Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Bucs are one step closer to appearing in and hosting the Super Bowl. The Bucs defeated the Washington Football Team 31-23 on Wild Card weekend, moving on to the Divisional round for the first time since 2002. The ageless Brady led yet another magnificent, record-breaking playoff performance, completing 22 of 40 passes for 381 yards and two touchdowns.
Brady’s brilliance
The win was the 43-year old Brady’s 31st playoff victory of his career. The most by a quarterback since 1950. His 36 yard touchdown pass to Antonio Brown in the first quarter made Brady the oldest quarterback to throw a touchdown pass in a playoff game. Brady was 51 days older than George Blanda, who threw a touchdown pass at the same age in the 1970 AFC Championship game. Brady also looks about 5 decades younger than Blanda did at the time he accomplished the feat.
Date with Drew
Up next, Brady and the Bucs travel to New Orleans to take on Drew Brees and the Saints. Brees is also battling father time. The 41-year old recently recovered from a vicious blow that collapsed his lung and resulted in 11 broken ribs. The Saints defeated the Chicago Bears 21-9 last weekend to set up this legendary matchup. The NFC South division rival Saints have won five consecutive games against the Bucs.
The way back to Ray Jay
The road back home to the Super Bowl for Tampa likely still runs through Green Bay. The top seeded Packers host the Los Angeles Rams for the right to play in next weekend’s NFC Championship game. Earlier this season, the Bucs routed the Packers 38-10 in a matchup at Raymond James Stadium.
If Brady is able to lead the Bucs to the Super Bowl, they would become the first team in NFL history to play the game in their home stadium. It would be Brady’s tenth Super Bowl appearance where he currently holds a 6-3 record. Naturally, those nine appearances and six wins are already NFL records for a quarterback.
Brady continues his assault on the record books, and on father time Sunday at 6:40PM ET on FOX.