The first NFL game in Germany appeared to be a success for the league, with a large crowd of enthusiastic fans. It was definitely a hit for the Buccaneers. The Bucs got off to a great start and then held on for a thrilling fourth quarter to beat the Seahawks 21-16. The win improves the Bucs to 5-5 and cements their status as the clear leaders in the NFC South. The Seahawks fall to 6-4 and even though they remain in first place in the NFC West, this loss hurts. Both teams had significant injuries late in the game, with Tampa Bay’s Leonard Fournette and Seattle’s Jordan Brooks leaving the game in the fourth quarter. The extent of their injuries is not yet known. Both quarterbacks played well but also had some notable mistakes. Tom Brady completed 22 of 29 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns, but he also had a bad fourth-quarter interception that let the Seahawks come back in a game the Bucs controlled throughout. Geno Smith completed 23 of 33 passes for 275 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, but had three sacks and lost a costly fumble. Seattle and Tampa Bay may host playoff games in January. They might even meet again in the postseason, and it would be nice to see a game as entertaining as this one.
