Buccaneers vs. Rams score, takeaways: Tom Brady guides last-minute comeback win in sloppy playoff rematch

Both sides refused to claim a 'W' ... until Brady's final hurrah

The Buccaneers and Rams met on Sunday in a rematch of the divisional round playoff game that sent Los Angeles to the NFC title game a year ago. Both teams have come a long way since then, and not in a good way, as both Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford entered Week 9 desperate for a turnaround. And both continued to struggle throughout their rematch, trading dismal drives all evening. That is, until Brady engineered a last-minute comeback to steal a 16-13 victory and snap the Bucs' three-game losing streak, dropping the reigning champions two games below .500.

The win was not pretty, to be sure, with Mike Evans and Scotty Miller each struggling to hang on to the ball as Brady fought to elevate Tampa Bay's slumping offense at home. But the "W" suddenly, inexplicably, pushes Brady and Co. back to first place in the NFC South. The Rams, meanwhile, have even more questions to answer after Sean McVay's squad consistently failed to seal a one-score lead that came almost exclusively on the back of Cooper Kupp.

Here are additional takeaways from Sunday's sloppy Buccaneers-Rams showdown:

Why the Buccaneers won

The Rams are awful? Los Angeles' refusal to put the ugly game away certainly helped. But let's focus on the positive: Tom Brady still has it, even if the rest of his team does not. It was another day of amateurish play-calling from offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, who's never met a second-and-short running play he doesn't love, and Julio Jones predictably limped off to leave Brady throwing to a drop-infected crew headlined by Mike Evans and Scotty Miller. Even so, Brady kept firing catchable bullets and saved his best for last, needing just 35 seconds to go 60 yards in six plays for the game-winning touchdown drive. On a night his staff and supporting cast tried their hardest to let him down, TB12 stood tall, briefly offsetting all the big-picture concern about this team.

Credit belongs to Todd Bowles' defense, too. While Bowles may be cranking up the heat on his own seat, his "D" got after Stafford on the regular Sunday, taking advantage of L.A.'s weakened front to finish with four sacks and twice as many QB hits. Vita Vea, in particular, was a force on the interior, downing Stafford twice. Somehow, the Rams ended the game without throwing a pick, but the Bucs stymied their aerial attack throughout the contest, with the sole exception of Cooper Kupp.

Why the Rams lost

Sean McVay's offense is dead. Stafford can't be blamed entirely for the shortcomings in front of him -- the line remains a sieve, prompting the QB to either rush throws or prepare to be walloped -- but he isn't capable of elevating such a shoddy unit, either. The big-armed signal-caller was fortunate to escape without throwing his ninth or 10th picks of the year, but if he wasn't airing it out to a wide-open Cooper Kupp downfield, he probably wasn't on the mark. Allen Robinson did emerge on a couple of third downs, showcasing his hands, but it's saying something that his "big day" featured all of 24 yards through the air. The ground game, meanwhile, was nonexistent as usual, even with the notable return of Cam Akers to the field.

Turning point

First down Bucs, with 44 seconds left in the game: Brady hits Cade Otton over the middle for a 28-yard pickup, pushing the ball to the Rams' 32-yard line. Up to that point, Tampa Bay had not proven capable of delivering in or near the red zone, but this connection was a clear indication that Brady wasn't finished. The Rams were totally inept on their previous five possessions, totaling just a single first down in that span while trying to ice the game, and Brady's Otton connection ensured Tampa Bay would at least get one final shot at putting the ball in the end zone.

Play of the game

Kupp had the splashiest plays, for sure, but we're breaking the rules here and awarding this to Brady's entire final series, which proved he -- not the Bucs around him -- is still capable of success in what's been an otherwise rocky 2022:

What's next

The Buccaneers (4-5) will head overseas for the first-ever NFL matchup in Germany, squaring off with the Seahawks (6-3), who routed their rival Cardinals on Sunday. The Rams (3-5), meanwhile, will return home in Week 10 for a showdown with those same Cardinals, who will be looking to snap a two-game slide.

[Nov 6, 2022 at 7:26 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

The Bucs are gonna do it! Brady hits Cade Otton on the little roll-out and Tampa Bay is ahead with nine seconds to play!

