The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one step closer to defending their Super Bowl title after dominating the Philadelphia Eagles 31-15 in Sunday’s wild-card game.
The injury-plagued Bucs didn’t miss a step with Tom Brady leading the pack. He was 29-of-37 for 271 yards and two touchdowns and gave Tampa Bay a solid 17-0 lead heading into halftime. Sunday’s victory marked Brady’s 35th playoff win and his fifth straight since joining Tampa in 2020.
Philadelphia scored on Boston Scott’s 34-yard run and Hurts’ 16-yard pass to Kenneth Gainwell in the fourth quarter. A 2-point conversion helped cut the deficit to 16 but it was too little too late with just four minutes left in the game.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Giovani Bernard (25) celebrates with offensive tackle Donovan Smith (76) after Bernard scored on a 2-yard touchdown run against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of an NFL wild-card football game Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
“We didn’t play good enough today, I didn’t play good enough today,” Hurts told reporters after the game. “I think first as a football team, this game does not define us. It does not define who we are. It does not define us at all … We’ll be back and this is a feeling that will simmer in our hearts.”
The Bucs head to the divisional round where they will play one of the following teams: Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams or Arizona Cardinals.
Paulina Dedaj is a Sports Reporter for Fox News Digital.
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