Buccaneers’ Tom Brady explains game-sealing interception vs. Saints: ‘I just threw it to the wrong guy’

Tom Brady’s regular-season struggles against the Saints continued on Sunday in the Buccaneers’ 36-27 Week 8 loss to their divisional rival.

The 44-year-old quarterback posted a nice-looking stat line, completing 28 of 40 passes for 375 yards and four touchdowns. However, he also tossed two interceptions including one that was returned for a touchdown with under a minute and a half left. That gave that Saints a nine-point lead and sealed Tampa Bay’s loss.

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Brady blamed himself after the game for the interception and explained that he made a bad read on the play.

“I think I just threw it to the wrong guy,” Brady said after the game, per USA TODAY. “I had Mike [Evans] open. It cost us the game.”

The interception was the last of Brady’s three turnovers against the Saints. It marked a season-high for him, and he noted that his poor ball security played a big role in the loss.

“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.”

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Bruce Arians agreed with Brady’s assessment of his performance. He thought that Brady “telegraphed” his throw on the final play, and that served as a microcosm of the Bucs’ performance on Sunday.

“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.”

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The Buccaneers dropped to 6-2 after their loss and now have the 5-2 Saints breathing down their necks in the NFC South division race. They’ll square off again in Week 15 where Brady will look to earn his first regular-season win over the Saints as a member of the Bucs. He did lead Tampa Bay to a win at New Orleans in last season’s playoffs.