TAMPA, Fla. — Mike Vrabel greeted his players with a handshake and a statement: “NFC South champs!”
TreVeyon Henderson powered the New England Patriots with touchdown runs of 69 and 55 yards, while Drake Maye threw two TD passes, leading the Patriots to a 28-23 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The win marks New England’s seventh straight triumph.
Vrabel, in his first year coaching the team where he won multiple Super Bowls as a player, now has the Patriots sitting atop the AFC East with an 8-2 record after a dismal 4-13 season last year. With the victory over the Buccaneers, the Patriots completed a four-game sweep of the NFC South division, which Tampa Bay has ruled for the past four years.
“It’s not always perfect but I love the way they compete,” Vrabel said. “It was a long game. It’s a tough place to play. It was a warm day and they’re good.”
After Maye threw an interception in the end zone, the Patriots made a crucial stop on fourth-and-3 at their own 27-yard line. Henderson then sealed the game with his 69-yard touchdown run. The rookie finished with a career-high 147 yards rushing on 14 carries.
“Honestly, it felt good,” Henderson reflected. “This season comes with a lot of ups and downs in the NFL, but I thank God for the way He’s allowed it to go because He’s matured me a lot in my faith. He’s drawn me closer to Him. I’ve been trying to trust the process, be present in the moment, and during game time, whatever opportunity comes my way, try my best to take advantage of it.”
The Buccaneers (6-3) came in as the first team in NFL history to have each of their first four wins decided by a game-winning score in the final minute of regulation. They had a chance to do it again when Tykee Smith intercepted Maye’s pass from the 2-yard line in the end zone with 5:17 left in the game. However, on a crucial fourth down, Baker Mayfield was swarmed by the Patriots defense and his flipped pass to Rachaad White fell short of the first down just outside the red zone.
Mayfield threw his second touchdown pass of the game to Tez Johnson in the final minute, cutting the deficit, but New England recovered the ensuing onside kick to secure the win.
“We didn’t play well. We have to take it on the chin. Give Vrabel and the Patriots a lot of credit,” Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said. “They did a heck of a job doing the things they needed to do. Their players made plays, our players did not. We’ve got to coach it better, play better, and that starts with me.”
Henderson extended New England’s lead to 21-10 on the second play of the second half with a 55-yard run up the middle. Mayfield responded by scrambling out of pressure to connect with Johnson for a 10-yard touchdown pass, narrowing the Patriots’ lead to 21-16 in the third quarter.
Tampa Bay attempted a “Philly Special” style two-point conversion, but the Patriots were ready, and Emeka Egbuka was stopped on a run.
The Patriots took a 14-10 lead on Maye’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs as the clock expired in the first half. After the Buccaneers stuffed three straight runs from the 1-yard line earlier, Maye delivered a perfect pass to Diggs in the corner of the end zone. Diggs made a tremendous catch over Antoine Winfield Jr., keeping both feet inbounds.
Maye also connected with Kyle Williams on a 72-yard catch-and-run touchdown to tie the game at 7 on the final play of the first quarter. It was New England’s longest play this season.
The Buccaneers opened the scoring on their opening drive with Mayfield finding Egbuka for a 21-yard touchdown pass. Chase McLaughlin’s 36-yard field goal later extended Tampa Bay’s lead to 10-7.
### Chunk Plays Propel Patriots
The Patriots showcased big-play ability with three touchdowns of 50-plus yards. Maye also connected on a 54-yard pass to Mack Hollins on third-and-14 in the fourth quarter, reaching the Buccaneers’ 8-yard line.
“They were inexcusable on our part. Bad on the coaching, bad on the players,” Bowles admitted.
### Brady Bowl: First Meeting Since Brady’s Retirement
This game marked the first matchup between the teams since Tom Brady retired. Among fans in the stands, more No. 12 Patriots jerseys were spotted than No. 12 Buccaneers jerseys.
Brady led New England to six Super Bowl titles over 20 seasons and won one with the Buccaneers during his three years in Tampa Bay.
### Injuries
**Patriots:**
– DT Christian Barmore (back) was hurt in the fourth quarter.
– RB Terrell Jennings (knee) did not return in the second half.
– WR Kayshon Boutte (hamstring), RB Rhamondre Stevenson (toe), and LB Christian Elliss (hip) did not play.
**Buccaneers:**
– LG Ben Bredeson left the game with a hamstring injury in the first quarter.
– RB Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder), WR Chris Godwin (fibula), WR Mike Evans (clavicle), and OLB Haason Reddick (knee, ankle) were out.
### Up Next
The Patriots will host the New York Jets on Thursday night.
https://www.centralmaine.com/2025/11/09/treveyon-henderson-leads-patriots-to-seventh-straight-win/