Tom Brady lifts Buccaneers into playoffs with record-breaking performance
The 43-year-old quarterback threw for 348 yards and 4 touchdowns within the first half Saturday because the Bucs improved to 10-5 to seal one of many three NFC wildcard spots.
Brady, who joined the Bucs this yr after 20 seasons and 6 Super Bowl crowns with the New England Patriots, might afford to take a seat out the second half with his group having fun with a 34-0 benefit.
“We played pretty good in the first half,” Brady mentioned. “Good execution. Guys were making plays for me all over the field. It was just a great effort by the whole team.”
Brady set a document for essentially the most passing touchdowns (34) in a season in Bucs historical past throughout his first-half heroics, beating the mark beforehand held by Jameis Winston.
He related with former New England teammate Rob Gronkowski, Mike Evans, Antonio Brown and Chris Godwin for the touchdowns as he accomplished 22 of 27 throws with data tumbling all the best way.
It was his first-half profession finest and membership document in passing yardage and the Buccaneers additionally set a group document with a complete of 410 first-half yards, essentially the most by any NFL membership in a decade.
Brady’s back-up Blaine Gabbert accomplished landing passes to Gronkowski and Evans within the second half in a performance by the Bucs that raises expectations for the playoffs.
“It’s just the beginning,” mentioned Bucs coach Bruce Arians. “We’re going to be a pretty tough out.”
Evans, who has been with the Bucs because the 2014 draft, can be optimistic with Brady on the group. “We’re happy we finally accomplished it, but that’s just where it starts.”
Their passage to the playoffs comes lower than every week after Brady’s former group, the Patriots, didn’t make the put up season for the primary time in 11 years in his absence.
The Bucs grew to become the seventh NFL group to clinch a playoff berth, becoming a member of Green Bay, New Orleans and Seattle within the NFC plus Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Buffalo within the AFC.
