MIAMI: Tom Brady marched Tampa Bay 66 yards in 9 performs in time beyond regulation to arrange Ryan Succop’s game-winning 40-yard box objective on Sunday that gave the Buccaneers a dramatic 19-16 victory at Arizona. Seven-time Tremendous Bowl champion Brady finished 32-of-48 passes for 281 yards and a landing, with two interceptions, however sparked the Bucs to attain the general 13 issues in a the most important triumph for Tampa Bay’s NFL playoff hopes.
“More difficult than we will have to have had and more difficult than we would have liked,” Brady mentioned. “They performed in reality neatly on protection and we had some lengthy fields and turnovers once more however we grinded it out and located a method to win.” The 45-year-old quarterback, enjoying in his first Christmas contest, received his eleventh regular-season time beyond regulation sport because the Bucs stepped forward to 7-8 to stick one sport atop Carolina and New Orleans within the NFC South department. Tampa Bay can clinch the department crown and a playoff berth with a house victory subsequent Sunday over Carolina. Had the Bucs misplaced to Arizona, they might have had to beat Carolina to stay any playoff hope alive.
“We’ll lick our wounds, regroup and take a look at to be at our easiest subsequent week,” Brady mentioned. “We’ve were given to head house and play an enormous sport on Sunday. “It is going to take our easiest. We haven’t had our easiest for 60 mins but. We’ve were given to carry it. Going to be a in reality tricky sport.” James Conner’s 22-yard landing run with 10:47 ultimate gave Arizona a 16-6 lead, however simply 2:44 later, Brady flipped a three-yard landing move to Rachaad White to raise the Bucs inside of 3.
Tampa Bay’s William Gholston recovered a fumble with 4:53 to play on the Arizona 45-yard line to arrange Succop’s 3rd box objective, a 42-yarder with 2:27 ultimate, to raise the Bucs stage and set the level for time beyond regulation. The Cardinals, already eradicated from playoff competition, suffered their 7th loss in 8 video games. At Miami, Aaron Rodgers threw for 238 yards and a landing whilst Inexperienced Bay defenders intercepted 3 passes within the fourth quarter of the Packers 26-20 conquer the host Dolphins. The Packers stepped forward to 7-8, stage with Seattle and Detroit and one-half sport in the back of Washington for the general NFC playoff berth.
‘A special occasion’
Inexperienced Bay picked off Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa to arrange box targets of 28 and 26 yards by way of Mason Crosby and a last Packers interception by way of Rasul Douglas within the demise seconds sealed their 3rd victory in a row. “A special occasion for us. Our protection got here up and performed exceptional,” Rodgers mentioned. “We had been down 20-10 and scored the remaining 16 issues. Offensively we struggled within the pink zone. However this was once particular.” The Dolphins suffered their fourth consecutive defeat and fell to 8-7, clinging to the remaining AFC playoff berth by way of a unmarried sport over 4 competitors with two video games ultimate. “I’m in reality happy with our workforce,” Rodgers mentioned. “We discovered a method to win and the best way our protection stepped up the previous few drives was once exceptional.”
The Packers end with house video games in frigid Inexperienced Bay towards Detroit and Minnesota, who play in enclosed venues. “Couple of dome groups coming in,” Rodgers famous. “It’s been chilly up in Inexperienced Bay.” In a matchup of groups eradicated from playoff competition, the Los Angeles Rams routed visiting Denver 51-14. Cam Akers carried 23 instances for 118 yards and 3 touchdowns whilst Baker Mayfield finished 24 of 28 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns for the Rams, who had 4 interceptions within the romp. – AFP