Get the lowdown on today’s games and Saturday’s results
Tom Brady threw four touchdown passes in the only half he needed to play and the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers went on to rout the Detroit Lions 47-7 Saturday, sealing a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
The Bucs (10-5) set a franchise record with 588 yards and snapped the NFL’S second-longest playoff drought behind Cleveland’s 18-year run that can end today.
Tampa Bay rested Brady ahead 34- 0, its largest halftime lead in franchise history. Blaine Gabbert threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski on his first snap and a 22-yard TD pass to Mike Evans later in the third quarter.
Brady was 22 of 27 for 348 yards. The six-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback threw touchdown passes to Gronkowski, Evans, Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown from 33, 27, 7 and 12 yards.
The 43-year- old Brady started his 298th game to tie Brett Favre’s record for an NFL quarterback and played in his 300th game.
Detroit (5- 10) played much of the game without Matthew Stafford. He was questionable to play with hip and thumb injuries and then hurt his right ankle on the opening drive and did not return.
BROWNS DEPLETED DUE TO VIRUS PROTOCOLS >> The Cleveland Browns will try to make the playoffs without four wide receivers, including Jarvis Landry, along with their starting middle linebacker and his replacement, because of a positive COVID-19 test and subsequent contact tracing.
Cleveland’s game against the New York Jets today will be played as scheduled, an NFL spokesman said.
The stunning news for the Browns (10- 4) came as the team was preparing to fly to the New York area and potentially lock up its first postseason berth since 2002.
Starting linebacker B. J. Goodson was the first to be placed on the COVID-19 list after he tested positive. Then, after the team completed contact tracing, Landry and fellow receivers Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples- Jones and Khadarel Hodge were also placed on the list, knocking them out of the game.
Rookie linebacker Jacob Phillips, who may have started for Goodon, is also out.
The losses leave quarterback Baker Mayfield without most of his top targets. Landry leads the team with 67 catches for 789 yards. LINDSAY COULD BE DONE IN DENVER >> Phillip Lindsay’s season and possibly his career in Denver is over after the Broncos placed him on injured reserve with hip and knee injuries.
The Broncos (5- 9) also ruled out Pro Bowl pass rusher Bradley Chubb (ankle) for today’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
T he only undraf ted player in NFL history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons to start a career, Lindsay ran for just 502 yards and one touchdown and caught just seven passes for 28 yards in an injurymarred 2020 season.
Lindsay ’ s production paled in comparison to his first two seasons, when he averaged 1,243 total yards and 8½ TDS.
JACKSON RETURNING FOR EAGLES >> The Philadelphia Eagles will activate wide receiver Desean Jackson from injured reserve ahead of today’s showdown against the Dallas Cowboys, NFL Network reported.
The three-time Pro Bowl selection has been out since suffering a non- displaced fracture in his right ankle in Week 7.