The Patriots employed an unusual strategy to run out the clock in the first half and it worked out to give New England a 14-10 lead at halftime.
After starting a drive with a little over seven minutes remaining in the second quarter, the Patriots had first-and-goal at the 1-yard line with 1:44 left in the half. The Buccaneers had just taken their final timeout, which gave the Patriots the opportunity to take more time off the clock.
At that point, quarterback Drake Maye took a snap from under center and effectively gave himself up at the line of scrimmage, making it second-and-goal at the 1. The club then took the ball down to just 1:03 on second down, with a handoff to TreVeyon Henderson also gaining no yards.
Head coach Mike Vrabel took a timeout with 19 seconds left in the half before third-and-goal. A Henderson run to the left gained no yards before Vrabel took a timeout with two seconds remaining.
Finally, Maye connected with a toe-tapping Stefon Diggs for a 1-yard touchdown, giving New England a four-point advantage.
The 14-play drive took 7:16 off the clock, spanning 78 yards.
Maye finished the first half 11-of-19 for 180 yards with two touchdowns. His first was a 72-yard pass to rookie receiver Kyle Williams.
On the other side, Baker Mayfield finished Tampa Bay’s first possession with a 21-yard TD pass to Emeka Egbuka. But the Bucs couldn’t get back into the end zone, as Chase McLaughlin had a 36-yard field goal midway through the second period to give the Bucs 10 points.
Mayfield is 9-of-15 passing for 116 yards with a touchdown. Egbuka has three receptions for 76 yards.
The Patriots already have some injury issues at running back, and another at the position, Terrell Jennings, is questionable to return with a knee injury.
New England will have a chance to double up, as the club will receive the second-half kickoff.
The Patriots didn’t have much going on their first two drives, but only needed one play to score on their third.
Quarterback Drake Maye found rookie receiver Kyle Williams for a 72-yard touchdown, tying Pats-Bucs at 7-7.
Williams got some separation as Maye found him off a play-action pass 13 yards down the field. But then Williams turned on the burners, getting down the right sideline for 59 yards after the catch for the score.
Maye also was able to withstand heavy pressure coming to throw an accurate pass.
As noted by the CBS broadcast, it was not only the longest play of the season for the Patriots, but also the club’s longest playin four years.
Additionally, Tampa Bay has been dealing with injuries along its offensive line all year and that has continued on Sunday. Guard Ben Bredeson is out with a hamstring injury.
The Buccaneers are off to a strong start at home against the Patriots.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield tossed a 21-yard touchdown to Emeka Egbuka to give Tampa Bay an early 7-0 lead.
The score capped a quick six-play, 65-yard drive.
Mayfield and Egbuka had also connected earlier in the drive for a 24-yard gain that put the Bucs in New England territory.
Egbuka now leads all rookie receivers with six receiving touchdowns. The No. 19 overall pick has recently been dealing with a hamstring injury, but appears healthy on Sunday.
The Bills are going to be thin at cornerback for Sunday’s game against the Dolphins.
Christian Benford and Taron Johnson are both inactive for the divisional matchup. Benford was listed as questionable with a groin injury while Johnson had the same designation due to a groin injury.
Wide receiver Joshua Palmer is also out with knee and ankle injuries, but defensive lineman DaQuan Jones will play after joining the other three players in the questionable category.
Bills at Dolphins
Bills: WR Joshua Palmer, CB Taron Johnson, CB Brandon Codrington, LB Shaq Thompson, CB Christian Benford, DE A.J. Epenesa, OL Chase Lundt
Dolphins: QB Quinn Ewers, EDGE Chop Robinson, S Ashtyn Davis, CB Rasul Douglas, LB Andre Carter, WR Dee Eskridge, TE Julian Hill
Jaguars at Texans
Jaguars: CB Jourdan Lewis, WR Brian Thomas, RB Cody Schrader, OL Ezra Cleveland, TE Hunter Long, DL Austin Johnson
Texans: QB C.J. Stroud, S Jalen Pitre, K Ka’imi Fairbairn, LB Christian Harris, T Jarrett Kingston, G Ed Ingram, T Tytus Howard
Patriots at Buccaneers
Patriots: QB Tommy DeVito, RB Rhamondre Stevenson, WR Kayshon Boutte, LB Christian Elliss, OL Caedan Wallace, DL Eric Gregory, S John Saunders
Buccaneers: EDGE Haason Reddick, RB Bucky Irving, WR Chris Godwin, DL C.J. Brewer, EDGE Markees Watts, OL Luke Haggard, G Elijah Klein
Giants at Bears
Giants: C John Michael Schmitz, K Graham Gano, CB Paulson Adebo, LB Victor Dimukeje, LB Chauncey Golston, OL Evan Neal, QB Jameis Winston
Bears: WR Jahdae Walker, CB Josh Blackwell, LB T.J. Edwards, TE Stephen Carlson, DE Dominique Robinson, QB Case Keenum
Browns at Jets
Browns: RB Raheim Sanders, WR Isaiah Bond, TE Brenden Bates, G Zak Zinter, T Cornelius Lucas
Jets: WR Allen Lazard, WR Adonai Mitchell, RB Khalil Herbert, TE Jelani Woods, OL Xavier Newman, DL Tyler Baron, LB Kiko Mauigoa
Ravens at Vikings
Ravens: QB Cooper Rush, RB Rasheen Ali, WR Devontez Walker, OL Emery Jones, T Joseph Noteboom, DT Aeneas Peebles
Vikings: RB Corey Kiner, TE Josh Oliver, T Walter Rouse, EDGE Chaz Chambliss, DT Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, S Theo Jackson
Saints at Panthers
Saints: DB Ugo Amadi, CB Rejzohn Wright, T Taliese Fuaga, TE Jack Stoll, DT John Ridgeway, DT Khristian Boyd
Panthers: WR Hunter Renfrow, WR Brycen Tremayne, TE James Mitchell, G Chandler Zavala, DE Jared Harrison-Hunte, DT Cam Jackson
The Buccaneers will have right tackle Luke Goedeke back for Sunday’s game against the Patriots.
Goedeke was activated from injured reserve on Saturday. He’s missed the last six games with a foot injury and took part in all three of the team’s practices this week.
Safety Sebastian Castro was waived in a corresponding move.
Charlie Heck has been starting in Goedeke’s place, but the longtime starter will likely be back in the lineup to face New England.
The Bucs also announced that they have elevated linebackers Nick Jackson and Mohamed Kamara from the practice squad. Haason Reddick and Markees Watts will both miss Sunday’s game, so the Bucs now have more depth on the edges of their defense.