[Nov 6, 2022 at 7:25 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Tom Brady delivers one to Scotty Miller along the left sideline to push the Bucs inside the red zone and stop the clock at :19. Does it again on the next play to creep closer to the end zone. Tampa Bay has a real chance to swipe this one, especially after a slant to Mike Evans draws a pass interference call that will push the ball closer to the goal line.

[Nov 6, 2022 at 7:22 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Rams keep insisting on the Buccaneers stealing this game, and vice-versa. Up 13-9 still, they can't get a single first down to put it away (again). Run: no gain. Run: 2 yards. Run: 1 yard. That's an offensive line that cannot win. And so Tom Brady gets another shot to elevate his dysfunctional supporting cast.

[Nov 6, 2022 at 7:18 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Rams have no trouble batting down Tom Brady's fourth-and-goal desperation throw, intended for Mike Evans but tossed into at least double coverage. The Buccaneers are playing exactly like a team with no idea what it wants to be.

[Nov 6, 2022 at 7:16 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Does anyone want Tom Brady to succeed? Seriously? Who is helping him right now? Mike Evans has struggled to hang onto the football all night, and then Scotty Miller drops a perfectly thrown pass to the back of the end zone. Cade Otton takes his turn on the next play, failing to secure a tight-window bullet. Bucs still hapless in the red zone, it seems, even with the game on the line.

[Nov 6, 2022 at 7:08 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Rams with a chance to basically put this thing away with a couple of first downs, and instead they get nowhere. Cam Akers is stuffed behind the line. Cooper Kupp loses yards on a reverse. And then Matthew Stafford avoids a sack only to run into another. Disgusting football from the reigning champions, continuing a trend we've witnessed all year. If they hang on to win this 13-6, it'll only be because their opponents, the Buccaneers, are equally sapped of creativity, proper depth, etc.

[Nov 6, 2022 at 7:03 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Epitome of this game:

[Nov 6, 2022 at 6:51 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Tom Brady finally lets one fly down the right sidelines, putting the ball right on Mike Evans' hands and beyond those of Jalen Ramsey, but Evans can't hang on. Worse yet, he didn't keep his feet in-bounds during the route. Wasted opportunity. No points. Bucs still trailing 13-6, and again, that one-score deficit almost feels insurmountable based on their inability to move the ball.

[Nov 6, 2022 at 6:43 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Another look at Cooper Kupp getting free:

[Nov 6, 2022 at 6:43 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

There it is: Cooper Kupp gets open downfield again, and Matthew Stafford steps up to hit him. Thirty-four yards that time, and Kupp continues to be the Rams' MVP today. Up to 122 yards on six catches, putting L.A. in the red zone for the second time of the day. Right on cue, facing second-and-goal, Stafford gets swallowed up by Rakeem Nunez-Roches for the sack, and then Sean McVay dials up a short run to shorten the ensuing field goal. Conservative finale to one of their few explosive drives of the game. It's now 13-6, and somehow that lead feels massive to a Bucs offense that's been brutal to observe.

[Nov 6, 2022 at 6:21 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Rams extend the lead to 10-6 after a short Matt Gay field goal, but only after two straight Matthew Stafford incompletions put a sour cap on an otherwise promising drive that began at their own 25. Allen Robinson made one of the best plays of his season during the stretch, laying out beyond two defenders to secure a 15-yard gain. Let's see what Byron Leftwich has in store next.

[Nov 6, 2022 at 6:09 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Julio Jones very slow to get up after Tom Brady can't connect with the receiver on a downfield shot on third-and-long. The wideout slipped on the grass as he prepared to come back toward the ball. He hasn't been able to stay healthy during his Buccaneers debut, and it wouldn't be surprising if he's limited from here on out. The clock keeps ticking on this mess of a matchup, and both sides keep refusing to move the ball. Bucs now 4 of 11 on third downs.

