TAYLOR HAS GIVEN TOM A GLIMPSE OF FUTURE

TOM BRADY kept alive his hopes of a seventh Super Bowl but not before a scare by a glimpse of the future.

The 43-year-old quarterback (above) threw two touchdown passes as Tampa Bay beat Washington in the opening round of the playoffs, 31-23.

But his rival, Taylor Heinicke (below), making only his second career start as a late replacement for injured Alex Smith, kept Washington in the game until the final seconds with a mature performance.

The Buccaneers survived to book a qu quarter-final slot but head c coach Bruce Arians knows they have to improve.

Arians said: “I think s some younger guys might hav have relaxed when Alex Smith wasn’t playing. I kept preaching at them, ‘This kid can run, he can do a lot of things’.”

Heinicke signed for Washington just five weeks ago but after the night of his life, he said: “A lot of people asked me what it feels like going up against the GOAT, Tom Brady, but I didn’t really think about that.”

Lamar Jackson ran for 136 yards and a touchdown last night to lead Baltimore to a 20-13 win over Tennessee and a quarter-final spot. Buffalo and Los Angeles also reached the last eight on Saturday with wins over Indianapolis and Seattle.