Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady addressed the recent string of questionable roughing the passer penalties that have happened around the NFL.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Brady said he doesn't think the referees are robots and they aren't "trying to get it wrong" when they throw flags after a quarterback is hit.

Brady and the Bucs benefited from a questionable penalty called in Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Grady Jarrett appeared to sack Brady clean for a loss of 10 yards on 3rd-and-5 with 3:03 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Falcons trailing 21-15. The officials called Jarrett for roughing the passer, giving the Bucs a fresh set of downs.

Tampa Bay picked up another first down and was able to run out the clock to preserve the win.

Referee Jerome Boger told reporters after the game that Jarrett "unnecessarily" threw Brady to the ground.

During his weekly appearance on 680 The Fan (h/t USA Today's Victoria Hernandez), Jarrett said he was in "a lot of disbelief" about the penalty being called.

On the heels of the controversy involving Brady, Monday's game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs saw another questionable roughing the passer penalty called.

Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones sacked Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and had possession of the football when both players landed on the ground. Instead of being credited with a sack and fumble recovery, Jones was assessed a 15-yard penalty and the Raiders retained possession.

Referee Carl Cheffers told reporters after the game that Jones landed on Carr with his full body weight and the quarterback "is protected from being tackled with full body weight."

The Chiefs erased a 17-point deficit to defeat the Raiders 30-29, so the call didn't impact the final outcome of the game in the same way it may have in the Falcons-Bucs contest.

Per Rob Maadi of the Associated Press, the NFL plans to discuss the roughing the passer penalty during next week's owners meetings in New York.

There are currently no plans to make changes to the rule, but recommendations can be made by the competition committee or teams that would then be voted upon by all 32 club owners.

At least 24 owners would have to vote in favor of a rule in order for it to be changed.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady put to rest any doubt he would be out of the lineup Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.

Brady returned to practice on Thursday and later told reporters his shoulder "feels great" and that he'll "be there" when the Buccaneers take the field Sunday.

Brady returned Thursday after sitting out yesterday's session with right shoulder and right finger injuries. Brady was later listed as a full participant.

#Bucs QB Tom Brady (right shoulder/right finger) was listed as a full participant in practice today.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 6, 2022

Brady appeared to suffer a shoulder injury during a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, although he later said that he was fine.

Other than when he played just one game in 2008 because of a torn ACL, Brady's durability has been a defining characteristic of his legendary career. He was suspended for four games in 2016 but hasn't missed a contest because of injury since that 2008 campaign.

Brady temporarily retired this past offseason but changed his mind, which kept the Buccaneers on the short list of realistic Super Bowl contenders. After all, his resume includes seven Lombardi Trophies, five Super Bowl MVPs and three MVPs, and he is widely considered the greatest quarterback of all time.

The Michigan product has completed 68.4 percent of his passes for 1,058 yards, six touchdowns and one interception in four games so far this season.

The Buccaneers will likely turn toward Blaine Gabbert under center if Brady for some reason Brady is unable to play.

Since winning their first two games of the season, the Bucs have dropped back-to-back contests to the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs. Their defense allowed 41 points and 417 yards to the Chiefs after giving up a total of 27 points and an average of 289 yards in the first three games.

Brady and the Bucs will look to get back on track Sunday when they host the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady missed practice Wednesday because of right shoulder and right finger injuries, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The 45-year-old Brady, who is playing in his 23rd NFL season, has completed 68.4 percent of his passes for six touchdowns (one interception) and 1,058 yards in 2022.

Brady previously appeared on the Bucs' Week 3 injury report with a right ring finger injury, but he still practiced in full Friday prior to the team's Sept. 25 matchup with the Green Bay Packers. Brady started and threw for 271 yards and one touchdown.

He also appeared on the Week 4 injury report with a right finger injury but participated in full practice on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

The seven-time Super Bowl champion and three-time NFL MVP is in his third season with the Bucs. His first ended with a Super Bowl victory, and this year's team figures to contend for the Lombardi Trophy as well.

Thus far, the Bucs are just 2-2, but that's good enough to co-lead the NFC South with the Atlanta Falcons at the moment. Tampa Bay will host Atlanta in its next game on Sunday.

Behind Brady, the remainder of the Buccaneers' quarterback depth chart consists of Blaine Gabbert and Kyle Trask.

Gabbert, who has been in the NFL since 2011, serves as Brady's backup. The former Missouri star has played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans and Bucs during his career.

In 66 games (48 starts), Gabbert has completed 56.3 percent of his passes for 50 touchdowns (47 interceptions) and 6.1 yards per pass attempt.

