This NFL season has proved to be nothing short of exhilarating. Each week, the players put on a show for the millions of fans watching at home, excitedly cheering on their favorite teams. One state in particular, Massachusetts, should be delighted to see what this season has brought forth for its hometown, as the Patriots are once again a contending team.
This past Sunday, they faced another test in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team led by star quarterback Baker Mayfield and rookie Emeka Egbuka. The Patriots are accustomed to tough competition, having defeated the Buffalo Bills weeks earlier in Buffalo. The Patriots made the trip to Tampa Bay to face a 6-2 team at 1:00 P.M. The Buccaneers were the favorites to win this game, but that did not scare the Patriots, as they never shied away from competition.
The Bucs opened up the scoring within a few minutes, and their dominance was evident. Mayfield connected with Egbuka for a 21-yard touchdown, displaying the overwhelming connection the two of them have had the entire season. The score remained 7-0 Tampa for nearly the remainder of the first quarter until Drake Maye flashed his stardom. He connected with rookie speedster Kyle Williams for a 72-yard touchdown as time expired in the quarter, tying the game at seven.
In the second quarter, the score remained locked at seven until Tampa Bay kicker Chase McLaughlin drilled a 36-yard field goal, giving the Bucs a 10-7 lead with seven minutes remaining. The score would stay this way until Maye rallied the Patriots down the field. Once again, he found a receiver for a touchdown as time expired; this time, he found proven receiver Stefon Diggs for a one-yard touchdown. This touchdown returned the lead to the Patriots, making it 14-10 heading into halftime.
The Patriots received the kickoff and quickly made the most of it. Rookie running back Treveyon Henderson rushed for a 55-yard touchdown within a minute of the quarter starting, giving the Patriots a 21-10 lead. Ten minutes after his long run, Mayfield connected with another rookie receiver, Tez Johnson, for a ten-yard touchdown, making the score 21-16, as the Bucs kicker missed the extra point. The third quarter concluded with the score still 21-16, Patriots in the lead.
The fourth quarter did not boast any scoring until the final 90 seconds of the game. Henderson got the ball and rushed for a 69-yard touchdown. In a unique situation, he checked with head coach Mike Vrabel to see if he should score mid-run. After getting the signal, he proceeded to sprint into the endzone, putting the Patriots up 28-16. Mayfield and the Bucs wasted no time, however, and just one minute later, Mayfield connected with Johnson again for an 11-yard touchdown, making the score 28-23. The Bucs attempted an onside kick, and although they came close, the Patriots ended up winning the ball. With less than 30 seconds left in the game, the Patriots controlled the ball and finished the game with an upset 29-23 win at the Buccaneers’ home field.
The future of the Patriots looks promising with young stars Drake Maye, Treveyon Henderson, Kyle Williams, and Mack Hollins all having an impressive game. Maye threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns, Henderson ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns, Williams had 72 receiving yards and a touchdown, and Hollins caught six passes for 106 yards. Sophomore Harper Ewer exclaims, “I was waiting on Treveyson Henderson’s breakout game because I have him on my fantasy team.” The Buccaneers’ future also looks bright, as Mayfield threw for 273 yards and three touchdowns, Egbuka had six receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown, and Johnson had four receptions for 42 yards and two touchdowns.
The clash between two of the top teams in the NFL provided grand entertainment for fans worldwide. For Buccaneer fans, do not be discouraged; the team is young and promising with an experienced quarterback who will lead the team to a playoff berth. For the many Patriots fans, be excited. The team is extremely young, and the team is having its best season in years. Maye looks like a rebirth of a highly touted quarterback, Tom Brady, and the future is in good hands. Sophomore Benji McNamara said, “Drake Maye embodies the spirit of Tom Brady.” The season has put fans in good spirits, and the team looks to make a run in this year’s playoffs.
