National Football League

NFL Week 4 top moments: Buccaneers hold off Patriots in Brady's return

Updated Oct. 4, 2021 12:05 a.m. ET

Week 4 of the NFL season featured a couple of teams making huge statements and closed Sunday night with one of the most anticipated regular-season games in league history.

Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers narrowly escaped the New England Patriots 19-17 in Foxborough. With the win, Brady has defeated every team in the NFL.

The Arizona Cardinals remained undefeated with a dominant 37-20 victory over the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, moving to 4-0 for the first time since 2012. Meanwhile, in Denver, the Baltimore Ravens handed the Broncos their first loss of the season 23-7.

In the early window, Sam Darnold and the Carolina Panthers also suffered their first defeat in falling to Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys 36-28, and No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson and the New York Jets snagged their first win by defeating the Tennessee Titans at home in overtime 27-24.

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Here are the top moments from Sunday's action-packed slate.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19, New England Patriots 17

Brady's return

Ahead of the game, Brady greeted some familiar faces.

As he took the field for the first time, ahead of the Buccaneers' opening drive, Brady was met with a wave of boos from the boisterous crowd in New England.

Midway through the first quarter, Brady passed Drew Brees (80,358) for most passing yards in NFL history with this 28-yard completion to Mike Evans, which led to a field goal for Tampa Bay.

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Mac Attack

The Patriots took the lead when rookie QB Mac Jones connected with Hunter Henry for six on this play.

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Tampa Bay charged downfield late in the second quarter but wasn't able to find the end zone. Headed into the break, the Buccaneers trailed the Patriots 7-6.

In the first half, Brady went 15-for-27 (55.5%) for 182 yards. On the other side, Jones was 15-of-20 for 130 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.

Bucs bounce back

Tampa Bay took the lead in the second half, courtesy of Ronald Jones, going up 13-7 headed into the final frame.

Trading off

But three seconds into the fourth, New England regained the lead 14-13 when Jones connected with a waiting Jonnu Smith in the end zone.

That was too close for comfort for Brady, who led the Bucs downfield on the ensuing possession and picked up a huge first down on the ground, which led to a field goal.

Just like that, Tampa Bay was back on top at 16-14 with 7:58 remaining.

Razzle Dazzle

The Patriots showed some trickery when Jakobi Meyers launched this bomb to Nelson Agholor for a 30-yard gain.

Closing time

Brady got the ball back with 4:34 to play after New England kicked a field goal to go back up 17-16, and he wasted no time moving the chains. With another kick, the Buccaneers regained the lead at 19-16.

It all came down to the final minute, and Brady & Co. emerged victorious after Nick Folk's 56-yard field goal attempt came up short.

Baltimore Ravens 23, Denver Broncos 7

Pregame show

Oh, this? Just Justin Tucker doing GOAT things.

Ground game

The Broncos attacked the run game early, as rookie back Javonte Williams powered through the Baltimore defense.

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Ravens take flight

The Ravens turned it on in the second quarter. Baltimore's first score came on this run and jump from Latavius Murray …

… then Lamar Jackson launched this rocket to Marquise Brown in the end zone for another Ravens TD.

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Record books

The Ravens kept their streak of 100-yard rushing games alive with this short run at the end of regulation.

Green Bay Packers 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 17

400 club

Ben Roethlisberger dropped this dime to Diontae Johnson, good for a Steelers touchdown and Big Ben’s 400th career TD pass.

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Good as gold

The Packers responded with a touchdown run from Aaron Rodgers to knot things up, followed by this connection between the reigning league MVP and Randall Cobb to take the lead.

In the third quarter, Rodgers found Cobb once again for six — and made some history in the process.

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Arizona Cardinals 37, Los Angeles Rams 20

Cardinals fly

Kyler Murray launched this ball into the sky, and it landed in the hands of A.J. Green for a Cardinals touchdown.

How about this rush from James Conner to extend Arizona's lead?

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Kupp connection

Late in the first half, the Rams charged downfield with help from star receiver Cooper Kupp.

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Seattle Seahawks 28, San Francisco 49ers 21

49ers strike first

Jimmy Garoppolo got things going for the 49ers in the first, giving San Francisco an early lead over the Seahawks.

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Russ cooks

Russell Wilson leaped into the end zone to give Seattle the lead in the third, followed by this wild scramble on the next possession that also, somehow, ended in a Seahawks touchdown.