For the Bucs over the past two years, Gabbert has completed 16-of-27 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns.

Tampa Bay selected Trask with the No. 64 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. The former Florida star completed 67.9 percent of his passes for 69 touchdowns (15 interceptions) and 9.1 yards per attempt during his college career. He notably threw for 43 touchdowns in 12 games during the 2020 season.

Von Miller is keeping fans updated on Odell Beckham Jr.'s process as the star wide receiver gets closer to returning to the field after tearing his ACL during the Los Angeles Rams' victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl 56.

Appearing on Richard Sherman's podcast, the Buffalo Bills outside linebacker said he has stayed in touch with Beckham and he is "going on tour" with visits to the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Von Miller said that he talks to Odell Beckham Jr. every week and that he’s sure the WR could see himself fitting in with the Bills.

Miller said OBJ “is going on tour now. He’s going to Giants practice facility, and the Saints, Tampa, and all that stuff, which you should.”

— Alaina Getzenberg (@agetzenberg) October 5, 2022

Miller, who played with Beckham on the Rams last season, told Sherman (starts at 13:30 mark) he can see the three-time Pro Bowler picking a new team in November or December and that he will "soak in all the love" from interested suitors before deciding where to play.

During an appearance on ESPN Radio's Keyshawn, JWill & Max show last month, Adam Schefter said he doesn't anticipate Beckham playing this season until Thanksgiving.

Assuming Beckham is medically cleared to play around that time, he will have a strong understanding of which teams are true playoff contenders. Clubs looking for a spark at wide receiver will almost certainly be interested in adding him.

The Bills and Rams have long been regarded as potential landing spots for Beckham. NFL Network's Jim Trotter reported last month that Los Angeles still has his name plate on a locker at SoFi Stadium.

That the Saints are potentially getting a visit isn't a total surprise. Beckham was born in Louisiana, graduated high school from Isidore Newman School in New Orleans and played college football at LSU.

It could be difficult for the Saints to appeal to Beckham on a football level. They have lost three of their first four games and have questions at quarterback with Jameis Winston recovering from four fractures in his back that sidelined him against Minnesota last week.

The Buccaneers have been trying to piece together a roster with veteran players for the past two years to maximize the time left with Tom Brady under center. Cole Beasley retired Wednesday, two weeks after signing with Tampa Bay. Julio Jones has already missed two games because of injuries. Chris Godwin missed two games with a hamstring injury after returning this season from a torn ACL.

Mike Evans is the only one of Tampa's top five pass-catchers by yardage who is averaging at least 10 yards per catch.

If the Bucs are going to challenge for a Super Bowl in the NFC, potentially adding a dynamic playmaker like Beckham could be a key piece for them down the stretch.

The New York Giants connection comes after Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reported Monday that Beckham was visiting the Giants. However, Jeff Howe of The Athletic later clarified that Beckham was visiting players, not the team itself.

Beckham, of course, started his career with the Giants, spending five years in the Big Apple after being selected 12th in the 2014 NFL draft.

The 29-year-old was at his best for the Rams last season in the playoffs. He had 288 yards and two touchdowns on 21 receptions in four postseason games before injuring his knee in the second quarter of Los Angeles' 23-20 win over Cincinnati. He opened the scoring in the Super Bowl with a first-quarter touchdown.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had an injury scare in Sunday night's game against the Kansas City Chiefs, as star quarterback Tom Brady appeared to have some discomfort in his shoulder after taking a big hit. However, it appears that the team avoided disaster.

Brady was asked about how his shoulder is feeling during his Let's Go podcast on Monday and he replied, "My shoulder's doing OK, just some bumps and bruises. ... I'm sure I'll be fine in the end. Thank God for Alex [Guerrero], who's always taken care of me."

Late in the second quarter, Brady was sacked by Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed and fumbled the ball. He appeared to land hard on his shoulder, and he was seen on the sideline working on his arm as backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert started loosening up. Despite the apparent discomfort, Brady didn't miss a snap and played the entire game.

The 45-year-old signal-caller put forth a strong effort in the 41-31 loss, throwing for 385 yards and three touchdowns. Tampa Bay fell behind early and was forced to rely on the passing attack, as Brady completed 39 of 52 passes while the team ran the ball just six times.

Through four games this season, Brady has taken a total of 11 hits, seven of which were sacks, per Pro Football Reference. At his age, it's obviously not ideal for him to be getting hit so much. Still, he's continued to perform at a high level and ranks eighth in the NFL with 1,058 passing yards.

