Devin White challenges Aaron Rodgers’ NFC Championship claim

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Devin White said Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers would have never ran into the end zone for a touchdown in the NFC Championship Game.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hoisted the Lombardi Trophy last year following their 31-9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55. Of course, the Buccaneers had to get through a tough challenge from the Green Bay Packers, who could have potentially tied the game to send it to overtime had quarterback Aaron Rodgers run it into the end zone in the final minutes of the NFC Championship Game.

But don’t tell Buccaneers linebacker Devin White that.

In the trailer of NFL Films’ “America’s Game: The 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers,” White mentions that if Rodgers had attempted the scramble, he wouldn’t have made it across. Why? Because White was standing in the end zone, and he expressed his belief that he would have chased him down before the quarterback broke the plane.

You can read the transcript of White’s quote in the tweet below, courtesy of theScore. The trailer in question can be viewed at this link, via Yahoo Sports.

Devin White says Aaron Rodgers would never had scrambled into end zone at end of NFC Championship Game

In the waning minutes of the NFC title game, the Buccaneers held a 31-23 lead, but the Packers were mounting a ferocious comeback. Green Bay made it all the way to the red zone, but on third-and-goal, Rodgers threw an incomplete pass to star receiver Davante Adams. Before attempting the pass, however, Rodgers appeared to have a wide open lane into the end zone, but opted against it.

From there, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur settled on a field goal instead of going for the touchdown on fourth-down, cutting their deficit to 31-26. Banking on their defense to stop Tom Brady failed instantly, as they converted two first downs on the final drive to ice the game and clinch their spot in the Super Bowl.

This is truly a case of what could have been, but White fully believes that he would have tackled Rodgers right before he crossed the goal line.