USA TODAY International Edition
Brady, Bucs going home for Super Bowl
The Packers are staying at home in frustration while the Buccaneers are going home to history.
With an upset of Green Bay on Sunday in the NFC championship game, the Buccaneers become the first NFL team to secure a home- stadium Super Bowl.
Leave it to Tom Brady to switch teams, and conferences, and still make his 10th Super Bowl in 20 seasons. The Bucs prepare for the biggest stage after a playoff win drought spanning 17 seasons.
“I couldn't be any more elated for these guys,” Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians said. “We're coming home, and we're coming home to win.”
The Bucs will face the winner of the Bills- Chiefs AFC championship game, played Sunday night, on Feb. 7.
“Today was a great team effort,” said Brady, who completed 20 of 36 passes for 280 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. “We played sporadically a little bit but the defense came up huge. We're going to need it again in a couple weeks. I know it's a big game
coming up, but we get to enjoy this for a little bit.”
Tampa Bay upset the Packers 31- 26 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in a game in which the Buccaneers never trailed but gambled with their lead when Brady threw an uncharacteristic three interceptions on three consecutive drives in the second half. His defense notched a sack and a three- andout on consecutive drives to help Tampa Bay cling to the lead.
The Bucs' offense started hot with five consecutive third- down conversions, including a 15- yard TD pass from Brady to wide receiver Mike Evans as he jammed Packers cornerback Kevin King in the left corner of the end zone.
The Packers would answer with a TD on a 50- yard dime from Aaron Rodgers to receiver Marquez Valdes- Scantling, to which Brady might as well have said, “I see your 50- yarder, Aaron, and I'll match it.” No matter that Chris Godwin had dropped a catch on the snap immediately preceding – Brady went back the next play to Godwin, who boxed out safety Darnell Savage Jr. for a diving 52yard catch with 13: 20 to play in the second quarter. Bucs running back Leonard Fournette finished what Brady and Godwin started, stutter- stepping out, spinning back in and barreling his way 20
yards for a go- ahead touchdown.
Add in a Rodgers interception – Bucs cornerback Sean Murphy- Bunting
picked off one ball in the regular season but has three now in the postseason – and Brady capped a 27- second, 51- yard drive with a 39- yard touchdown pass to shifty receiver Scotty Miller with one second left in the second quarter. Tampa entered halftime up 21- 10.
Matters would get worse for Green Bay before they got better, Packers running back Aaron Jones losing a fumble on the third offensive play of the second half. Bucs linebacker Devin White, for a second straight week, recovered a loose ball. Brady, for a second straight week, turned that fumble recovery into seven points and an 18- point lead.
Then the Packers kicked into high gear: Rodgers' TD drive, Brady interception, Rodgers' TD drive, Brady interception. Brady threw interceptions on three straight drives in the second half, Green Bay's defense electric but its offense unable to keep pace.
The Bucs threatened one last time in the fourth quarter, Brady finding tight end Rob Gronkowski on a screen he took 34 yards after the catch. But the drive stalled, the Bucs settling for a field goal. The Packers trotted out with 4 1⁄ min
2 utes to play. They marched 58 yards in nine plays but curiously settled for a field goal with 2: 09 to play, 8 yards from the end zone. The decision cut Tampa's lead to five points on what would turn out to be the Packers' last snap.
“That wasn't my decision,” said Rodgers, who was 33 of 48 for 346 yards, three TDs and an interception. “I understand the thinking above two minutes with all of our timeouts ( left). But yeah, that wasn't my decision.”