Wolverines in the NFL: Tom Brady leads clutch scoring drives in much-needed Buccaneers win
Former Michigan Wolverines football quarterback Tom Brady has had an up-and-down season, with his Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense struggling mightily at points.
That included in Sunday night’s 19-16 overtime win over the Arizona Cardinals. However, Brady was outstanding in winning time, leading two drives to help capture the victory and keep his team on top in the NFC South.
Brady got little to no help from his run game, which ranks last in the league and included 30 carries for 115 yards in this game. He also threw 2 interceptions and went 32-for-48 passing for 281 yards. He was shaky early but came up big late.
The Bucs’ defense did enough to keep the team in the game, and Brady and the offense capitalized on that opportunity. He led a nine-play, 31-yard drive to set up the game-tying field goal with 2:22 left after the Bucs recorded a fumble. Once the game went into overtime, the former Michigan quarterback led another scoring drive — 9 plays and 66 yards before kicker Ryan Succop knocked home a 40-yard walk-off field goal.
“We keep it close in the fourth quarter, we know we got a shot,” Brady said. “We played better there in the fourth quarter; we executed pretty well. Broke some tackles, ran hard. A lot of guys made plays in the pass game [with] contested catches, got hit as soon as they caught it and came up with it.”
The win kept Tampa Bay in the driver’s seat for a playoff berth via the NFC South division title. The Bucs take on the 6-9 Carolina Panthers and the 5-10 Atlanta Falcons in the final two weeks of the season, respectively.
Here’s a look at how every former Michigan player in the NFL fared during Week 16.
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Daylen Baldwin (Played at Michigan in 2021), WR, Cleveland Browns
Moved back down to the practice squad after notching 2 catches for 25 yards in Week 15 against the Baltimore Ravens … That was his only appearance this season.
Tom Brady (Played at Michigan from 1995-99), QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kept the 7-8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers on top in the NFC South with a 19-16 overtime win over the Arizona Cardinals Sunday night … Completed 32 of his 48 passes for 281 yards and 1 touchdown with 2 interceptions … Led game-tying drive in regulation and game-winning march in the extra session … Completed 66 percent of his passes for 4,178 yards and 21 touchdowns with 9 picks on the season.
Ben Bredeson (2016-19), OL, New York Giants
Played 38 snaps off the bench (34 at left guard, four on special teams) for the 8-6-1 Giants in a 27-24 last-second loss to the Minnesota Vikings … Played in nine games with seven starts this season, having suffered a left knee injury that placed him on injured reserve and forced him to miss the middle of the season.
Devin Bush Jr. (2016-18), LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Started and notched 3 tackles in the 7-8 Steelers’ 13-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders … Opened 14 of 15 games this season, recording 79 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 quarterback hits and 2 pass breakups.
Taco Charlton (2013-16), DL, Chicago Bears
Registered 1 tackle in 14 defensive snaps during the 3-12 Bears’ 35-13 loss to the Buffalo Bills … Posted 3 tackles in five appearances, after being picked up by the organization ahead of Week 11.
Camaron Cheeseman (2016-19), LS, Washington Commanders
Snapped 6 times in the 7-7-1 Commanders’ 37-20 loss to the San Francisco 49ers … Served as the team’s long snapper in all 15 contests.
Frank Clark (2011-14), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Recorded 2 tackles for loss — his seventh and eighth on the season — in the 12-3 Chiefs’ 24-10 win over the Seattle Seahawks … Tallied 34 tackles, including 8 for loss and 5 sacks, 11 quarterback hits, 1 pass breakup, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery while starting 13 games.
Mason Cole (2014-17), OL, Pittsburgh Steelers
Started and played every offensive snap in the 7-8 Steelers’ 13-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders … Opened all 15 games at center, with a 64.7 overall PFF rating and 20 pressures, including 2 sacks, given up.