Despite its second consecutive loss, Tampa Bay remains tied for first place in the NFC South with a 2-2 record. The team is expected to be one of the top contenders in the NFC this year, but it surely has some issues to address.

The Buccaneers will hope to get back on track when they take on the Atlanta Falcons (2-2) on Sunday.

The NFC currently consists of the unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles, then everyone else.

A sort of malaise hangs over the majority of the NFL. No truly dominant team has emerged. Even the Eagles were down a pair of touchdowns Sunday to the Jacksonville Jaguars before ripping off 29 straight points.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were supposed to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Instead, Tom Brady and Co. have started 2-2 after their 41-31 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football.

Back-to-back home losses to the Green Bay Packers, who are still trying to figure out who they exactly are as a team, and the Chiefs don't bode well for the Bucs.

Yet everything remains in front of Tampa Bay, and it's far too early to write such a talented squad off, especially when the GOAT resides behind center.

The Buccaneers played from behind all night long after rookie Rachaad White fumbled the opening kickoff, and the Chiefs quickly capitalized with a Patrick Mahomes' touchdown pass to his favorite target, Travis Kelce.

The game quickly snowballed as Tampa Bay struggled to contain the Chiefs offense—the same offense that made significant mistakes in last week's loss to the struggling Indianapolis Colts. Things can change rapidly.

"Our red zone defense was poor. Our run defense was poor. Our pass defense was poor. Our third-down efficiency was poor, and we played a poor game," head coach Todd Bowles told reporters after the loss. "That falls on me. I'll take that."

Professional football is funny in a way. Performances don't always carry over from week to week.

The Eagles found a recipe for success. They have the league's best offensive line. The defense flies all over the field. Jalen Hurts is a legitimate threat as a passer and runner, which stresses opposing defenses to the breaking point.

A.J. Brown is everything the team envisioned as its WR1. DeVonta Smith is playing well. Zach Pascal adds a certain level of physicality at wide receiver. Everything is clicking in the City of Brotherly Love.

Meanwhile, multiple franchises own 3-1 records, yet questions still persist if some are any good at all. We're all looking at the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings and wondering if they really are the best their respective conference has to offer, even with their combined 9-3 record.

Tampa Bay is very much in the mix with this group based on how its immediate future currently stands.

An ugly loss against the Chiefs shouldn't be indicative of the entire team or the season. Mahomes made plays. Kansas City came out with an exceptional offensive game plan, as it tends to do. It's one of those games where those within the locker room can simply forget what happened and turn their attention toward the next contest.

A favorable lineup of opponents should certainly help matters.

Over the next three weeks, Tampa Bay faces the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers. The Falcons barely made it past the Cleveland Browns this weekend despite Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney not playing.

The Steelers will have a rookie making his second start in the contest, assuming Kenny Pickett is now the guy after replacing Mitchell Trubisky in Sunday's game. The Panthers are struggling with the league's worst offense.

A 5-2 record is a strong possibility for the Buccaneers, especially as the roster's health improves. Left tackle Donovan Smith and wide receivers Chris Godwin and Julio Jones were active for the Chiefs contest. Those are steps in the right direction.

Defensive lineman Akiem Hicks could be back during the aforementioned stretch as he recovers from a torn plantar fascia in Week 2.

Obviously, the Bucs played from behind the entire night and abandoned the run, which resulted in Brady throwing for 385 yards. Mike Evans looked fantastic with eight receptions for 103 yards and a pair of touchdown grabs.

The 6'5" target remains one of the league's biggest mismatches, and the offense will only improve as Jones and Godwin get more reps by staying on the field.

Despite the outcome, the Chiefs knew what they were facing going into the contest.

"Yeah, they're one of, if not the best, defense in football," Mahomes told reporters last week. "They have a great coach, defensive coach with Coach Bowles, who's done it for a long time and been really good everywhere he's been.

"And they have great players in every phase: linebackers, D-line, secondary, and they've played together for a while, so they're going to kind of confuse you, give you different looks, and they're going to fly around and make plays. So, it's about us executing, getting the ball out of my hand and making these other guys make plays."

Mahomes certainly executed. If the play didn't work, the quarterback usually made something happen. But Mahomes is a one-of-a-kind talent. Tampa isn't going to face another top quarterback until Week 8 when Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens come to town.

Typically, the Buccaneers are one of the best coached and most aggressive defenses. Mahomes wasn't lying with his assessment.

Vita Vea is a powerhouse along the interior. Lavonte David and Devin White cover as much space as any two linebackers. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. has a nose for the football. The talent is there for the Bucs defense to bounce back quickly.

