Even by Tom Brady’s lofty standards, the rally he directed Monday night in guiding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 17-16 victory over the New Orleans Saints was special.
The 44th fourth-quarter comeback of Brady’s career set an NFL record, breaking a tie with Peyton Manning, and happened to be the largest deficit he has rallied from in the fourth quarter in the regular season.
The Saints led 16-3 with 5 minutes, 21 seconds remaining when Brady began a touchdown drive that ended on a pass to Cade Otton. The game-winning drive — after the Saints proved inept at clock management — culminated on a throw to Rachaad White, lifting the Bucs to a victory that put it in firm control of the NFC South.