Tom Brady turns back the clock, leads Bucs to playoffs with dominant win over Lions

Is it possible for a 43-year-old quarterback to still be in his prime? Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady turned in a vintage performance Saturday, leading the Bucs to a 47-7 win over the Detroit Lions.

Brady threw for 348 yards and four scores in the win ... and did it all in the first half. With the victory, the Buccaneers are officially going to the postseason. It will be the first time the franchise has appeared in the playoffs since 2007, which was the longest postseason drought in the NFC.

Brady proved he was on his game immediately, connecting with Rob Gronkowski on a perfectly placed touchdown pass on the Bucs’ first drive of the game. Bucs kicker Ryan Succop missed the extra point, giving Tampa Bay an early 6-0 lead.

The second Bucs drive brought more of the same. It took Brady just four plays to find Mike Evans for a 27-yard touchdown. With 7:39 left in the first quarter, the Bucs already had a 13-0 lead.

With that pass, Brady broke the Bucs’ franchise record for most touchdown passes in a season, which was set a year ago by Jameis Winston.

The Lions’ defense temporarily held firm on the Bucs’ third drive, but surrendered yet another touchdown on the next one. This time, it was running back Leonard Fournette who capped the drive with a score.

Brady followed up by leading the Bucs on a 93-yard drive touchdown drive, with Chris Godwin making a diving, one-handed catch in the end zone.

Brady added one more passing touchdown — this one to Antonio Brown — before the end of the second quarter. At halftime, the Bucs led 34-0.

And with that, Brady’s day was over. Blaine Gabbert entered the game at the start of the third quarter. On his first play, Gabbert connected with Gronkowski for a touchdown. It was Gabbert’s first touchdown pass since December 2018.