Rookie TreVeyon Henderson rushed for a season-best 147 yards and scored on two long touchdowns and the New England Patriots stretched their winning streak to seven games with a 28-23 victory over the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon.
Henderson scored on runs of 55 and 69 yards, the latter one being the dagger with 1:31 remaining. He received 14 carries as the Patriots played without Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) for the second straight game and then lost Terrell Jennings (left knee) in the first quarter.
Drake Maye passed for 270 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for the AFC East-leading Patriots (8-2). Kyle Williams and Stefon Diggs caught touchdown passes and Mack Hollins had six catches for 106 yards as New England improved to 5-0 on the road.
Baker Mayfield completed 28 of 43 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns for Tampa Bay (6-3). Tez Johnson caught two touchdown passes and Emeka Egbuka had six catches for 115 yards and one score.
New England scored two touchdowns in 48 seconds — one on the final play of the first half — to turn a three-point deficit into a 21-10 lead.
The Patriots had fourth-and-goal at the Tampa Bay 1 when Maye hit Diggs for the score as time expired to give the Patriots a 14-10 halftime lead.
New England had the ball to start the second half and Henderson took off on the second play, racing 55 yards for a touchdown with 14:12 left in the third quarter.
The Buccaneers moved within 21-16 when Mayfield connected with Johnson on a 10-yard scoring pass with 4:12 left in the third quarter. A trick play on the ensuing two-point conversion attempt failed.
New England reached the Tampa Bay 2-yard line in the fourth quarter but Maye was intercepted in the end zone by Tykee Smith with 5:17 left.
The Buccaneers later failed to convert on fourth-and-3 from the Patriots’ 27 and New England took over with 1:47 left.
On the second play of that drive, Henderson broke free around the left end with a dazzling run that gave the Patriots a 28-16 edge.
Mayfield tossed a 11-yard scoring pass to Johnson with 33 seconds left, but the ensuing high-bouncing onside kick was recovered by Diggs to seal it.
Tampa Bay scored on the game’s first possession when Mayfield tossed a 21-yard scoring pass to Egbuka.
The Patriots tied it on the final play of the first quarter when Maye hit Williams and the latter turned it into a 72-yard touchdown play.
The Buccaneers took a 10-7 lead on Chase McLaughlin’s 36-yard field with 7:16 left in the half.
