NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Tom Brady helped spark a scuffle that led to Saints cornerback Marshawn Lattimore and Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans being ejected, then threw a touchdown pass to Breshad Perryman that helped Tampa Bay win 20-10 over New Orleans on Sunday.
Brady, who had lost four straight regular-season meetings with the Saints, struggled again through the first three quarters of this latest, testy meeting between the NFC South rivals.
Brady’s frustration was clear when he was caught on camera tossing a tablet into the bench area.
And after his third incomplete pass early in the fourth quarter, Brady was yelling at Lattimore when running back Leonard Fournette entered the fray and shoved the Saints’ star cornerback. Lattimore responded by shoving Fournette, and Evans rushed in and tackled Lattimore — similar to the 2017 game between these teams.
Evans was fired, as he was five seasons ago. But this time it was the same with Lattimore.
With Paulson Adebo sitting out with an ankle injury, Lattimore’s ejection left the Saints without their top two cornerbacks — and Brady took advantage.
On Tampa Bay’s next drive, Brady took the Bucks (2-0) to the New Orleans 28 and then hit Perryman in the back right corner of the end zone to make it 10-3.
The Bucs defense then snuffed out the Saints’ comeback attempt by intercepting Jameis Winston three times in the final 12 minutes. Jamel Dean made the first two picks — one a deep pass intended for rookie Chris Olave on the goal line. Later, safety Mike Edwards returned an interception near the right sideline 68 yards for a touchdown to make it 20-3.
Brady finished 18 of 34 for 190 yards and the only TD.
Winston, who was limited in practice with a back injury, completed 25 of 40 passes for 236 yards and a late TD toss to Michael Thomas.
Tampa Bay didn’t score until Ryan Succop kicked a 47-yard field goal with 3:09 left in the third quarter to tie the game 3-3.
The Saints (1-1) threatened to retake the lead on the next possession, but safety Logan Ryan fumbled the ball out of the reach of running back Mark Ingram at the Buccaneers 10 and linebacker Carl Nassib recovered.
The Saints took the kickoff and quickly got inside the Bucs’ 20, only to be stopped and settled for a 31-yard field goal by Will Lutz.
That lead held through a first half in which Tampa Bay squandered two scoring chances. Brady’s bad snap on third-and-short from the New Orleans 34 ended one drive.
The Bucs also fumbled on fourth-and-1 from the New Orleans 8 when Carl Granderson stuffed Fournette’s run.
INJURIES
Buccaneers: Defensive tackle Akiem Hicks left the game in the second quarter with a leg injury, and backup left tackle Josh Wells, who started in place of the inactive Donovan Smith (elbow), also left in the second quarter with a calf injury. Receiver Julio Jones was scratched before the game with a knee injury.
Saints: Top running back Alvin Kamara was inactive with a rib injury.
NEXT
Buccaneers: Host Green Bay on Sept. 25.
Saints: Visit Carolina on Sept. 25.
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