Brady leads Tampa Bay to a win atWashington
Newteam, LANDOVER,MD.— 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. Bradywas 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 toimprove on, but great to get a win,” said Brady, who was 22 of 40 passing. “If you could win 100-0, it’s going to be the same result in the end. You’dlove toplaygreat every game. I think it’s good to win and advance.”
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 leadagainst theNFL’s second-ranked defense that held up.
“He is a fighter, he plays hard, works hardandstudies hard, and he is the man for thejob,” Buccaneersrunning backLeonardFournettesaid.
BradyhadtooutduelWashington’sTaylorHeinicke, 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 touchdownand threw for 306 yards and a score.
“He almost beat us with his legs,” Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians said. “He was veryelusive. Weknewhewas 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 overcomeBrady’s off-and-on brilliance. While Bill Belichick and the Patriots watch from home with their playoff streak snapped at 11 following a 7-9 season, Bradyhas theopportunity to play in another Super Bowl — in his new home stadium.
Rams 30, Seahawks 20
Quietly, Aaron Donald, JaredGoff and the rest of the Los Angeles Rams seethed.
They watched less than twoweeks ago as the Seattle Seahawks loudly celebrated a division title the Rams felt they gave away. Los Angeles desperatelywanted another shot.
Behind a lot of CamAkers churningyardsontheground and mostly a great defense, the Rams are moving on in the NFC playoffs at the expense of the Seahawks.
“We come up here, and all week we were told how good they are and how we snuck intotheplayoffs,” Goff said. “Two weeks ago you saw them smoking cigars and getting all excited about beating us, and winning the division, and we were able to come up here and beat them.”
Akers rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown, Darious Williams returned Russell Wilson’s interception 42 yards for a score, and the Rams beat the Seahawks 30-20 in the NFC wild-card playoff game Saturday.
“A lot of guys stepped up and answered the bell in a big way,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “Darious Williams showing up, I thought thatwas a huge momentum shift for us.”
The best defense in the league during the regular season carried itsdominance intothe playoffs— evenwhile missing unanimous All-Pro tackle Aaron Donald for much of the second half. No teamwas better at limiting yards or points than the Rams (11-6) and they continued to torment Wilson and the Seahawks (12-5).
Seattle’s quarterback was under siege fromthe defensive front and a secondary thatminus one playnever let DKMetcalf or Tyler Lockett break loose. Donald, before leaving with a rib injury, and Jalen Ramsey were superb. Butsowereotherroleplayers such as Troy Reeder, Jordan Fuller and Leonard Floyd.
Floydhadtwoof theRams’ five sacks. Two of the others belonged to Donald. The Rams allowed just 278 total yards and 11 first downs.
The victory sent the Rams into next week’s divisional playoff round, likely at topseededGreenBay unless Chicago upsets New Orleans.