The Buccaneers pulled off a 31-26 win in the NFC championship game against the Green Bay Packers on January 24, 2021. Game day temperatures at Lambeau Field were typical. Kickoff was a frigid 29 degrees and plunged to the teens later in the game. Quarterback Tom Brady was not phased by the cold weather, after playing in New England for 20 seasons.

The Buccaneers got on the board fairly quickly, with Mike Evans catching a 15 yard touchdown pass in their opening, four minute drive. The packers tied the game early in the second quarter. Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught a great 50 yard pass from Aaron Rodgers. The Buccaneers quickly regained their lead with a Leonard Fournette 20 yard touchdown run. Green Bay had to settle for a field goal with five minutes left in the second quarter.

The Buccaneers had an astonishing closing to the first half. Brady threw a 39 yard touchdown to Scotty Miller, leaving only one second on the time clock. Tampa Bay went into the locker confident, with a 21-10 lead at halftime.

Almost directly after the second half started, Green Bay running back Aaron Jones fumbled the football and it was recovered by Tampa Bay. This set up the Buccaneers for an easy touchdown, putting them up 18 early in the second half.

Rodgers tried to lead his team to an 18 point comeback. Tight end Robert Tonyan caught an eight yard touchdown pass to tighten the lead. Shortly after, Tom Brady threw an interception, setting the Packers up for another touchdown. This time, Davante Adams caught the pass, but they failed to complete the two point conversion.

Green Bay did not get so lucky after this touchdown. Brady threw two more interceptions, but the Packers were unable to score any points after the turnovers, resulting in punts both times.

With 4:42 left in regulation, Tampa Bay kicker Ryan Succop scored a field goal to make the score 31-23. The Packers marched down the field in hopes to tie the game. It was 4th and goal at Tampa Bay’s 8 yard line. Everyone expected head coach, Matt LaFleur, to go for it on 4th down. Controversially, he decided to settle for the field goal in hopes they would get another chance to drive for the touchdown. Predictably, Brady never let Rodgers touch the football again. A pass interference call sealed the game for the Buccaneers, letting them run the clock out. 

Packers fan Emily Straetz ‘23 said, “As soon as the clock struck zero, I instantly went into the grieving process. I don’t know when I will be fully recovered. I was not impressed with some of the calls Matt LeFleur made, and I thought the refs were very inconsistent.” Erinn Kelly ‘23 said, “I was happy for him [Brady] for going to another Super Bowl. Also, I was happy for the Buccaneers because they haven’t gone to a Super Bowl in 18 years. I’m glad they will finally get another chance.”

It’s official. Tom Brady is going to another Super Bowl. Many of his haters said that it was Belichick and New England that made him so great. He proved the critics wrong in this game. He proved on a different team, and even a different conference, that the outcome would still be the same— a playoff and Super Bowl berth. Brady is heading to his 10th Super Bowl game. With a Super Bowl win, he would have more rings than any franchise in the NFL (7). It will be an interesting matchup between the 43 year old quarterback, who is arguably the greatest to ever play the game, and young all star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes. The two are 2-2 against each other. Mahomes and the Chiefs are slight favorites in the Super Bowl (-3).

Facts & Stats:

1.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the first team to ever play in a super bowl in their home stadium. Super Bowl LV will be played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida.

2.Brady will have played in 18.2% of all Super Bowls ever played.

3.Tom Brady is more likely to make it to the Super Bowl than Steph Curry is to make a 3-pointer. Brady’s chance of reaching the Super Bowl in any of his seasons (47.6%) is higher than Steph Curry’s career three-point percentage (43.3%).