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Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Nick Folk hit the left upright with a game-winning field goal attempt with seconds remaining and the New England Patriots came up just short in their bid for an upset over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Foxborough, Mass. Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, who played against the Patriots for the first time, completed 22 of 43 passes for 269 yards in the 19-17 win Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
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"It was a great night of football and a very tough game that came down to just a couple of plays," Brady told reporters.
"I'm glad we were able to win."
Brady, who spent his first 20 seasons with the Patriots, also passed former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees to become the NFL's career passing yardage leader. He did not throw a touchdown pass or an interception in the win.
"I had a few emotional moments this week, thinking about all of the people who have meant so much to me in my life that are a part of this [New England] community," Brady said.
"I'm very grateful for an amazing time here. My football journey took me somewhere else."
Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones completed 31 of 40 passes for 275 yards, two scores and one interception. The Buccaneers held the Patriots to negative-one rushing yard.
"I think we moved in the right direction," Jones told reporters. "We made plays and played hard the whole game. We turned the ball over, that was one of the problems. Turnovers can kill you."
The Patriots and Buccaneers exchanged punts to start the game. Buccaneers kicker Ryan Succop made a 29-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 4:49 left in the first quarter.
Jones threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Hunter Henry 8:28 before halftime to give the Patriots a 7-3 lead. Succop responded with another field goal on the Buccaneers final drive of the half to make the score 7-6 at the break.
Neither team scored through the first 11:30 minutes of the second half, but the Buccaneers and Patriots would exchange the lead five more times.
The Buccaneers reached the end zone for the first time on an eight-yard Ronald Jones run with 3:29 remaining in the third quarter. The Patriots responded with a seven-play, 77-yard touchdown drive.
Jones threw a one-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jonnu Smith three seconds into the fourth quarter to give the Patriots a 14-13 edge.
Succop gave the lead back to the Buccaneers with a 27-yard kick with 7:58 remaining. Folk hit a 27-yard kick about three minutes later to give the Patriots a 17-16 edge.
Brady marched the Buccaneers down to the Patriots 30-yard line on the next drive. Succop ended that possession with a 48-yard kick for the final advantage.
The Patriots used five plays to get to the Buccaneers 37-yard line on the next drive to set up Folk's final attempt. The veteran kicker booted the kick, which sailed from right to left, drilled the left upright and bounced to the ground.
Folk made one of his two field goal attempts and two extra points in the loss. Succop made four of his five attempts.
Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette gained 138 yards from scrimmage on 23 touches. Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans pulled in seven catches for a game-high 75 yards.
The Buccaneers (3-1) host the Miami Dolphins at 1 p.m. EDT Oct. 10 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The Patriots (1-3) face the Houston Texans at 1 p.m. EDT Sunday at NRG Stadium in Houston.
