LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Tom Brady threw five touchdowns to five different receivers to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a come-from-behind 38-31 NFL win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday in Tampa, Florida.
Six-time Super Bowl champion Brady passed for a total of 369 yards, with his favorite target being Mike Evans, who caught seven passes for 122 yards and a touchdown for the Buccaneers.
Brady led the Buccaneers back from a 17-point deficit after they gave up 24 unanswered points in the first half.
“Tom, he’s never behind in his mind. We can always make plays to win games,” coach Bruce Arians said.
Because of the global pandemic, which led to the postponement of two NFL Sunday games in week four, organizers allowed just 6,300 spectators into Raymond James Stadium.
Ronald Jones led the rushing offense with 20 carries for 111 yards.
“How can you not believe in him? He’s the greatest to ever do it,” receiver Scotty Miller said. “We just go in there and follow his lead.”
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert completed 20 of 25 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns. Herbert also threw an interception.
Brady connected with rookie running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn for a nine-yard touchdown pass to give Tampa Bay a 35-31 lead with just over 11 minutes remaining.
Ryan Succop added a 26-yard field goal with 2:44 left before Carlton Davis sealed the victory with an interception.
“We’ve got to keep building on the confidence in one another because there’s nothing we’re doing out there that’s perfect,” Brady said. “But we’re going to have to keep building on the good things and learn from the bad things.”
– ‘We got the win’ –
Also, Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow collected his first NFL victory as the host Bengals toppled the Jacksonville Jaguars 33-25 at Paul Brown Stadium.
First overall draft pick Burrow made NFL history, becoming the first rookie quarterback to throw for at least 300 yards in three straight games.
Burrow hit on 25 of 36 passes for 300 yards against the Jags, with one touchdown and one interception. He compiled 316 yards at the Cleveland Browns in week two, and 312 yards at Philadelphia in week three.
“We got the win, that’s all I care about,” Burrow said. “I can throw for seven or 500 yards — it doesn’t matter to me.”
Elsewhere, Josh Allen passed for 288 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another as the Buffalo Bills remained unbeaten by handing the Las Vegas Raiders their first home loss 30-23.
Allen completed 24 of 34 passes, Stefon Diggs caught six passes for 115 yards, and Devin Singletary rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown for Buffalo, who improved to 4-0.
Derek Carr completed 32 of 44 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns for Las Vegas. Darren Waller caught nine passes for 88 yards but also had a costly fumble.
Josh Jacobs rushed for 48 yards on 15 carries, and Daniel Carlson kicked three field goals (54, 39 and 25 yards) for the Raiders.
Also, Drew Brees threw consecutive touchdowns to Tre’Quan Smith as the New Orleans Saints rallied on short rest to beat the Detroit Lions 35-29.
Brees and Smith connected for two scores just 2:19 apart in the first half.
“Everybody just persevered and we found a way to get a big win,” Brees said.
The game was briefly in doubt after Saints player Michael Burton tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday night after the team arrived in Detroit.
Medical staff conducted another round of tests overnight Saturday. Burton’s follow-up test came up negative, causing doctors to announce a “false positive” and clear the way for the game to go ahead.
“Just a lot of emotions going on because you never want to be a distraction,” Burton said. “They had to wake up other guys and test them.”
Elsewhere, reigning league MVP Lamar Jackson ran for a 50-yard touchdown and threw for two scores in a bounce-back performance by the Baltimore Ravens, who beat the Washington Football Team 31-17.
Philip Rivers passed for 190 yards and a touchdown, and Rodrigo Blankenship kicked four field goals as the Indianapolis Colts handed the Chicago Bears their first loss 19-11.
© Agence France-Presse