Buccaneers running back Earnest Graham extends the ball over the goal line for a touchdown during the first quarter of last night’s exhibition game against the Patriots in Tampa.

MCT / Brian Blanco

TAMPA Fla. — It’s a nightmare scenario that the New England Patriots and their fans around the world don’t want to think about, but the question needs to be answered.

Will the Patriots be prepared to win games if the reigning Most Valuable Player of the NFL, All-Pro quarterback Tom Brady, can’t suit up?

Last night, New England fans got a glimpse of how things could play out if Brady is injured for an extended period during the regular season.

It wasn’t pretty as the Patriots lost to Tampa Bay, 27-10.

Brady did not make the trip to Tampa because of a sore foot, so backup quarterback Matt Cassel got the bulk of the snaps.

Cassel played much better than he did in his 1-for-4 performance in the Patriots’ first preseason game, but once again he was not able to lead the team on a touchdown drive.

In two-plus quarters before being replaced by rookie Kevin O’Connell, Cassel was 6-for-10 for 57 yards.

By the time O’Connell took the helm, early in the third quarter, the Patriots were trailing, 24-3. His first pass was an interception, and that led to a 23-yard field goal by Matt Bryant.

“I think I was just trying to do a little bit too much on the first play,” O’Connell said. “That’s another learning experience for me. I just tried to move on. One of the things I’m trying to do is to try and move on to the next play and do whatever I can to move the offense.”

The Buccaneers are certainly happy with how they were able to contain Cassel and O’Connell.

“It went pretty well,” linebacker Barrett Ruud said. “We got a couple of turnovers, got a couple three-and-outs. They had one little drive on us, but other than that it was good.”

The Patriots had to punt after their first three offensive plays, but Cassel seemed to find a groove on the their second series. He went 3-for-3 on that march, leading them into Tampa Bay territory before Kevin Faulk fumbled the ball away, stalling the Patriots’ drive at the Tampa Bay 25-yard line.

Nine plays later, Bryant kicked a 34-yard field goal that gave Tampa Bay a 10-0 lead. The Bucs had previously scored on their opening drive — a 17-play, 80-yard march that Earnest Graham capped with a one-yard touchdown run.

“We came out ready to play,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden said. “We got into a good rhythm. [We had] a nice 17-play drive to start the game [that] was impressive. We are still coming together, and we have a long way to go.”

Brian Griese started the game for Tampa Bay in place of the injured Jeff Garcia. He was 9-for-10 for 44 yards.

“Brian Griese made some great decisions,” Gruden said. “We are going to challenge him above the neck. He is a good football player and we are going to ask him to do a lot for us.”

Luke McCown was just as good, going 7-for-10 for 79 yards and a touchdown. He went 4-for-4 on his second drive of the second quarter, marching the Buccaneers 86 yards in eight plays. He capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown pass to fullback Byron Storer as the Bucs’ lead grew to 17-0.

Stephen Gostkowski booted a career-long 53-yard field goal to close out the first half and cut Tampa Bay’s lead to 17-3.

It didn’t get any better for the Patriots in the second half. Dan Connelly’s first snap of the third quarter was high. Cassel tried to corral it, but he batted it down and Tampa Bay safety Sabby Piscitelli picked it up and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown.

“It was definitely a Christmas gift,” Piscitelli said. “Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin made a great call. He called a great blitz on the strong safety blitz. It was just being in the right place at the right time and making a play.”

For the second straight week, O’Connell led the Patriots on their only touchdown drive. It came with 10:27 remaining in the game when Heath Evans capped a 9-play, 58-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run.

“I was excited we got some big time catches and protection on that touchdown drive and we were able to pound it in there with Heath down there,” O’Connell said. “Coming into the game you want to come in right away and help be a catalyst.”

The Patriots are now 0-2 but they say there is no need to panic.

“I wouldn’t say that [we] are concerned. I just think that we have a lot of work to do and we are going to try to do that,” linebacker Mike Vrabel said. “We are running out of time before the first [regular season] game.”

Said defensive back Ellis Hobbs: “What we need to do is really focus back on the details. That allows us to win football games throughout the preseason and throughout the regular season. That’s how we function as a team, by paying attention to the details. Today you saw what happens when we don’t pay attention to details.”

The Patriots will try to get back on track on Tuesday when they return to practice.

roblee@projo.com