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| Venue: State Farm Stadium, Glendale Date: Sunday, 12 February Begin: 23:30 GMT |
| BBC protection: Take heed to commentary on Radio 5 Dwell and observe reside textual content on the BBC Sport web site and app. |
Dak Prescott upstaged seven-time Tremendous Bowl winner Tom Brady because the Dallas Cowboys dumped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of this season’s play-offs.
The Bucs certified for the post-season regardless of Brady, 45, having the primary shedding season of his 23-year profession.
However their luck ran out as Prescott handed for 4 touchdowns and rushed for an additional as Dallas earned a primary away win within the play-offs since 1993.
After main 18-0 at half-time, Dallas eased dwelling for a 31-14 victory.
The five-time Tremendous Bowl winners, who final lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy in 1996, had misplaced their earlier eight street video games within the play-offs stretching again to a win on the San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers beat the Cowboys throughout final season’s wildcard weekend and the outdated rivals from the ’90s will meet once more in subsequent week’s divisional spherical at Levi’s Stadium.
Though Tampa Bay (8-9) had a worse report within the common season than Dallas (12-5), it was sufficient for them to win the NFC South division and safe home-field benefit for the ultimate recreation in week one of many play-offs.
Dallas due to this fact needed to go to the Raymond James Stadium, the place Brady gained a report seventh Tremendous Bowl in his first season with the Bucs two years in the past.
This was his forty eighth play-off recreation – greater than 23 of the NFL’s 32 franchises have had of their total historical past – however there was by no means a touch of Brady including to that tally.
Neither workforce managed to get a primary down on the sport’s first 4 possessions, however Prescott then discovered his rhythm, with tight finish Dalton Schultz grabbing a excessive throw for a 22-yard landing.
The Bucs made 70 yards on their subsequent drive earlier than Brady made an uncharacteristic error, attempting to toss the ball away underneath strain solely to be picked off ultimately zone.
The Cowboys replied with a 15-play drive taking them 80 yards downfield, with Prescott capping it by faking a hand-off earlier than operating into the tip zone untouched.
On Dallas’ subsequent possession, Prescott made 20-yard passes to Schultz and CeeDee Lamb earlier than discovering Schultz for an 11-yard rating to spherical off a 91-yard drive.
Victory seemed assured when Prescott, who tied for a league-high 15 interceptions regardless of lacking 5 video games of the common season, picked out Michael Gallup in the back of the tip zone on the Cowboys’ first possession after half-time.
Julio Jones then managed to hold on to a 30-yard move from Brady to get the Bucs on the board, however Prescott made an 18-yard landing move to Lamb within the fourth quarter to complete with 305 yards, finishing 25 of his 33 move makes an attempt.
Brady salvaged some delight with a late landing move to Cameron Brate and truly completed with 351 yards, making 35 of a whopping 66 passes.
What subsequent for Brady?
There’s now hypothesis over whether or not this would be the closing recreation of Tom Brady’s record-breaking profession.
The NFL’s three-time Most Useful Participant has already retired as soon as, after Tampa Bay had been knocked out of final season’s play-offs, however just 40 days later he made a U-turn to spend a 3rd season with the Bucs.
Brady then agreed a 10-year deal worth $375m to turn into Fox Sports activities’ lead NFL analyst – at any time when the long run Corridor of Famer does select to hold up his helmet for good.
It’s thought the Bucs would welcome Brady again for a twenty fourth season within the NFL, however a handful of groups are all in favour of signing him in free company.
He might stay in Florida, with the Miami Dolphins having been long-time suitors. Proprietor Stephen Ross was fined $1.5m for ‘impermissible contact’ with Brady between 2019 and 2021, when he was with the New England Patriots.
There are issues in regards to the NFL way forward for Tua Tagovailoa because the quarterback, 24, missed the Dolphins’ play-off defeat by the Buffalo Payments as he’s nonetheless recovering from his second concussion of the season.
Brady is having an eco-friendly mansion in-built Miami too, following his divorce from Gisele Bundchen final yr.
He has additionally been linked with the Las Vegas Raiders, whose head coach is former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, whereas there was discuss of a possible return to the Patriots as coach Invoice Belichick, with whom Brady gained six Tremendous Bowls, has dedicated to a different season.
One factor is for positive, although. Brady will take his time over making his resolution after admitting he made a mistake by deciding his future a matter of days after final season’s play-off exit.
“I’m going to get dwelling and get a great night time’s sleep,” he stated after Monday’s recreation. “There was plenty of concentrate on this recreation and it is going to be someday at a time.”
Brady added: “I really like this organisation. It’s a good spot to be and thanks to everybody for welcoming me. I am very grateful for the respect and hopefully I gave the identical factor again to you guys.”
Divisional spherical fixtures
(away workforce first, kick-off instances GMT)
Saturday 21 January
- Jacksonville Jaguars v Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (21:30)
- New York Giants v Philadelphia Eagles (01:15 Solar)
Sunday 22 January
- Cincinnati Bengals v Buffalo Payments (20:00)
- Dallas Cowboys v San Francisco 49ers (23:30)
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