Quarterback Tom Brady threw for three touchdowns this Sunday and ran for another and thus lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the NFL playoffs, playoffs that will also play the NY Giants.
Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, completed 34 of 45 passes for 432 yards and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 1:58 left. The Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers 30-24.
Mike Evans had 10 receptions for 207 yards, including three touchdowns of 30, 57 and 63 yards passing from Brady, as the Bucs (8-8) clinched the NFC South crown, their 19th title Brady’s career split.
Thanks to a 38-10 home win over Indianapolis on this week, the Giants reached the playoffs for the first time since the 2016 season and the second time since they won the 2011 NFL season crown.
On the other hand, the Philadelphia Eagles (13-3) blew an opportunity to capture the NFC’s top seed, a first-round bye plus home field advantage, for the second straight week following a 20-game home loss. 10 once morest the New Orleans Saints.
The Saints (7-9) got a decisive 12-yard touchdown return from Marshon Lattimore.
“Our defense did a phenomenal job,” Saints defenseman Cameron Jordan said. “We knew we had to get this win to keep our playoff hopes alive.”
Eagles defenseman Josh Sweat was carried off the field and hospitalized with a neck injury, but the team said he would be released later Sunday.
The Buffalo Bills (12-3) also failed to secure a No. 1 seed, their bid to clinch the AFC and were thwarted when the Kansas City Chiefs outscored visiting Denver 27-24.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes passed for 328 yards and three touchdowns, two of them in the fourth quarter as the Chiefs took the lead for good.
Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins, playing without quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, sidelined with a concussion, missed their chance to make the playoffs with a 23-21 loss to the Patriots in New England.
Mac Jones threw for 203 yards and two touchdowns to encourage the Patriots, who evened Miami at 8-8.
Washington stumbled upon a chance to pick up the pace in the playoffs, losing a 24-10 home game once morest Cleveland when Deshaun Watson threw three touchdown passes for the Browns (7-9).
Buffalo, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Baltimore and the Los Angeles Chargers had already clinched a berth in the AFC playoffs.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Dallas and San Francisco had already clinched the NFC postseason berths.
– Results of Sunday in the NFL in day 17 of the 2022-2023 season:
Atlanta 20 Arizona 19
Detroit 41 Chicago 10
Jacksonville 31 Houston 3
Kansas City 27 Denver 24
New England 23 Miami 21
New York Giants 38 Indianapolis 10
New Orleans 20 Philadelphia 10
Tampa Bay 30 Carolina 24
Cleveland 24 Washington 10
– In Game:
San Francisco in Las Vegas
New York Jets at Seattle
Minnesota not Green Bay
Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers
Pittsburgh not Baltimore
– To be played on Monday:
Buffalo not Cincinnati
– Played on Thursday:
Dallas 27 Tennessee 13
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