When eight losses are good enough to win a division title, a little bit of honor might go out the window
Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady provided a perfect example of that during Tampa Bay’s 30-24 win over the visiting Panthers on Sunday—a victory that gave the Bucs back-to-back division titles for the first time.
Brady, dropping back to pass late in the third quarter, was given a gentle shove by Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown. The legendary quarterback theatrically went limp, barrel-rolling and slapping the ground in an apparent attempt to draw a roughing the passer call.
To Brady’s dismay, no flag was thrown on the play, and Carolina added insult to injury by blocking Tampa Bay kicker Ryan Succop’s ensuing field goal attempt.
Somehow shaking off Brown’s love tap, Brady completed 34 of 45 passes for 432 yards and three touchdowns in a vintage performance. All three touchdowns went to wide receiver Mike Evans as the Bucs, at 8-8, secured the NFC South title and a home playoff game.
