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Simply put, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady played one of the worst games, not just during his current stint under Bruce Arians, but of his career in Sunday's night 38-3 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Brady tossed zero touchdowns and three interceptions — including a confounding duck over the middle in the third quarter that has to be among the most regrettable passes of his football life.
The last time Tom Brady threw 3 interceptions in a single game?
Week 3 in 2011.
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/dZ8GZJBCOD
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 9, 2020
Despite the addition of WR Antonio Brown, Tom Brady completed 22-of-38 passes for 209 yards and had a passer rating of 40.2 against the Saints defense that consistently got pressure on Brady and blanketed his receivers all night.
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Yet, Bruce Arians isn't placing all the blame for the “shocking” loss on Tom Brady. His team was abysmal across the board, one week after a shaky performance against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football.
The running game led by Ronald Jones II and Leonard Fournette was nonexistent, as Tampa carried the ball just five times for eight yards.
“When you're down 28, you're not running the ball, the pressure is coming,” Arians said afterwards about his QB's performance. “Still no excuse for interceptions, but he was getting hit. It's definitely not on him.”
The Buccaneers' defense — which entered the game ranked no. 1 in defensive DVOA — was fully shredded by Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense. Brees was 26-for-32 and tossed four touchdowns against zero interceptions.
“They kicked our ass in every phase,” Arians succinctly acknowledged in his postgame remarks.
Bruce Arians on the Saints: "They kicked our *ss in every phase."
— Sara Walsh (@Sara_Walsh) November 9, 2020
The Buccaneers have been thoroughly outplayed by New Orleans twice this season. Bruce Arians and Brady will have an opportunity to get back on track next Sunday against the frisky Carolina Panthers.
