The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have defeated the Washington Football Team, 31-23, in their wild-card matchup on Saturday night.
With the win, Tom Brady’s quest for a seventh Vince Lombardi Trophy will continue.
Brady and the Buccaneers had their way with Washington’s defence in the first half. Tampa Bay capitalized on an early turnover, as Brady found Antonio Brown for a 36-yard touchdown pass on third down that capped a six-play drive. The feat made Brady the oldest person to record a touchdown in NFL post-season history.
Heading into halftime, Brady was 12 for 23 for 209 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Buccaneers take a nine-point lead into the break.
Washington worked to narrow the gap in the second half, picking up a field goal on its opening drive of the third quarter.
Then, after Tampa Bay’s first turnover, Taylor Heinicke did the remarkable. On third-and-five from the Tampa Bay eight-yard line, Heinicke dropped back as though he were going to pass, narrowly avoided a sack attempt and sprinted to his left. When he reached the four-yard line, he leaped toward the pylon, touching it with the nose of the ball before his knee hit the ground, resulting in a touchdown.
But Brady and the Buccaneers wouldn’t be denied.
In the fourth quarter, Leonard Fournette capped a seven-play, 69-yard drive with a short touchdown run that gave Tampa Bay a 28-16 lead it would not relinquish.
