Tom Brady Becomes Oldest QB To Throw Playoff TD, Leads Bucs To Win Over Washington
By Michael Hurley, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- Tom Brady is 43 years old. Tom Brady is still slinging touchdown passes in the NFL playoffs.
The ageless legend added to his historic playoff resume on Saturday night, leading the Buccaneers to a 31-23 win over the Washington Football Team.
After a field goal drive to start the game, Brady got the Bucs into the end zone for the first time by hitting a wide-open Antonio Brown for a touchdown late in the first quarter, extending Tampa's lead to 9-0. (The PAT was no good.)
The score was the 74th playoff touchdown of Brady's career, adding to his ridiculous all-time lead. Joe Montana ranks second all time, with 45.
This particular touchdown was of course noteworthy because it was Brady's first for any team other than the Patriots.
It was also the fourth consecutive game with a touchdown for Brown, who caught four touchdowns over the Buccaneers' final three games of the regular season after failing to find the end zone in his first five games with Tampa Bay.
Brady also passed George Blanda for the record as the oldest quarterback to throw a playoff touchdown.
The touchdown to Brown came after Sean Murphy-Bunting intercepted a tipped Taylor Heinicke pass, giving Tampa Bay the football near midfield. Brady completed a 15-yard pass to Scotty Miller on a third-and-10 to keep that drive alive, and on the next third down, he hit Brown for the 36-yard score.
On Brady's next opportunity with the football, he once again added to the all-time tally, this time hitting Chris Godwin for a 27-yard touchdown.
That one gave Brady a clean 30-touchdown lead over Joe Montana on the all-time leaderboard.
All-Time Leaders In Playoff TD Passes
1. Tom Brady, 75
2. Joe Montana, 45
3. Brett Favre, 44
T-4. Peyton Manning, 40
T-4. Aaron Rodgers, 40
6. Drew Brees, 34
7. Dan Marino, 32
8. Kurt Warner, 31
T-9. Terry Bradshaw, 30
T-9. Ben Roethlisberger, 30
The Godwin touchdown gave Tampa Bay a 15-7 lead, as the Bucs missed the PAT on the first touchdown and failed on the two-point conversion attempt on the second touchdown.
Despite a surprisingly scintillating performance from Taylor Heinicke at quarterback for Washington, Brady and the Bucs managed to pull out a 31-23 victory to advance to next weekend's divisional round. Brady completed 22 of his 40 passes for 381 yards with the two touchdowns and zero interceptions.
For the Bucs, it was the franchise's first playoff victory since 2002. For Brady, it was playoff victory No. 31, adding to another of his all-time records.
