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.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans on 'Thursday Night Football' Exclusively on NFL Network

The 2016 Thursday Night Football Presented by Bud Light season continues with the Tennessee Titans hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars in an AFC South divisional matchup Thursday, October 27 (8:25 PM ET) at LP Field in Nashville EXCLUSIVELY on NFL Network. Jaguars-Titans will also be available on local stations in Jacksonville (WJAX) and Nashville (WREG).​

Jim Nantz and Phil Simms along with reporter Tracy Wolfson call the action, and are joined by kicking analyst Jay Feely.  

At 6:00 PM ET on NFL Network, TNF GameDay Presented by KFC previews the Jaguars-Titans matchup from NFL Network's studios in Los Angeles. Host Rich Eisen is joined by analysts Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk and Michael Irvin to provide news and analysis two hours before kickoff, while host Amber Theoharis and analyst LaDainian Tomlinson join from outside LP Field. Reporters Tracy Wolfson and Tiffany Blackmon join to provide the latest news leading up to kickoff.

At 7:30 PM ET, NFL Thursday Night Kickoff airs from inside LP Field with James Brown, Deion Sanders and Bill Cowher. Coverage continues at 8:00 PM ET with NFL Thursday Night Kickoff Presented by Tostitos providing the final say leading up to kick-off between Jaguars-Titans. 

Among the pregame topics are:

• Deion Sanders and Bill Cowher take to the field to demonstrate how the Jaguars will slow down Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota
• Which team will win the AFC South?
• Preview of the Sunday night matchup between the Eagles and Cowboys
• How Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has improved without Calvin Johnson

At halftime, Brown, Sanders and Cowher break down the first half on the Lexus Halftime show.

Immediately following the game, the Mazda Postgame show airs live on NFL Network from both Los Angeles and LP Field providing highlights, analysis and live interviews.

The entire 18-game Thursday Night Football schedule, including the live games and pre- and postgame shows, will also be streamed live on the NFL Mobile from Verizon app (NFL.com/mobile), the NFL app on XBOX, including interactive features from Microsoft, and through Watch NFL Network on tablets, PCs and various connected TV devices (NFL.com/watch), with participating television providers. Learn all of the ways to watch at NFL.com/TNF. An audio broadcast of the game is available on SiriusXM, TuneIn & Westwood One Radio Sports.

Thursday Night Football is available in Spanish via SAP (Secondary Audio Program) with Roberto Abramowitz calling the action on NFL Network. 

Raiders beat Chargers 23-20 in TNF

"The 100 Yards" Game Report

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 31-yard field goal in overtime and the Raiders got a defensive stop to seal what might have been the final game ever in Oakland with a 23-20 victory over the San Diego Chargers on Thursday night.

Philip Rivers threw for 277 yards and a touchdown for the Chargers (4-11). They lost their seventh straight division game.

Rams beat Bucs in possible last home game in TNF

"The 100 Yards" Game Report

The St. Louis Rams beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
on Thursday in what could have been the Rams' last
home game in St. Louis.

(AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23 on Thursday night in what could be the franchise's final game in St. Louis during Thursday's Thursday Night Football.

The Rams rolled to a 21-3 halftime lead, mainly because of two touchdown passes by Case Keenum.

Jameis Winston threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and finished with a career-best 363 yards passing for Tampa Bay (6-8).

Tavon Austin scored twice, and Todd Gurley topped 1,000 yards rushing, both for the Rams.