Bucs vs Saints: Most Impressive Players In Week 13

What started off as a short list quickly grew as the Bucs mounted an unlikely comeback win against the Saints on Monday night. Quarterback Tom Brady led the Bucs offense down the field on two scoring drives in the final three minutes to give the Bucs a 17-16 win that moved their record to 6-6 on the season. It also gave Tampa Bay a sweep of New Orleans, a feat it hadn’t accomplished since 2007. Brady and the Bucs now head across the country for their next game against the 49ers in Week 14.

Here are this week’s most impressive players:

Tom Brady

Brady led the Bucs on the most unlikeliest of comebacks. Through three quarters, 11 minutes and 57 seconds, the offense couldn’t muster more than three points. Down 16-3, the G.O.A.T. drove 91 yards down the field, ultimately finding rookie tight end Cade Otton for a touchdown to bring the Bucs within six points.

After a stout defensive stand, Brady and the offense got to work again with just 2 minutes and 29 seconds remaining. That proved to be enough for one of the clutchest in the game. Brady marched the offense 67 yards and delivered a touchdown pass to another rookie, Rachaad White, to even up the game at 16-all. All kicker Ryan Succop had to do was knock in the extra point and the Bucs moved to 6-6 on the year with the win.

Brady finished the game going 36-of-54 for 281 yards and two scores. He also had an interception he threw right to the waiting hands of Demario Davis, but its didn’t prove too costly as the Bucs pulled out the win.

Lavonte David

David came up with the game’s first big stop after the Bucs took an early 3-0 lead. Rushing the passer on a blitz, the veteran linebacker wrapped up Andy Dalton for a sack and a loss of eight yards, forcing a Saints punt. David also had a clutch tackle for loss on third down on New Orleans’ opening possession of the second half.  He also led the team in tackles with 12.

Ryan Succop

Succop knocked in his lone field goal attempt of the night. He also hit both of his PATs, including the game-winner after Brady led the offense down the field for a touchdown with three seconds to go.

Cade Otton

The chemistry between Otton and Brady continues to ramp up. The rookie tight end had a few nice grabs in the game, including one for a first down to convert on third down and a fourth-quarter touchdown to put the Bucs within six points. He finished the game with six receptions on 10 targets for 28 yards and the score.

Leonard Fournette

Bucs RB Leonard Fournette – Photo by: USA Today

It wasn’t Fournette’s best game of the season and his rushing numbers were propelled by a 10 yard scamper late, but the veteran running back finished Monday’s win with 10 attempts for 49 yards and a healthy 4.9 yards per carry average. He also added six catches on seven targets for 36 yards, and eight of his touches went for first downs.

Carl Nassib

Nassib came up with a huge sack of Dalton on 2nd & 7 on the Saints’ final possession of the fourth quarter. The sack set up a third and long the Saints couldn’t convert with just under three minutes remaining. The Bucs defense showed up with the third down stop, forcing the punt and giving Brady and Co. over two minutes to work with to win the game.

Rachaad White

After back-to-back games with 100 yards from scrimmage, White had a quiet night running the ball. He totaled just 28 yards on nine carries for a 3.1 average. However, he showed up in the passing game with six catches on eight targets for 41 yards. That, of course, included the game-tying touchdown grab from six yards out with just three seconds remaining.

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