Midway through the 2nd quarter, Tom Brady was once again screaming in reaction to something rookie wide out: Kenbrell Thompkins had done in regards to a pass Tom had thrown.
The only difference was that unlike last Thursday's game where Thompkins in collaboration solicited a late game talking to from their pro bowl quarterback, this time Brady was yelling in delight not distaste.
After the Patriots struggled in quarter number one, they managed to hold the Bucs down and get to the second quarter trailing but just 3 points. The Patriots defense compiled 2 sacks in the first quarter and their line-backing play was dominant throughout the half breaking off not one but two 4th down attempts by the Bucs.
But while their defense was keeping them in the game, it was time for the Pats OFFENCE to step up.
Tom Brady soon answered the call upping his in game passing totals to 103 yards all while scraping together 2 touchdown drives that both ended with 10+ yard tosses to rookie Thompkins.
These 2 scores were both the first and second of Thompkins' career as he would also get on the receiving end of a 4th down conversion off the throw of Brady.
Stephan Ridely rushed for 30 yards on 7 carries while Aaron Dobson led the entire Patriots receiving core with 4 catches and 35 yards in the 1st half.
All half long, the idea of Thompkins and Dobson throwing their coming out parties was a dominant one but perhaps the biggest story of the first half came with just 11 seconds to go following an Aquib Talib interception.
The Patriots had just scored and after rushing the ball on their first two plays, it seemed that the Bucs were contempt to let the clock run out. Yet on 3rd and 5, Josh Freeman stepped back a hurled a weak throw about 10-15 yards down field all to be intercepted by Patriot Talib. Long story short with so little time left on the clock, Tom Brady toed the line just a few yards out of his kickers range. He had 2 downs left before the Pats would have to punt but with only 6 seconds before the end of the half it was only logical to assume that New England was either going to get this in range for a Goskowski kick or the half would run out.
Long story short, while it was assumed that Brady would have to throw he found himself staring into open field with no defender within immediate tackling range. He took the snap and rushed for 4 yards, his longest ground gain of the season.
The Pats offence than vacated the field and watched from the sideline as Stephan Goskowski converted on the longest field goal of his career.
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