Head coach Bruce Arians had a decision to make, and he pondered the possible consequences of his choices. The Buccaneers were up 22-17 with 3:49 left on the game clock, and he could opt to have his charges go for fourth and one on the Giants’ 20-yard line. It was a move supported by quarterback Tom Brady who, naturally, wanted to be in position to put the score out of reach. Instead, he took the more conservative tack and sent Ryan Succop out to secure a fourth field goal in four tries. Mission accomplished.
The problem, of course, was that the Giants still had ample time to tie the contest. And for a while there, they appeared to be in prime position to force the extra period. Daniel Jones continued to blow hot and cold under center, but somehow showed his best just when things seemed bleakest; he summoned some magic on a 15-yard run off a remarkable scramble, as well as on two fourth-down conversions and, most tellingly, a 19-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Golden Tate. The stage was set; all he needed to complete the improbable comeback against the superior Buccaneers was make the two-point try.
That the Giants ultimately failed in extending the set-to speaks less of them and more about the Buccaneers, who were two-touchdown favorites heading into the encounter. Mere inches and a single moment foiled them; had Jones, given ample time by his offensive line, been more on target to the right, running back Dion Lewis would have had enough clearance to catch the ball in the end zone. As things turned out, safety Antoine Winfield Jr. scampered quickly enough to make contact and scuttle the attempted connection. In this regard, it also didn’t help that the pass was late.
Still, the Giants looked to have a chance. The referees huddled and deliberated on whether or not Winfield was guilty of pass interference. In the end, they made the right call, capping a stellar night of officiating and validating Arians’ own decision. Perhaps the Buccaneers deserved another outcome for showing up late to the party and unnecessarily keeping their opponents close. In any case, their talent depth enabled them to prevent yet another heartbreaker happening to Brady courtesy of his longtime foils.
At this point, the Buccaneers have ample reason to rejoice. They’re six and two for just the third time in history, and they wound up claiming the Vince Lombardi Trophy in 2002, when they were last in the same position. And as they aim to rule the National Football Conference South and, ultimately, the National Football League, however, they would do well to keep their focus. As even their most confident fans know, they’re capable of undermining early promise with late-season collapses. To be sure, they now have Brady, who can’t be too sad he’s done with the measurably mystifying Meadowlands and moving on.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