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Lance magic

Garoppolo didn’t return in the second half of Sunday’s game due to a calf injury, and Trey Lance checked in at QB to start the third. The rookie wasted no time making a big play, connecting with a wide-open Deebo Samuel for six.

Dallas Cowboys 36, Carolina Panthers 28

Something out of nothing

Prescott was up to his usual magic-making ways for the Cowboys, which helped set up this short scamper for six from Ezekiel Elliott.

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Spin cycle

On the other side, Panthers wideout DJ Moore unleashed this incredible display of balance to respond.

In the second quarter, Darnold masqueraded as a running back once again, picking up his second rushing score of the half.

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Don't doubt Dak

In the second half, Prescott let it rip, connecting with Amari Cooper along the sideline on this wild, diving catch.

And how about this spin action from Cedrick Wilson on Prescott's fourth touchdown score of the day?

Kansas City Chiefs 42, Philadelphia Eagles 30

Speedster

Kansas City Chiefs star wide receiver Tyreek Hill began the game by doing what he does best: making guys miss.

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Going underhand

Midway through the first, Patrick Mahomes got crafty with this touchdown pass to Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

Answering back

Jalen Hurts found Dallas Goedert in the end zone to give the Eagles an early advantage.

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Tyreek to infinity

Mahomes continued to look Hill's way, finding him multiple times on Kansas City's ensuing drives.

And the Oscar goes to ...

Travis Kelce showed off his acting chops on this TD play, confusing the Eagles' defense before the snap.

New York Jets 27, Tennessee Titans 24, OT

Hey rookie

Tennessee took an early 9-0 lead, but the Jets charged back, capping off a long drive with this TD push for first-year running back Michael Carter. It took a team effort to spring him.

Rookie QB Wilson didn't shy away from launching the ball down the field, and it paid off.

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In the final seconds of regulation, the Titans knotted things up, sending the game into overtime.

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In the end, the Jets came away with the win after Tennessee's 49-yard field goal attempt sailed wide.

Cleveland Browns 14, Minnesota Vikings 7

Jettas

Kirk Cousins hooked up with Justin Jefferson for the game's first score. Cousins went 6-for-6 for 59 yards on the Vikings' opening drive.

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Right up the gut

The Browns responded, as Kareem Hunt slammed in a game-tying TD near the end of the first half.

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New York Giants 27, New Orleans Saints 21, OT

Over the top

John Ross scored his first touchdown in big blue on this bomb from Daniel Jones.

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Throwing darts

Jameis Winston threw this bullet to Juwan Johnson, good for the Saints' first touchdown back in the Superdome.

Taysom's time

In the second half, the Saints got a scoring boost on this touchdown run from backup QB Taysom Hill, who plowed through New York's defense to reach the end zone.

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Barkley is back

In overtime, Saquon Barkley sealed the deal for New York with this walk-off to give the Giants their first win of the season.

Chicago Bears 24, Detroit Lions 14

Fumble-ception

Miscommunication from Jared Goff and the Lions' offense resulted in this must-see fumble recovery for Chicago.

To the moon

Rookie QB Justin Fields — who is in for an injured Andy Dalton — dropped this dime to Darnell Mooney for a huge gain as the Bears charged downfield.

Double David

David Montgomery, who opened with dominant runs, was the start of the first half for Chicago, punching in two touchdowns for the Bears.

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Indianapolis Colts 27, Miami Dolphins 17

The old-fashioned way

Jonathan Taylor took this handoff on a misdirection to break the game's scoring drought and give the Colts the lead.

Buffalo Bills 40, Houston Texans 0

Allen all day

Josh Allen had the Texans' number throughout the first half. Check out this touchdown pass to Dawson Knox.

Allen didn't stop there. He made this tough play in the second quarter.

Shutout

Buffalo's defense was dominant, holding Houston to just 48 yards on the ground and forcing four interceptions from Davis Mills.

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Washington Football Team 34, Atlanta Falcons 30

Comeback tour

Taylor Heinicke — in for an injured Ryan Fitzpatrick — connected with Terry McLaurin on this leaping touchdown catch.

After starting in a 10-0 hole, Washington came back and took the lead in the final minute of Sunday's contest against the Falcons, thanks to this all-out run from J.D. McKissic.

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