TreVeyon Henderson, Drake Maye lead the Patriots to a 28-23 victory over the Buccaneers

TAMPA Fla AP Mike Vrabel greeted players with a handshake and a message NFC South champs TreVeyon Henderson had touchdown runs of and yards Drake Maye threw two TD passes and the New England Patriots beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - on Sunday for their seventh straight win Vrabel in his first year coaching the crew he won Super Bowls with as a sportsman has the Patriots - leading the AFC East after going - last season The Patriots completed a four-game sweep of the NFC South with the achievement over the Buccaneers who lead the division they ve won the last four years It s not inevitably perfect but I love the way they compete Vrabel noted It was a long event It s a tough place to play It was a warm day and they re good After Maye threw an interception in the end zone the Patriots made a big stop on fourth-and- at their own Henderson then sealed the win with his -yard TD run The rookie finished with a career-high yards rushing on carries It honestly felt good Henderson revealed This season comes with a lot of ups and downs in the NFL but I thank God for the way he s allowed it to go because he s matured me a lot in my faith He drew me closer to him I ve been trying to trust the process being present in the moment and during competition time whatever opportunity comes my way try my best to take advantage of it The Buccaneers - were the first association in NFL history to have each of their first four wins of the season come on a game-winning sum in the final minute of regulation They had a chance to do it again when Tykee Smith intercepted Maye s pass from the in the end zone with left But on fourth down Baker Mayfield was swarmed by the defense and flipped a pass to Rachaad White that fell short of the first down just outside the red zone Mayfield threw his second TD pass of the championship to Tez Johnson in the final minute but New England recovered the ensuing onside kick We didn t play well We have to take it on the chin Give Vrabel and the Patriots a lot of credit Bucs coach Todd Bowles declared They did a heck of a job of doing the things they needed to do Their players made plays our players did not We ve got to coach it better we ve got to play it better and that starts with me Henderson ran yards up the middle on the second play of the second half to extend New England s lead to - Mayfield scrambled out of pressure and hit Johnson for a -yard TD pass to cut the deficit to - in the third quarter Tampa Bay tried a version of the Philly Special on the -point conversion but the Patriots were ready for it and Emeka Egbuka was stopped on a run The Patriots took a - lead on Maye s -yard TD pass to Stefon Diggs on the final play of the first half After the Buccaneers stuffed three straight runs from the Maye tossed a perfect pass to Diggs in the corner of the end zone Diggs made an excellent catch over Antoine Winfield Jr and kept both feet in Maye hit Kyle Williams on a -yard catch-and-run touchdown to tie it at on the final play of the first quarter It was New England s longest play this season Mayfield connected with Egbuka on a -yard TD pass to give the Buccaneers a - lead on the opening drive Chase McLaughlin s -yard field goal extended the lead to - Chunk plays The Patriots had three TDs of -plus yards and Maye threw a -yard pass to Mack Hollins to the Bucs on third-and- in the fourth quarter They were inexcusable on our part Bad on the coaching bad on the players Bowles revealed Brady Bowl This was the first matchup between the teams since Tom Brady retired There were more No Patriots jerseys in the stands than No Bucs jerseys Brady led New England to six Super Bowl titles in seasons with the crew and won one with the Buccaneers in three seasons in Tampa Bay Injuries Patriots DT Christian Barmore back was hurt in the fourth quarter RB Terrell Jennings knee didn t return in the second half WR Kayshon Boutte hamstring RB Rhamondre Stevenson toe LB Christian Elliss hip didn t play Buccaneers LG Ben Bredeson left the competition with a hamstring injury in the first quarter RB Bucky Irving foot shoulder WR Chris Godwin fibula WR Mike Evans clavicle OLB Haason Reddick knee ankle were out Up next Patriots Host the New York Jets on Thursday night Buccaneers Visit the Buffalo Bills next Sunday AP NFL https apnews com hub nfl