Trace McSorley had a chance to play both hero and spoiler in his first career NFL start, helping the Cardinals take the NFC South-leading Buccaneers to overtime in the final game of the league's Christmas Day tripleheader. In the end, however, the quarterback's elder counterpart, Tampa Bay's Tom Brady, got the best of the matchup. Sunday night's showdown was far from Brady's prettiest game; in fact, for a while, it might've been his most uninspiring of the year. Afforded a late opportunity to come back from a 10-point deficit, TB12 delivered in crunch time, setting up a walk-off field goal from Ryan Succop for a 19-16 win.
Here are some takeaways from Sunday night's Buccaneers win:
It's not because they figured it all out, that's for sure. For much of Sunday night, Tom Brady looked as listless as he's been all season, Leonard Fournette struggled to find open lanes on the ground and only Ryan Succop appeared capable of executing consistently. But then Arizona had to putz around down the stretch, and Brady seized the chance to dial it up in the waning minutes, leaning on Fournette, Chris Godwin and Russell Gage to score 13 unanswered. If one thing worked throughout the night, it was Todd Bowles' defense, which hit Trace McSorley seven times and logged five tackles for loss, especially stepping up if/when the Cardinals advanced the ball into enemy territory.
With or without Kyler Murray and Colt McCoy, they cannot consistently move the ball. Arizona's defense actually played quite well, with J.J. Watt offering persistent pressure in Tom Brady's face and Marco Wilson nabbing not one but two deep-ball picks of TB12. But for all of McSorley's gunslinging efforts -- and the veteran backup did have a couple of pretty downfield shots, including one to Marquise Brown -- Arizona just never sustained rhythm through the air. James Conner and Greg Dortch made the most of every touch, but others, like DeAndre Hopkins, were basically invisible. The "D," meanwhile, appeared to be playing catch-up in the final minutes of action, perhaps finally worn down by Tampa Bay winning the time-of-possession battle.
Third-and-9 for the Cardinals at their own 36-yard line on the first possession of OT. McSorley had already connected with Marquise Brown for a precise third-down strike earlier in the drive. Here, however, he couldn't connect with DeAndre Hopkins on a tight-window throw to the left sideline, and officials didn't buy Hopkins' plea for pass interference. At that moment, with the ball going back to Brady and the next score guaranteed to win the game, it was clear Tampa Bay was poised for yet another ugly but victorious comeback.
It wasn't a "good" play, necessarily, but it was huge for the Bucs: McSorley's quick pitch to Keontay Ingram resulted in a fumble that ended up giving Tampa Bay a bonus possession and allowing the visiting team to knot things up at 16-16 late. It also just epitomizes the ugly nature of the entire back-and-forth, which included 11 penalties and five turnovers.
The Buccaneers (7-8) will return home for a Week 17 New Year's Day rematch with the rival Panthers (6-9), who upset the Lions on Saturday. The Cardinals (4-11), meanwhile, will hit the road to take on the Falcons (5-10), who fell to the Ravens this weekend and are now eliminated from playoff contention.
Next score wins after the Cardinals are forced to punt it away. Tom Brady finds Russell Gage for a deep ball with just under seven minutes left in OT shortly afterward, and the Bucs are on track for a potential walk-off field goal.
Great hands from Marquise Brown to move the chains on the Cardinals' first possession of OT:
To overtime we go. Trace McSorley's Hail Mary gets picked after Tom Brady and Co. go three-and-out. Extra football on tap.
Ryan Succop ties the game with his third field goal of the night after Tom Brady puts the ball in harm's way several times. The main reason Tampa Bay is back in this, and now tied, is because Arizona failed to put it away. No one, in the end, is "winning" this thing.
The Cardinals' biggest error of the night:
Probably the turning point of this game right there: Trace McSorley fires a toss to Keontay Ingram on an attempted play-action sweep play, and Ingram isn't ready for the ball. Fumble goes right into the Buccaneers' arms. And now Tom Brady has the ball with a chance to take the lead in the waning minutes of action.
Brady's fourth-quarter TD pass to Rachaad White:
And just like that the Bucs are back in it. Leonard Fournette picks up 44 on a short pass that puts Tampa Bay in enemy territory, and then Tom Brady works the short-area passing game to pull within three on a Rachaad White TD strike to the flat. Trace McSorley, can you put this away for Arizona? Still eight minutes left.
James Conner's potential game-sealing TD run:
James Conner with a big gap off the left side, and he goes all the way for a 22-yard TD. That one may well seal it. It's 16-6, Cardinals. Tom Brady has just under 11 minutes to play, but the Bucs have done precious little with the ball in their hands.
Trace McSorley deals the prettiest pass of the night, chucking it deep for a 47-yard completion to Marquise Brown, setting up Matt Prater's go-ahead 39-yard field goal:
Marco Wilson's second pick of the night:
Oh my goodness. This is just painful to watch. Tom Brady airs it out down the left side for Mike Evans, and once again, it's Marco Wilson who nabs the easy pick. Ball was badly underthrown. Brady is now 15 of 25 for 112 yards and two picks. Might be one of the most uninspiring performances of an altogether underwhelming year for the once-ageless QB.
Matt Prater delivers once again, this time knocking a 53-yard field goal off the goalposts to tie this one up at 6-6:
Greg Dortch the MVP so far:
The Bucs and Cardinals are a combined 4 for 16 on third downs so far. And, believe it or not, in a game featuring both Tom Brady and Trace McSorley under center, neither side's quarterback is doing much to help their team. Greg Dortch continues to stand out for Arizona, however, making a great sideline toe-tap catch to give him four receptions for 60 yards in the first half.
From bad to worse for the Bucs: they get the ball near midfield, drive into Cardinals territory, and then Tom Brady unloads one deep down the left sideline for Mike Evans, only it's very short, and Marco Wilson comes up with the pick:
Bucs go 58 yards on 15 plays, milking more than seven minutes off the clock, and yet again have to settle for three points. Tom Brady has a TD pass to Julio Jones wiped out by an illegal shift. Typical sloppy Tampa Bay stuff. Neither team averaging even five yards per play.
Greg Dortch is about the only thing working for the Cardinals with the ball in their hands. He's the leading rusher with 23 yards on two carries, and is also pacing the receivers with three catches for 43 yards. Fortunately Trace McSorley picks up a few with his legs to cap Arizona's last series, enabling Matt Prater to try one from 56 and knot this game up at 3-3.
J.J. Watt, on fire tonight, gets in Tom Brady's face on third-and-6, forcing a quick release to Cade Otton, who just dropped the ball before turning up-field. Another punt, and Arizona gets a chance to put points on the board as the second quarter approaches.
Another look at the Cardinals' big fourth-down stand:
Finally some boldness from the Bucs' coaching staff, electing to go for it on fourth-and-1 from Arizona's 48, but Leonard Fournette gets stuffed by Markus Golden for the second straight play, and Arizona takes over on downs. No worries, though, because the Trace McSorley-led offense has yet to finish its own drive. Still a 3-0 ballgame.
Cardinals move it 12 plays all the way to the Buccaneers' 13-yard line, and then this happens:
Kliff Kingsbury dials up some trickery on fourth down, and Andy Lee connects with his man to make it work:
Bucs start very well offensively, only to come up short as they reach the red zone. A pass interference on Julio Jones nets a whopping 30 yards, then Rachaad White takes two straight carries for 25 combined yards. Back-to-back incompletions from Tom Brady, including a deeper one to an open Jones, force them to settle for a 38-yard Ryan Succop field goal. It's 3-0.
