TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ wide receiver Breshad Perriman had one catch on the afternoon and that one sent the Buffalo Bills packing.
Perriman found Bills linebacker Tremaine Edmunds in coverage and turned a 20-yard crossing pattern into a sprint for the game-winning touchdown as the Buccaneers slipped past the Buffalo Bills, 33-27, on Sunday evening.
“It was a great play really, great throw, and he has that great speed and then was able to stretch it out,” said Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians.
Buccaneers defensive back Carlton Davis blanketed wide receiver Gabriel Davis to force an incompletion and a three-and-out as the Bills had the ball first in overtime.
“We finally got pressure and got off the field and we were able to win it because of that third down stop,” said Arians.
Tom Brady then drove the Bucs 94 yards in six plays as Perriman easily outdistanced Edmonds off of the line of scrimmage, then again as he turned the corner.
“It’s crazy how it worked out and I was supposed to be picking for Mike (Evans) so they both went with him and Tom threw an amazing ball and I was able to do the rest,” said Perriman. “I was able to stiff-arm him because I was able to peak at the Jumbotron.”
Perriman is a journeyman wide receiver, who spent the 2019 season in Tampa Bay where he set career highs with 36 receptions for 645 yards and six touchdowns.
He started his career in Baltimore and was then with Cleveland before the season in Tampa Bay. He was with the Jets last year and found himself with the Bears this season, but never found the field before being waived.
“It’s a blessing for how my year has been going so far,” said Perriman. “I am thankful to God and to my teammates because they keep it on top of the world.”
He had worked extra with Brady since coming onto the squad and Brady had shown him the routes that he likes.
Brady became Perriman’s biggest fan on the play as he was yelling, “Go BP, Run!”
“We had a cross route called and they jumped Mike going across the field,” said Brady, who threw for 368 yards on the day. “They left BP back there and I caught him picked up out of the corner of my eyes and I got him and he made a great catch and run.”
This was the 700th touchdown pass of Brady’s career and his record all-time versus Buffalo moved to 33-3 with 70 touchdown passes and 21 interceptions.
Fournette’s Consistency: Running back Leonard Fournette had the Buccaneer’s first 100-yard rushing day two weeks ago in a win over the Colts. On Sunday, he recorded the second one as he had 113 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown.
Fournette opened scoring in the first quarter as he scored on a 47-yard power run off the right side, giving Tampa Bay a 7-0 lead with 8:12 remaining in the first quarter.
“It wasn’t just me,” said Fournette. “They made great blocks. If it wasn’t for those blocks, I wouldn’t have scored that touchdown, so my O-line was definitely getting the job done.”
Bills Circle those Wagons: Tampa Bay rolled up a 24-3 halftime lead and looked like they were going to cruise to an easy win and place Buffalo further in the throes of the AFC.
However, that didn’t happen as Bills quarterback Josh Allen scored on an 18-yard run and then threw touchdown passes of 15 yards to Dawson Knox and four yards to Gabriel Davis to cut the Buccaneers’ lead to 27-24.
Tampa Bay’s defense was on its heels the entire second half, but Carlton Davis forced an incompletion to Gabriel Davis on third-and-two to force the game tying field goal as Buffalo had marched from its own 23.
Buffalo rolled up 307 yards on 50 plays in the second half alone after the Bills had just 158 yards total in the first half.
“Tonight we came out hot and let them back in, but when it mattered the most, we were able to overcome and get the three-and-out on the first series (of overtime),” said linebacker Devin White. “Stuff like that means the world going into the last stretch of the final season.”
