Patriots Trounce Buccaneers 35-7 in London Showdown
The Pats picked up where they left off last week and lit up the Wembley pitch with 414 net yards and five touchdowns to continue their dominance.The Pats, who held the Bucs to just 240 net yards, are now 5-2 on the season and have won their fourth game in the last five weeks heading into their bye week.
With the blowout 35-7 win, the Pats have now outscored opponents 94-7 in the last two weeks.
Patriots 35, Buccaneers 7
Oct. 25, 2009
Wembley Stadium, London, England
Live Blog | Box Score | Recap
Headliner: Tom Brady didn’t set any records this week, but the Pats’ play-caller threw for three touchdowns on 308 yards and completed 23-of-32 pass attempts. Brady has now thrown 15 touchdown passes on the season including nine in the last two weeks alone.
Brady now has 26 career 300-yard regular season games under his belt which ties him with Drew Bledsoe for most all-time as a member of the Patriots.
Game Ball: Safety Brandon Meriweather entered the game without a pick this season but came away with two interceptions including a pick-six on the Buccaneers’ opening drive of the first quarter to put the Pats on top early. The third-year safety now has six picks in his career.
Linebackers Tully Banta-Cain (five total tackles) and Jerod Mayo (eight total tackles) each led the defense while rookie Pat Chung grabbed his first career sack and fellow first-year player Darius Butler snagged his second interception in as many weeks.
Better Luck Next Week: Bucs quarterback Josh Johnson tossed his fourth touchdown pass of the season but was picked off three times including twice by Meriweather – one of which was returned for a touchdown. Johnson has now been picked eight times this season. Johnson was pulled in the fourth quarter for Josh Freeman.
The Pats committed 10 penalties for 66 yards, though they converted on 6-of-12 third downs.
Key Moment: Up 14-0 in the second quarter, Tom Brady hit Sam Aiken who sprinted downfield for a 54-yard touchdown – the longest play of the Patriots’ season thus far. That score put the Pats up 21-0 and put the game well out of reach for the battling Bucs.
Scouting Report: The Patriots will have plenty of time to shake off any jet lag from their return flight home as they approach their annual bye week. The Pats will have two weeks to prepare for the Miami Dolphins and their wildcat offense. Miami is 2-3 on the season and is hosting surging the Saints on Sunday and will be taking on their AFC East rivals, the Jets, in Week 8. Bill Belichick’s crew has won each of their last six regular season games following a bye week.
