The Buccaneers got their first taste of victory in the playoffs in a long time on Saturday night, sending Tampa Bay fans into rapture.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hadn’t been to the playoffs since 2007. They hadn’t won a playoff game since 2003.
Then they got Tom Brady and he did what he does: win in the playoffs.
Buccaneers fans were simultaneously pounding their chests and breathing a sigh of relief when it was all over.
Despite Washington’s uncertain quarterback situation, Taylor Heinicke and company put up a huge fight and forced the game to be decided in the waning minutes.
Buccaneers fans had to process their emotions after a rare playoff win
It sure wasn’t a stress-free experience.
#GoBucs pic.twitter.com/8hHiwKpUow
— Tommy (@AllHandsGalley) January 10, 2021
WHEW. #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/GmUAwSKvOH
— Jeff, same handle on Bluesky, Spoutible & Mastodon (@JTS65) January 10, 2021
What a game! #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/jIlGB7b8Zk
— Tom "Goz" Goslowski (@TomGozz) January 10, 2021
Bucs fans understood the meaning of the victory, no matter how it came.
Yessir! Never easy for us. At the end of the day, a W is a W #gobucs #firethecannons
— Ryañ (@slyMrRy) January 10, 2021
An ugly win but that’s a PLAYOFF WIN. On to the next round! #GoBucs
— JC Cornell (@CornellNFL) January 10, 2021
After all, it was the first one in a long time.
For the first time in 6,558 days, the Bucs have won a playoff game. Their first playoff victory since Super Bowl XXXVII.
— Paul Driscoll (@ThePaulDriscoll) January 10, 2021
January 26, 2003 ➡️ January 9, 2021#GoBucs
It’s been 18 years since our Super Bowl and I'd forgotten what the glory of a playoff win felt like. #GoBucs https://t.co/IiOybR50ZP
— Kenya J (@KenyaJ121) January 10, 2021
Life sure is a lot easier when you’ve got Tom Brady on your side. The quarterback threw for 381 yards and two touchdowns in his first playoff appearance for Tampa Bay.
That was Buccaneers QB Tom Brady's 31st playoff win, which is the most by a quarterback in NFL history. Brady's idol, Joe Montana, is second with 16.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 10, 2021
That means a win next week will give Brady twice as many playoff wins as any QB ever.
Ridiculous.
He's still got it!!#TompaBay#GoBucs pic.twitter.com/JytLdMb9gz
— Brad Carlson (@Brad_Carlson) January 10, 2021
Whenever I get nervous I just watch this gif. Moving on! #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/sspOJbJypD
— Jeff Attinella (@Jeff_Attinella1) January 10, 2021
https://twitter.com/kevynnxx/status/1348125521180286976?s=20
What’s next for Tampa Bay? They won’t know until the New Orleans Saints take on the Chicago Bears on Sunday. The result will determine if the next opponent is the Rams or New Orleans.
https://twitter.com/davidlmc/status/1348127498756886528?s=20
Not the best win, but getting a rematch with the Saints or Rams is huge. Coulda beat the Rams, and getting that awful taste out of their mouths from that last Saints game is a must. #surviveandadvance #GoBucs
— Cizzle (@D_Cizz) January 10, 2021
Whoever they face, the Buccaneers will hope this victory lends them some momentum. Brady was what Tampa Bay will have expected as a guiding hand in the postseason. The offense also got a big performance out of receiver Mike Evans with 119 yards on six receptions. Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown added a touchdown each.
The running game operated just fine without Ronald Jones II, who was injured in the pregame. Leonard Fournette was there to fill the gap with 93 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
Defensively, veteran linebacker Lavonte David came to play with nine tackles, a sack, a pass break up and a hit on the QB.