Last night on Monday Night Football, two NFC teams faced off to close out Week 8 in the NFL. Of the two, one sits at the bottom of its division at 1-7, while the other is in command of its division with a solid 6-2 lead. While almost everyone thought the game might be a blow out in favor of the leading team, if this year’s NFL season has taught us anything, it’s that nothing is ever a lock. The New York Giants, with a 3-4 record in the NFC East, gave the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers a lot more trouble than anyone expected. 

The Bucs put the first points on the board, a field goal to take a 3-0 lead. However, things went a little sideways from there, as quarterback Tom Brady found himself trying to mount a comeback after falling 11 points behind. The Giants came out with both guns blazing in the first half, holding the Bucs to just six points, and kept the pressure on Tampa into the third quarter before the Bucs were finally able to get into the end zone for a touchdown.

Two Bucs interceptions in the second half gave the team a boost, but it wasn’t a pretty game. The Giants continuously threatened the Bucs and led the game in total yards, as well as first downs. Tampa was forced to punt three times and added a turnover to a game that had underdog-pickers thinking they might cash in big time until the very end. 

It could honestly be said that the Bucs were able to win because of Brady, whose veteran status allowed him to keep his cool and stay calm under pressure. He found Rob Gronkowski and Mike Evans to pick up touchdown passes, moving into first place on the list for most career TDs in the league. He now has 561, having overcome New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who previously held the record with 560.