How Tom Brady's historic turnover-filled performance fueled Buccaneers' meltdown vs. Bengals

Edward Sutelan

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How Tom Brady's historic turnover-filled performance fueled Buccaneers' meltdown vs. Bengals image

After a 35-7 flattening by the 49ers in Week 14, the Buccaneers appeared to have found their rhythm again against the Bengals in Week 15 on Sunday. Tampa Bay went into the halftime locker room leading 17-3 — it led 17-0 at one point — and was set to receive the second-half kickoff.

But Tom Brady turned in a very uncharacteristic second-half performance. On the Buccaneers' second possession of the half, Brady threw an interception. The next? A fumble during a sack. The next? A fumble on a handoff. The next? An interception.

By the time his run of turnovers had ended, the Bengals led the game 27-17, and they would wind up winning 34-23, with Tampa Bay not scoring again until the game was already decided.

"We had a good first half. We were in good position. And we just literally just gave them the ball," Brady said. "If you give them the ball, obviously we can’t score, they’re a good offense, so they scored and they took advantage."

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The four turnovers came in the span of 10 plays — 12, counting plays erased by penalties.

Brady's ugly second half marked some unfortunate history for the future Hall of Fame quarterback. It was only the second time in his career he — or even a team led by him — turned the ball over four times in a half. The first time was on Oct. 28, 2001, in a 31-20 defeat to the Broncos. Brady threw interceptions on four straight drives to end that game.

"Just unforced errors," Brady said of Sunday's run. "Two fumbles, two interceptions. Can’t win football games like that."

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The loss added more history beyond the turnover distinction. Coming into the game, Brady-led teams were 159-3 when leading by at least 17 points at one point and a perfect 89-0 at home, per CBS Sports' Doug Clawson.

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It has been a season full of struggles for the Buccaneers, who fell to 6-8 with the loss and find themselves staring at a game against the Falcons in Week 16 that will decide the leader of the NFC South. Sunday's loss marked the sixth time this season the Buccaneers have committed multiple turnovers and the second week in a row they committed at least three.

In games with multiple turnovers since Brady arrived in Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers are 5-11.

"It’s the same old song. Bucs vs. Bucs," Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said. "We play a good first half, and the second half we come out and we shoot ourselves in the foot, either by turnovers or penalties or field position on special teams. Tale of two halves, and the half we played in the second half was Bucs vs. Bucs."

Edward Sutelan

Edward Sutelan Photo

Edward Sutelan joined The Sporting News in 2021 after covering high school sports for PennLive. Edward graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019, where he gained experience covering the baseball, football and basketball teams. Edward also spent time working for The Columbus Dispatch and Cape Cod Times.