All of the mistakes and shortcomings can be highlighted, but in the end, the Buccaneers are still in first place in the NFC East with a 2-2 start and a 1-0 divisional record. And outside of the Eagles, no one has really separated themselves from the pack.

When looking at the Giants, concerns at quarterback—where running back Saquon Barkley was forced to take snaps in the second half because of injuries—aren't going away anytime soon.

Dak Prescott should return to the Cowboys soon, which will make them a difficult out. The Vikings didn't stack up well against the Eagles when the two teams played in Week 2.

Otherwise, who's really left to challenge for the NFC's top spots?

Aaron Rodgers continues to lead the Packers, even though the back-to-back league MVP is still finding a footing with his new receivers.

The reigning Super Bowl champs, the Los Angeles Rams, couldn't handle the Buffalo Bills in Week 1, only to beat two inferior teams in the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals. Still, this duo sits among the NFC's second tier.

The 2-2 Chicago Bears are a one-sided team with a talented defense but no confidence whatsoever in quarterback Justin Fields.

The Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals sport the same record. The former is currently flying high with Geno Smith behind center, but he can't possibly keep up his record pace of completing 77.5 percent of his passes for an entire season.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals' poorly concocted offense has been highly inconsistent. DeAndre Hopkins' eventual return from a six-game suspension should help the latter issue, though.

Maybe the one-win San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints or Washington Commanders make a run after poor starts. The possibility of that actually happening seems slight, with so many questions littering those rosters.

The Eagles got off to a runaway start. Even so, every other NFC team remains in the mix, no matter how they started.

The conference is just waiting for another top squad to emerge, and the Buccaneers are as good of a bet as any to be that team.

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Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @brentsobleski.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers star quarterback Tom Brady had a strong performance in Sunday night's game against the Kansas City Chiefs, but it all meant nothing after a disappointing showing from the Tampa Bay defense.

The Buccaneers suffered a 41-31 loss on Sunday Night Football as the Chiefs offense looked like a well-oiled machine. Brady finished with 385 yards and three touchdowns on 39-of-52 passing, but it wasn't enough to help Tampa Bay avoid its second straight loss.

Entering Sunday night's game, the Bucs were known for their strong defense. The team allowed an average of just 9.0 points through the first three weeks of the season; Kansas City surpassed that number in the first quarter.

It was surprising to see the Todd Bowles-coached defense struggle so much. Tampa Bay looked overmatched for much of the game as Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes toyed with the defense on multiple occasions. The Bucs also had trouble stopping the run, surrendering 189 yards and two scores on the ground.

NFL Twitter was not happy with the Buccaneers' defensive performance Sunday night and ripped the team's effort against Kansas City.

Alright, the “best defense in the NFL” narrative has died. The Chiefs might get to 50.

— The Pewter Plank (@ThePewterPlank) October 3, 2022

The Bucs defense thinks they can flip a switch and a lot of the times they can but this game has a way of humbling the best of us when u don’t play it the right way

— Booger (@ESPNBooger) October 3, 2022

The Chiefs are making a Bucs defense who has looked very good look very bad

— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) October 3, 2022

The Bucs defense had allowed 27 points total through their 1st 3 games.

Tonight, Patrick Mahomes' Chiefs have put up 28 points in just the 1st half.

— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) October 3, 2022

41 points is the most given up by the Buccaneers over the past 3 seasons pic.twitter.com/DvetfEHHj8

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 3, 2022

The Chiefs have clinically dismantled the Bucs defense tonight.

— FantasyPros (@FantasyPros) October 3, 2022

Bucs defense is so unimaginably bad in this game, that First down sacks don’t even slow the Chiefs down.

— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) October 3, 2022

Bucs defense tryna stop Mahomes pic.twitter.com/IOx0mgVjnn

— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) October 3, 2022

The Buccaneers came in here with a very highly respected defense and through game-planning and execution and of course Mahomes, the Chiefs have made them look silly. Second half is gonna be time to prove it.

— Jeff Rosen (@jeff_rosen88) October 3, 2022

The @Chiefs are shredding the @Buccaneers defense

— trey wingo (@wingoz) October 3, 2022

Kansas City saying this Bucs defense is chopped liver ?

— Chris Williamson (@CWilliamson44) October 3, 2022

I know since it’s the Chiefs some folks will try to find a way to downplay this, but they shouldn’t.

This Bucs defense was (rightly) being called the best in the entire league.

It they were allowing 9 PPG. Hadn’t allowed more than 14 all year.

