How quickly a game can change when emotions run high. Brady helped instigate a skirmish that led to ejections for Lattimore and Bucks receiver Mike Evans, then threw a touchdown pass to Breshad Perriman that led Tampa Bay to a 20-10 victory over New Orleans on Sunday. “It’s an emotional game,” Brady said flatly. “A little execution helps everywhere. I thought the defense played well again and the offensive line fought hard. “Tough game all around,” Brady added. “This is a very good team, very well coached – a team that we really compete with. So it’s nice to win.” Brady, who had missed four straight regular-season meetings with the Saints, struggled again for the first three quarters of this latest, testing matchup between the NFC South rivals. Brady’s frustration was clear when he was caught on camera forcefully tossing a tablet to the turf with a healthy twist of his torso and full follow-through of his hefty right arm. And after his third incomplete pass early in the fourth quarter, Brady was yelling at Lattimore when Leonard Fournette entered the fray and shoved the Saints star into the corner. Lattimore responded by shoving Fournette, and Evans rushed and flattened Lattimore — just as he did in a 2017 game between these teams. “I was just trying to get my teammate back,” Evans said. “I saw (Latimore) hit somebody. I wasn’t going to let that happen. … We know when you come to New Orleans, it gets spicy.” Evans was suspended, just as he was five seasons ago. But this time, so was Lattimore, who did not speak to the media after the game. “It hurts to lose your best corner,” defensive tackle Cameron Jordan said. “Guys are shooting him because they know he’s one of the best corners in the league. “When I saw the replay, (Lattimore) didn’t chase anybody. Somebody chased him,” Jordan said. “What do you want him to do in this situation?” With Paulson Adebo sitting out with an ankle injury, Lattimore’s ejection left the Saints without their top two cornerbacks – and Brady took advantage. On Tampa Bay’s next drive, Brady marched the Bucs (2-0) to the New Orleans 28, then hit Perriman in the back right corner of the end zone to make it 10-3. “We lost a good player and they lost a good player. It was a physical ball game,” Bucks coach Todd Bowles said. “I don’t know if it was a turning point. … It could have gone either way. We knew we had to make some plays.” The Bucs defense thwarted the Saints’ comeback attempt by intercepting Jameis Winston three times in the final 12 minutes. Jamel Dean made the first two picks — one on a deep pass intended for rookie Chris Olave at the goal line. Later, safety Mike Edwards returned an interception near the right sideline 68 yards for a touchdown to make it 20-3. Brady finished 18 of 34 for 190 yards and the lone TD. Winston, who had been limited in practice by a back injury, completed 25 of 40 passes for 236 yards and a TD toss to Michael Thomas. “Everybody in this locker room is playing with something wrong,” Winston said. “What’s more important is that offensively I have to do a better job of running third downs and I can’t give them the football.” Tampa Bay didn’t score until Ryan Succop hit a 47-yard field goal with 3:09 left in the third quarter to tie the game at 3. The Saints (1-1) were threatening to retake the lead when safety Logan Ryan fumbled the ball unhandled by Mark Ingram at the Buccaneers 10 and linebacker Carl Nassib recovered. “We were moving the ball well, we came in to take control of the game. That just can’t happen,” Ingram said. “Whether it was a good punch or a rip, whatever it is, it doesn’t really matter. Wil Lutz’s 31-yard field goal on the opening drive of the game gave the Saints a lead that stood throughout a first half in which Tampa Bay missed two scoring chances. Brady running on third down and short from the New Orleans 34 completed one drive. The Bucs also failed on fourth-and-1 from the New Orleans 8 when Carl Granderson stuffed Fournette’s drive. INJURIES Buccaneers: Defensive tackle Akiem Hicks left the game with a foot injury and reserve left tackle Josh Wells, who was starting for the inactive Donovan Smith (elbow), left with a calf injury. Receiver Julio Jones was scratched before the game with a knee injury. Saints: Leading back Alvin Kamara was inactive with a rib injury. NEXT Buccaneers: Host Green Bay on Sept. 25. Saints: Visit Carolina on Sept. 25.
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