[Nov 6, 2022 at 5:52 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

That's a half in Tampa Bay. It's a one-point game after Ryan Succop connects from 38, and both teams take to the locker rooms with their heads hardly held high. Seven three-and-outs between the two slumping clubs, and only God knows what they can tell themselves during the break to amend their offensive woes. This says it all: the Bucs are far and away the leaders in that category so far, and they're averaging a whopping 4.9 yards per play, going 0-for-1 in the red zone. The Cooper Kupp splash TD was the only real highlight of the first two quarters, and it's saving L.A. thus far.

[Nov 6, 2022 at 5:37 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Starting to understand fan concerns about Byron Leftwich's play-calling: what on Earth do the Bucs expect to do handing it off on second-and-five in perpetuity, let alone to a back other than Leonard Fournette? The line is not constructed to steamroll a D-line, let alone that of the Rams, and yet here they go, over and over, pounding it up the gut when you've got Tom Brady under center, Mike Evans out wide and Chris Godwin to boot. Ryan Succop comes on for a 52-yard field goal try after yet another stalled drive, and fittingly, it's blocked. Rams retain their 7-3 lead in this ugly game of football.

[Nov 6, 2022 at 5:31 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Three plays. Punt. Three plays. Punt. Neither the Bucs nor the Rams appear ready to break out of their stagnant shells. Tampa Bay continues to run the same things and expect different results: runs or short throws to running backs on early downs. Doesn't matter who's touching the ball on their end; no one is finding an open hole. The best stretch they had was on their first drive, when Tom Brady actually had the opportunity to drop back and push the ball downfield to Mike Evans and Co.

[Nov 6, 2022 at 5:22 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Matthew Stafford nearly gets picked while trying to sling one out of bounds, with Mike Edwards getting his hands on the ball toward the sidelines. The Rams QB, now 7 of 14 on the afternoon, was tied for second in the NFL with eight picks coming into the game. L.A.'s passing game remains a crapshoot if Cooper Kupp isn't the intended target in open space. Allen Robinson's gotten his hands on a couple of third-down conversions, but he's not creating anything extra, either.

[Nov 6, 2022 at 5:11 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Cooper. Kupp. Somehow the Buccaneers failed to keep a single man on the Rams' top target, and Matthew Stafford zips one downfield after a bobbled snap. The receiver takes it the rest of the way, 69 yards, for the score, and L.A. is out in front, 7-3. That right there is the one way the Rams can win this game: keeping the ball in their play-maker's hands.

[Nov 6, 2022 at 5:06 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

One quarter in, and it's same old, same old with these teams: the offensive firepower may exist, but it only shows up in spurts. A combined five first downs for the Bucs and Rams through 15 minutes, with each side averaging fewer than six yards per play. Cam Akers quickly becoming a focal point of L.A.'s offense so far, which would've sounded wild a few weeks ago.

[Nov 6, 2022 at 5:01 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Cam Akers is back. Despite his apparent philosophical differences with the Rams, and both sides' efforts to split ahead of the trade deadline, No. 3 is on the field and taking carries for Los Angeles now. Already out-touching Darrell Henderson Jr. early on.

[Nov 6, 2022 at 4:50 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Van Jefferson missed a ton of time to start the year while recovering from injury, and the lack of practice really showed at the start of the Rams' second drive, with Matthew Stafford delivering a perfect downfield strike to the wide-open receiver, only for Jefferson to let the ball bounce right off his chest. Can't have those kind of big-play mistakes and expect to win. But that's nothing that hasn't been heard already this year in L.A. The Bucs then kill the drive for good with a couple of sacks -- one negated by penalty, then another for real by Vita Vea. A coward's-draw dump-off to Cooper Kupp sets up the punt.

[Nov 6, 2022 at 4:41 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Three-and-out is exactly how the Rams did not want to start this game, but alas, the Buccaneers get good starting field position after a nice return from Jaelon Darden, and then Leonard Fournette rams through Jalen Ramsey for a key first to set up another big play courtesy of Julio Jones, finally healthy and on the receiving end of a precision throw from Tom Brady. Tampa's QB, by the way, looks comfortable out of the gate, making quick decisions and well-timed strikes over the middle. The downside: Really don't love feeding Fournette up the gut on consecutive red-zone plays after Brady's arm helped drive the team into scoring range, forcing the Bucs to settle for three on their first drive. 3-0 ballgame, and it should be 7-0, Tampa Bay.