KC has hung 41 on them.

— nick wright (@getnickwright) October 3, 2022

41 points is the most given up by a Bucs defense since Todd Bowles has been here. Have to go to Week 9 in 2018 for the last time a Tampa Bay defense got pasted like this. #GoBucs

— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) October 3, 2022

Bucs defense tonight: pic.twitter.com/OO45DdbNMN

— Caesars Sportsbook (@CaesarsSports) October 3, 2022

Pat Mahomes vs. the Bucs defense: pic.twitter.com/VDAsUQyCKg

— FanDuel (@FanDuel) October 3, 2022

The Buccaneers defense trying to stop Mahomes pic.twitter.com/qDazEErzEn

— Fanatics Sportsbook (@FanaticsBook) October 3, 2022

Now, they’ll say the Bucs defense is overrated instead of giving the Chiefs offense credit. We know how it goes. Rinse and repeat 🥱. https://t.co/LIuvnXWFLv

— Mark Gunnels (@MarkAGunnels) October 3, 2022

https://twitter.com/BrentNOLA_/status/1576768297055694848

The Bucs entered the year with aspirations of competing for a trip to the Super Bowl. There's a chance that Sunday night's game is an anomaly, but it was still a concerning performance. It could indicate that Tampa Bay can't hang with the elite teams in the NFL.

While the loss is disappointing, it gives the Bucs a chance to reevaluate themselves as they enter the second quarter of the regular season. Tampa Bay (2-2) will look to end its two-game skid next week when they host the Atlanta Falcons (2-2).

The Glazer family, which owns the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is donating $1 million toward the Hurricane Ian relief effort.

"The destruction suffered in Southwest Florida and the damage inflicted throughout our state will be felt for some time," co-owner Darcie Glazer Kassewitz said. "It will take entire communities resiliently working together for an extended period and our family is committed to aiding in the recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with the countless people affected, the heroic first responders and all of those helping to keep others safe."

The DeVos family, which owns the Orlando Magic, announced Friday it will also donate $1 million to relief efforts.

“Our hearts are with this community, which has long been part of our family,” Orlando Magic Chairman Dan DeVos said. “We will continue to partner with organizations closest to those most impacted, and as always, prioritize the health and safety of the people in the region. This community is resilient, and our thoughts and prayers are with those affected as well as the leaders and first responders who continually put neighbors first.”

Ian made landfall Wednesday and was a Category 4 storm when it began hitting the Florida coast. After getting downgraded to a tropical storm, it returned to hurricane status as it made its way up the Eastern seaboard.

#Ian becomes a hurricane again. Taking aim at the Carolinas and Georgia with life-threatening flooding, storm surge and strong winds.

For the latest visit https://t.co/meemB5d6ch pic.twitter.com/yvW9r1uLVu

— National Weather Service (@NWS) September 29, 2022

President Joe Biden said Thursday that Ian "could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida's history" and warned of a potentially "substantial loss of life."

JUST IN: "This could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida's history,” Pres. Biden says during Hurricane Ian briefing at FEMA headquarters.

“The numbers are still unclear, but we're hearing early reports of what may be substantial loss of life.” https://t.co/bukZYwfQ12 pic.twitter.com/G6Iyi4olet

— ABC News (@ABC) September 29, 2022

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis equated Ian to "basically a 500-year flood event."

Per CNN, there are at least 15 reported deaths attributed to the storm. Ian has also caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure, with 2.6 million Florida residents without power.

The Buccaneers host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night. The NFL identified U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis as an alternative location if Ian forced the league to move the game. The Bucs announced Thursday the game will still be held at the original site, Raymond James Stadium.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady is donating to the Florida Disaster Fund in the wake of Hurricane Ian's destruction in the state, and he is encouraging others to do so as well:

Our neighbors support us endlessly, it’s time to return the favor. https://t.co/69AMBa6QWZ

— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) September 29, 2022

Brady and the Buccaneers relocated to the Miami Dolphins' facilities to practice this week in an effort to avoid the direct path of the storm.

While the league monitored the situation, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday's game between the Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs will be played as scheduled. U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis was the contingency site if the game could not be played in Tampa Bay.

According to Amir Vera, Eric Levenson, Jason Hanna and Nouran Salahieh of CNN, at least 15 people have died as a result of Hurricane Ian's torrential rains, winds and flooding from storm surge.

While it was downgraded to a tropical storm after making landfall in Florida on Wednesday, it is expected to regain strength and become a Category 1 hurricane by the time it makes landfall again in South Carolina on Friday.