Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Thursday Night Notes: New England Patriots at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 5 kicks off on Thursday night (8:25 PM ET, CBS/NFLN/Amazon Prime) with an interconference showdown as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the New England Patriots at Raymond James Stadium. The Patriots and Buccaneers will meet for the ninth time with New England leading the all-time series, 6-2.

New England quarterback TOM BRADY completed 32 of 45 passes (71.1 percent) for 307 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 104.6 passer rating in the Patriots' Week 4 loss to Carolina. Brady, who has 1,399 passing yards with 10 touchdowns and no interceptions this season, is the first player in NFL history to pass for at least 1,000 yards with 10 touchdowns and no interceptions through his team's first four games in two different seasons during his career. He also accomplished the feat in 2015. Tampa Bay quarterback JAMEIS WINSTON passed for 332 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 113 passer rating and kicker NICK FOLK converted a 34-yard field goal as time expired to give the Buccaneers a 25-23 victory over the New York Giants last week. Tampa Bay has won six games in a row at home and wide receiver MIKE EVANS aims for his fourth consecutive home game with a touchdown catch.
 

PATRIOTS NOTES:

• QB TOM BRADY passed for 307 yards with 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 104.6 rating last week. Aims for 4th in row with 300+ pass yards, 2+ TDs & 0 INTs. Is 1st player in NFL history with 1,000+ pass yards (1,399), 10+ TD passes (10) & 0 INTs through team’s 1st 4 games in 2 different seasons (2015). In past 3 meetings, has 8 pass TDs vs. 3 INTs for 106.9 rating. In past 14 vs. NFC (incl. SB), has 4,581 pass yards (327.2 per game) with 34 TDs vs. 9 INTs for 103.7 rating.

• RB MIKE GILLISLEE has 7 rush TDs in 9 career games vs. NFC. Ties for 2nd in NFL with 4 rush TDs. RB JAMES WHITE tied career-high with 10 catches in Week 4. Has 22 catches in 2017, tied for 2nd among NFL RBs. Has 14 catches for 148 yards (74 per game) & TD in past 2 on road vs. NFC. RB DION LEWIS had rush TD last week.

• WR CHRIS HOGAN has 4 TD catches in past 3. Leads AFC with 4 rec. TDs. TE ROB GRONKOWSKI aims for 4th in row with 80+ rec. yards. Has 100+ rec. yards & TD catch in each of past 2 on road vs. NFC. Ranks 3rd in AFC with 318 rec. yards. WR DANNY AMENDOLA had TD catch last week. Has TD catch in 2 of past 3 vs. NFC. WR BRANDIN COOKS had 98 rec. yards in his last game vs. TB (12/24/16 with NO).

• LB DONT’A HIGHTOWER had sack last week. Has sack in 2 of past 3 vs. NFC. CB MALCOLM BUTLER had INT in Week 4. Has 2 INTs & 5 PD in past 3 vs. NFC. LB KYLE VAN NOY has 19 tackles & sack in past 2. CB STEPHON GILMORE had INT & 2 PD in only career meeting (12/8/13 with Buf.). 

BUCCANEERS NOTES:

• QB JAMEIS WINSTON passed for 332 yards with 3 TDs & 0 INTs for 113 rating last week. Is 6-0 with 9 TDs vs. 3 INTs for 95.8 rating in past 6 at home. In 2 career Thursday games, has 624 pass yards (312 per game), 5 TDs & 1 INT for 96.1 rating.

• RB JACQUIZZ RODGERS had 108 scrimmage yards (83 rush, 25 rec.) in Week 4. RB DOUG MARTIN had 108 scrimmage yards (88 rush, 20 rec.) in last meeting.

• WR MIKE EVANS aims for 4th in row at home with rec. TD. Has 20 receptions for 307 yards (153.5 per game) & 2 TDs in past 2 Thursday games. Since 2015, ranks 3rd in NFC in rec. yards (2,754) & ties for 4th in TD catches (17). TE CAMERON BRATE led team with 80 rec. yards last week. Aims for 3rd in row with rec. TD. Has 10 TD catches since 2016, most among NFL TEs. Rookie TE O.J. HOWARD had 1st career TD in Week 4.

• DT GERALD MC COY has 8.5 sacks in past 10 vs. AFC. Since 2013, leads NFL DTs with 33.5 sacks. DE ROBERT AYERS has 6 sacks & 2 FFs in past 8 vs. AFC. Had sack & FF in last meeting (11/15/15 with NYG). In past 4 vs. AFC, CB BRENT GRIMES has 6 PD & FF. Has 17 PD & 3 INTs, incl. 31-yard INT-TD in past 9 at home. Leads NFL with 70 PD & ranks 4th with 17 INTs since 2013. CB VERNON HARGREAVES had career-high 9 tackles in Week 4. LB KENDELL BECKWITH leads NFL rookies with 22 tackles. Aims for 3rd in row with 8+ tackles.

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