Tom Brady on late interception against Saints in Buccaneers' loss: I 'cost us the game'
NEW ORLEANS – Tom Brady had no problem pointing the finger at himself.
No, not after his pick-six – an interception in the final two minutes at the Superdome that was returned for a 40-yard touchdown by P.J. Williams – sealed another loss to the Saints.
Williams stepped in front of a short pass to Brady’s left that was intended for Chris Godwin.
“I think I just threw it to the wrong guy,” Brady said. “I had Mike (Evans) open. It cost us the game.”
At least Brady owned it.
So did Bucs coach Bruce Arians, whose squad lost for the first time in five games.
The Bucs (6-2) now head into a bye week with a sour taste in their mouths – and with a third consecutive regular-season loss to their bitter NFC South rival with Brady as their quarterback.
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After all, the Bucs committed 11 penalties for 99 yards, had three turnovers and lost on a day when injured Saints quarterback Jameis Winston was relieved by Trevor Siemian. Not pretty.
“I thought that it was an embarrassing display of football,” Arians said. “Of all the things that we talked about coming down here about what it takes to win, and to play like that, it starts with me. Obviously, we weren’t ready to play, penalties, turnovers, you’re not beating anybody that way.
"Sean (Payton) did a helluva job bringing in (Trevor) Siemian; and, did a helluva job winning the game. And, we didn’t make the plays.”
Including the game-sealing pick-six.
“Good play by the DB,” Arians said of Williams.
Of Brady, he added, “He telegraphed it a little bit, and the DB made a helluva play.”
Brady, who threw for 375 yards and 4 TDs, knows the final dagger was part of a larger picture. He also committed two second-quarter turnovers – a fumble and an interception – that the Saints converted into 10 points.
“It’s tough to win when you turn the ball over like we did,” Brady said. “So, I have to not throw interceptions. That’s the key.”
So far, whatever Brady has tried against the Saints hasn’t worked since he’s been in a Bucs uniform – save for his divisional playoff win over New Orleans last season.
Asked what the Saints have done to give him such a tough time, Brady was succinct.
“Bad throws,” he said.
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tom Brady: I 'cost us the game' with late interception against Saints