Nico Collins (2017-19), WR, Houston Texans
The former Michigan wideout missed the last three games with a foot injury and has been relegated to the injured reserve list … Hauled in 37 receptions for 481 yards and 2 touchdowns while appearing in 10 games with seven starts for the 2-12-1 Texans.
Mike Danna (2019), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Recorded 3 tackles in the 12-3 Chiefs’ 24-10 win over the Seattle Seahawks … The former Michigan defensive end has totaled 24 24 tackles, 3 stops for loss, 7 quarterback hits and 3 sacks in 11 appearances.
Chris Evans (2016-20), RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Was inactive for the 11-4 Bengals’ 22-18 win over the New England Patriots … Recorded 3 receptions for 38 yards and 1 touchdown and returned 10 kicks for 211 yards in 14 appearances with one start.
Zach Gentry (2015-18), TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Came off the bench to make 1 catch for 1 yard in the 7-8 Steelers’ 13-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders … Totaled 18 receptions for 109 yards in 15 games with 11 starts.
Graham Glasgow (2011-15), OL, Denver Broncos
Started at center in the 4-11 Broncos’ 51-14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams … Opened 11 games with 15 starts this season, recording a 54.3 overall PFF grade … Allowed 17 pressures, including 4 sacks on the year.
Brandon Graham (2006-09), DE, Philadelphia Eagles
The former Michigan defensive end registered 2 tackles and a half-sack in the 13-2 Eagles’ 40-34 loss to the Dallas Cowboys … Has 9 sacks with 30 tackles and 14 quarterback hits in 15 games off the bench … Added 2 forced fumbles and 1 pass breakup … His career-high in sacks for a season is 9.5 (2017).
Hassan Haskins (2018-21), RB, Tennessee Titans
Caught 2 passes for 17 yards in the 7-8 Titans’ 19-14 loss to the Houston Texans … Rushed 11 times for 50 yards, caught 7 passes for 31 yards, returned 19 kicks for 414 yards with a 37-yard long and notched 13 special teams tackles in 13 games this year.
Chad Henne (2004-07), QB, Kansas City Chiefs
The former Michigan quarterback appeared in two games off the bench for the 12-3 Chiefs.
Dax Hill (2019-21), S, Cincinnati Bengals
Posted 1 tackle while mostly playing special teams in the 11-4 Bengals’ 22-18 victory over the New England Patriots … Seen action in 14 games with two starts, registering 14 tackles and 1 quarterback hit.
Christopher Hinton (2019-21), DL, Los Angeles Chargers
Signed to the 9-6 Chargers’ active roster ahead of Week 14 … Played in two contests, including Monday night’s 20-3 win over the Indianapolis Colts, but has not recorded any statistics.
Khaleke Hudson (2016-19), LB, Washington Commanders
The former Michigan linebacker played but did not record any statistics in the 37-20 loss to the San Francisco 49ers … REcorded 3 tackles in 11 games this season.
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Aidan Hutchinson (2018-21), DL, Detroit Lions
Started and generated 4 tackles and 2 pressures in the 7-8 Lions’ 37-23 loss to the Carolina Panthers … The former Michigan defensive end leads all rookies with 7 sacks and 43 pressures on the season … Started all 15 games and added 44 tackles, 7 stops for loss, 13 quarterback hits, 2 pass breakups and 2 interceptions.
David Long Jr. (2016-18), CB, Los Angeles Rams
Played seven special teams snaps but did not record any statistics in the 5-10 Rams’ 51-14 win over the Denver Broncos … Tallied 21 tackles in 10 games with four starts.
Sean McKeon (2016-19), TE, Dallas Cowboys
Played off the bench and on special teams but did not notch any stats in the 11-4 Cowboys’ 40-34 triumph over the Philadelphia Eagles … Played in 11 games, with 2 receptions for 11 yards.
Josh Metellus (2016-19), S, Minnesota Vikings
Made 5 tackles in the 12-3 Vikings’ 27-24 win over the New York Giants … The former Michigan safety has racked up 40 tackles, 1 stop for loss, 2 pass breakups and 1 interception this season.
