Scrappy Saints surprise Brady, Buccaneers
P.J. Williams #26 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass thrown by Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (not pictured) and returning it for a touchdown during the fourth quarter at Caesars Superdome on October 31, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Sean Gardner/Getty Images/AFP
PJ Williams made a game-clinching interception off Tom Brady for a touchdown as the New Orleans Saints surprised Tampa Bay 36-27 in an NFL showdown on Sunday.
Trevor Siemian tossed a touchdown after replacing injured Saints starting quarterback Jameis Winston, a former Tampa Bay standout who was hurt in the second quarter at New Orleans.
Article continues after this advertisementThe Saints had to turn to third-string signal caller Siemian because backup Taysom Hill was unavailable while recovering from a possible concussion.
Siemian completed 16-of-29 passes for 159 yards and drove the Saints 70 yards to set up Brian Johnson’s 23-yard field goal, which New Orleans a 29-27 lead with 1:44 remaining.
Williams then stepped in front of a Brady pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown.
Article continues after this advertisementPJ WILLIAMS WITH THE PICK TO TOUCHDOWN!!!#TBvsNO | 📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/2xCfZOCIGY
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 31, 2021
The Saints improved to 5-2, moving half a game behind NFC South division leader Tampa Bay.
Brady completed 28-of-40 passes for 375 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions for the Bucs, who were off to a club record 6-1 start.
Winston completed 6-of-10 passes for 56 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown to Tre’Quan Smith. Winston, who ran four times for 40 yards, injured a knee while scrambling and being tackled hard by Tampa Bay linebacker Devin White, who was whistled for a horse-collar tackle penalty.
“I think it’s significant,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “He felt something and is on crutches right now. When he got up and then had to go back down, you were a little concerned.”
Tampa Bay took Winston as the top pick of the 2015 NFL Draft but he struggled with turnovers over five seasons before being dropped last year after Tampa signed Brady, who led them to an NFL title.
Chris Godwin caught eight of Brady’s passes for 140 yards and a 12-yard touchdown.
