Is it possible for a 43-year-old quarterback to still be in his prime? Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady turned in a vintage performance Saturday, leading the Bucs to a 47-7 win over the Detroit Lions.
Brady threw for 348 yards and 4 scores in the win … and did it all in the first half. With the victory, the Buccaneers are officially going to the postseason. It will be the first time the franchise has appeared in the playoffs since 2007.
Brady proved he was on his game immediately, connecting with Rob Gronkowski on a perfectly placed touchdown pass on the Bucs’ first drive of the game. Not to be outdone by his quarterback, Gronkowski turned back his own clock on that catch. Bucs kicker Ryan Succop missed the extra point, giving Tampa Bay an early 6-0 lead.
The second Bucs drive brought more of the same. It took Brady just four plays to find Mike Evans for a 27-yard touchdown. With 7:39 left in the first quarter, the Bucs already had a 13-0 lead.
With that pass, Brady set the Bucs’ franchise record for most passing touchdowns in a season.
The Lions’ defense temporarily held firm on the Bucs’ third drive, but surrendered yet another touchdown on Tampa Bay’s fourth drive. This time, it was running back Leonard Fournette who pushed his team into the end zone.
Brady wouldn’t be denied for long. On the team’s fifth drive, Brady led the Bucs on a 93-yard drive. It culminated with diving, one-handed touchdown catch by Chris Godwin.
Brady added one more passing touchdown — this one to Antonio Brown — before the end of the second quarter. At halftime, the Bucs led 34-0.
With that much of a lead, the Bucs decided Brady’s day was over. Blaine Gabbert entered the game at the start of the third quarter. On his first play, Gabbert connected with Gronkowski for a touchdown. It was Gabbert’s first touchdown pass since 2018.
He would add another touchdown a few drives later, hooking up with Evans for another score. Gabbett finished the contest with 133 passing yards and 2 touchdowns.
Lions struggle in all facets without quarterback, coaches
Any hope for a Lions comeback was dashed almost immediately, as quarterback Matthew Stafford left the game in the first quarter with an ankle injury. Stafford went to the locker room, and did not return for the contest. Chase Daniel came on in relief. Daniel was eventually replaced by David Blough in the fourth quarter.
The team’s only touchdown of the day came on a punt return by Jamal Agnew in the third quarter.
Even if Daniel and Blough played like Peyton Manning in his prime, it would have been tough for the Lions to remain in the game. The Lions’ defense played Saturday’s game without a number of coaches and it showed. Defensive line coach Bo Davis, defensive backs coach Steve Gregory, linebacker coach Ty McKenzie and defensive coordinator Cory Undlin all missed the contest due to COVID-19 contact tracing.
Without them, the Lions’ defense — which has struggled all season — looked miserable. There was little it could do to stop Brady, or even Gabbert, from marching down the field drive after drive.
With the loss, the Lions drop to 5-10 on the season. After firing Matt Patricia in November, the team will be looking for a new head coach in the offseason. Given how poorly the team performed Saturday, it’s unclear how many available coaches will actually want the Lions’ job. The defense is a mess and the offense looked hopeless without Stafford.
Buccaneers hit stride at the right time
It may have only been the Lions, but the Buccaneers picked a good time to turn in a dominant performance. On Wednesday, Brady told reporters he hoped the Bucs would “play at a much higher level this Saturday.” He more than delivered on that promise.
Though the team is 10-5, the Bucs cannot win the NFC South. The 11-4 New Orleans Saints already clinched the division. As a result, the Bucs will be one of the lower ranked seeds in the NFC. In order to advance past the favorites, Brady and the Bucs needed to show the offense could operate at an elite level.
They proved as much Saturday, and will look to carry that momentum with them once the postseason begins.
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