Brady, poised in playoffs, lifts Tampa Bay
He throws for 381 yards and two scores in surprising duel with scrappy Heinicke.
LANDOVER, Md. — New team, same swashbuckling playoff success for Tom Brady.
Brady threw for 381 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers past Washington 31-23 in their NFC wild-card game Saturday night for their first playoff victory since the 2002 season.
Brady was critical of his play and the offense’s performance in the red zone but relished picking up his 31st career postseason win.
“Certainly a lot to improve on, but great to get a win,” said Brady, who was 22 for 40.
In his 42nd postseason start and first not in a New England Patriots uniform, Brady made the most of a lack of early pressure to
build a lead against the NFL’s second-ranked defense that held up.
“He is a fighter, he plays hard, works hard and studies hard, and he is the man for the job,“Buccaneers run
ning back Leonard Fournette said.
Brady had to outduel Washington’s Taylor Heinicke, who had a breakout performance in just his second pro start and first in the playoffs in place of injured starter Alex Smith. Heinicke — signed in early December to the practice squad — ran for 46 yards and a touchdown and threw for 306 yards and a score.
“He almost beat us with his legs,“Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians said. “He was very elusive. We knew he was going to scramble around, there was going to be bootlegs and scrambles. We were really hoping for Alex because we knew that part of the game wasn’t going to be in there.”
But Heinicke wasn’t enough to overcome Brady’s off-and-on brilliance. While Bill Belichick and the Patriots watch from home, Brady has the opportunity to play in another Super Bowl — in his new home stadium.
“We’re thrilled with the win,” Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate said. “I hate to say that we’re relieved, but at this point we’re just pumped we got the win. No matter how ugly it was, no matter how many mistakes we made, a win’s a win this time of year.”
The Buccaneers await the result of Chicago at New Orleans on Sunday to see if they’ll visit Drew Brees and the Saints or host the Rams next weekend. They’d need a Bears upset to play at home in the divisional round.
“It doesn’t matter,” Arians said. “We’re playing.”