Washington Football Team rookie defensive end Chase Young said all week, “Tom Brady, I’m going!” and “I want Tom!” But the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback, who played in his 42nd postseason game and first with the Bucs at 43, didn’t bite the hook of last year’s first draft pick. answering with a smile.
But instead of defeating the six-time Super Bowl winner, Young finished the NFC wildcard game Saturday night without a catch, and congratulated Brady after the Bucks’ 31-23 victory.
Brady led the Bucs to their first playoff appearance since 2007 and their first playoff victory since winning the Super Bowl XXXVII in the 2002 season.
Against Washington’s acclaimed defense, which racked up 47.0 catches in the regular season, Brady completed 22 of 40 passes for 381 yards and two touchdowns. And he did so without starting runner Ronald Jones, who suffered a quadriceps injury in the warm-up, and without right guard Alex Cappa, who left the game with an ankle injury.
On his first touchdown, Brady measured Jeremy Reavis and found Antonio Brown for a 36-yard touchdown run. He then completed with Chris Godwin a pass after which he crossed the field for a 27-yard touchdown.
Victory was not easy. Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke, who replaced Alex Smith, was able to make some important plays as the Bucs stepped forward and turned the game into an awkwardly closed game. Bucs coach Bruce Arians hinted that his players could have relaxed too much knowing they were facing a substitute.
The Bucs’ next opponent will be decided on Sunday, but it will be a rematch with a team they have already faced this season.
With the LA Rams defeating the Seattle Seahawks Saturday 30-20, the Bucs would host the Rams next week at home if the Chicago Bears beat the New Orleans Saints. The Bucs lost to the Rams 27-24 in Week 11.
If the Bears fall to the Saints, the Ships would face the visiting Saints. The Bucs were swept by the Saints this season and have a 0-4 record against New Orleans since Bruce Arians became head coach in 2019.