Tom Brady guides Tampa Bay Buccaneers to victory over New Orleans Saints

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In a game that saw Brady face off against fellow veteran quarterback Drew Brees – the pair’s combined age of 85 and 169 days is the oldest combined age of opposing starting quarterbacks in one game – it was the New Bucs signing who had the upper hand with two touchdown passes and scoring one himself.

The result means the Bucs, whose only Super Bowl title came 18 years ago, will face the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game – Brady’s ninth championship game in 10 seasons.

Meanwhile, current champions the Kansas City Chiefs will face the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game.

The Chiefs lost quarterback Patrick Mahomes to a concussion in the third quarter to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, but managed to secure a 22-17 victory.

Brady celebrates against the Saints.
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Brees’ uncertain future

While the Saints led the first trades at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, it was the Bucs’ defense that forced crucial turnovers and proved decisive.

Brady’s two touchdown passes were completed by Mike Evans and Leonard Fournette before his own score in the fourth quarter settled the game.

“For us at the start of this week, we must have played a great game, and our defense stepped up and played huge,” Brady said.

“Like I said, the offensive line was amazing. It was just a tough game, a very physical game.

“We will need to rest … and be ready to practice on Wednesday.”

For Brees, it could have been the last game of his career with the uncertainty over the 42-year-old’s future.

Brees leaves the field after his loss to Tampa Bay.
Asked about the future of his quarterback, Saints coach Sean Payton said it was “likely for another press conference.”

He added: “Obviously he’s been great for this team, this city, I could go on and on. But let’s wait and respond at the right time.”

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‘I’m not going to flinch’

In Sunday’s other game, the Chiefs had to call on backup quarterback Chad Henne to guide the team to victory over the Browns.

Mahomes, last season’s Super Bowl MVP, opened the scoring as he ran in a one-yard touchdown before finding Travis Kelce for the game’s second touchdown.

But he was forced off the field midway through the third quarter due to concussion protocol and in the second half the Browns began to close the lead in the score.

Mahomes looks aside during the Chiefs' second quarter to win.

“Somewhere you have to be able to reach the depths of hard times and come out of it,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said of how his team reacted after losing Mahomes and retained the victory.

“And if the coaches flinch, if the players – your leaders – flinch, it won’t happen.

“And our locker room isn’t going to flinch. They’re tough like that.”

The Chiefs will now face the Bills on January 24 for a spot in Super Bowl LV.

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