instead, he missed horribly, making it 13-7 for the Pats.

Coming out of the locker room, the Buccaneers had no juice and went three-and-out, which New England responded to with another field goal to cap off an eight-play drive. When Tampa punted again, it seemed like they could fall well behind. However, they got to Brady when he dropped back and forced a fumble. Winston then put his team in a position to capitalize with a 50-yard field goal attempt — but Folk missed again.

Then it got even worse. The Bucs forced a punt and then marched on an 11-play, 84-yard drive to give Folk an easy 31-yard field goal — but he missed that too!

Though Tampa would score after forcing a punt and Winston finding Cameron Brate, they were trailing 16-14 still thanks to Folk’s shortcomings. New England recovered the onside kick, but only got a field goal and gave the Buccaneers the ball back. Winston almost made magic happen, but a last-ditch chance at the end zone from 18 yards out, but couldn’t convert, thus giving them the 19-14 lead.

If only they had an extra nine points.

Highlights

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/916126856528588800

Next: NFL 2017: 20 Bold predictions for Week 5

It’s a win that could catapult either team should they take it. New England could snap out of their .500 doldrums and go on a tear, whereas Tampa could gain immense confidence and carry that forward the rest of the way.