Bryan Mone (2014-18), DT, Seattle Seahawks
Suffered a season-ending knee injury Week 15 … Totaled 25 tackles, 2 stops for loss, 1 quarterback hit and 1 pass breakup on the season.
David Ojabo (2019-21), OLB, Baltimore Ravens
Did not play (inactive) in the 10-5 Ravens’ 17-9 win over the Atlanta Falcons, one week after making his NFL debut with one defensive snap.
Michael Onwenu (2016-19), OL, New England Patriots
Started and played every offensive snap in the 7-8 Patriots’ 22-18 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals … Started all 15 games at right guard, boasting an 80.7 overall PFF grade … Given up 10 pressures and no sacks this season.
Kwity Paye (2017-19), DE, Indianapolis Colts
Started and recorded 3 tackles, including 1 for loss, with 1 quarterback hit and 1 fumble recovery in the 4-10-1 Colts’ 20-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers … Totaled 42 tackles, 10 stops for loss, 6 sacks, 10 quarterback hits and 1 fumble recovery while starting 10 games.
Donovan Peoples-Jones (2017-19), WR, Cleveland Browns
Caught 1 pass for 2 yards and returned 2 punts for 15 yards in the 6-9 Browns’ 17-10 setback to the New Orleans Saints … Reeled in 58 catches for 784 yards and 2 touchdowns in 15 games with two starts.
Jabrill Peppers (2014-16), S, New England Patriots
The former Michigan star recorded 5 tackles while appearing off the bench in the 7-8 Patriots’ 22-18 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals … Registered 53 stops, 2 tackles for loss and 1 fumble recovery in 15 games with four starts.
Cesar Ruiz (2017-19), OL, New Orleans Saints
Suffered a Lisfranc injury on the team’s last offensive snap against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 15 … Placed on injured reserve … Opened 14 clashes at right guard for the 6-9 Saints, with a 56.6 overall PFF grade and 14 pressures (3 sacks) given up.
Jon Runyan (2015-19), OL, Green Bay Packers
Started at right guard in the 7-8 Packers’ 26-20 win over the Miami Dolphins … The former Michigan offensive lineman has opened all 15 contests and posted a 65.9 overall PFF rating with 13 pressures and 2 sacks allowed.
Michael Schofield III (2009-13), OL, Chicago Bears
Started for the fifth time this season and first time since Week 11 during the 3-12 Bears’ 35-13 loss to the Buffalo Bills … Appeared in 11 games.
Ambry Thomas (2017-19), CB, San Francisco 49ers
Came off the bench and notched 2 tackles in the 11-4 49ers’ 37-20 victory over the Washington Commanders … Recorded 13 tackles in 14 games this season.
Josh Uche (2016-19), LB, New England Patriots
The former Michigan pass rusher posted a sack, marking his fifth consecutive contest with at least a half-sack, in the 7-8 Patriots’ 22-18 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals … Notched 26 tackles, 9 stops for loss, 11.5 sacks (tied for 10th in the league), 13 quarterback hits and 2 forced fumbles in 13 games off the bench.
Injured reserve
The following are Michigan football players who are currently on teams but listed as on the injured reserve:
• Texans WR Nico Collins
• Saints OL Cesar Ruiz
• Steelers DL Chris Wormley
• Packers OLB Rashan Gary
• Giants OL Ben Bredeson
• Cowboys CB Jourdan Lewis
• Titans OL Taylor Lewan
• Patriots K Quinn Nordin
• Patriots OL Andrew Stueber
• Cowboys TE Ian Bunting
• Ravens LB Josh Ross
• Falcons OL Jalen Mayfield
• Browns DE Chase Winovich
Practice squad
The following are former Michigan players on NFL practice squads:
• CB Vincent Gray — Saints
• DB Brad Hawkins — Patriots
• LB Carlo Kemp — Chargers
• LB Cameron McGrone — Patriots
