Tom Brady looks like his vintage self, just in time for the Bucs return to the playoffs

Tom Brady is picking apart the Lions defense Saturday afternoon as he sits on the brink of history.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Detroit Lions on Saturday. Through one half the game is a snoozer thanks to the dominance of Tom Brady.

He threw four first-half touchdowns and with Matt Stafford out it seems impossible the Lions are capable of coming back from a 34-0 deficit. Barring the collapse of the year, the Bucs are in and Brady can make history next week.

Brady about to set a new record

The legendary quarterback made his 298th career start Saturday, tying him with Brett Favre for the most in NFL history at any position. Taking the first snap of next week’s game against the Atlanta Falcons will mean Brady sets another record that is going to be tough to break.

Plenty of people are waiting to write off the Bucs quarterback, but he has looked like his old self throughout the season. He entered Saturday with 32 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions and eclipsed the 4,000-yard mark in the first half against the Lions. Brady is also whipping the ball down the field and isn’t showing similar decline in arm ability such as what fans are seeing with Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger.

Leading his team to victory will also end a painful playoff drought down in Tampa. The team hasn’t made the postseason since 2007 back when Jon Gruden was the head coach. The last time the Bucs even won 10 games was back in 2010.

The Lions are not good by any measure. Still, Brady has 348 yards and four touchdowns through one half of football! That is no ordinary stat line and the Bucs look to be the real deal once again.