FINAL: LaFleur Opts for FG while the GOAT Prevails Bucs 31 Packers 26

The sun was shining early in Green Bay, and if you took away the white powder on the benches and around the field, it looked warm and toasty. Tom Brady took full advantage of the early sunshine and led the Bucs to an easy, early score, connecting with Mike Evans for 7-0 lead. Aaron Rodgers struggled in the first couple of possessions finding open receivers, and eating a little turf. The Buccaneers pass rush coupled with JK Scott failing to pin the Bucs deep early, it was a bit of a nightmare start for the Pack. Everything went the Buccaneers way in the 1st quarter.

The Packers finally stopped the second Brady drive after two 3rd and long conversions. The momentum seemed to shift back to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Rodgers hit Lazard from his own end zone on a 3rd and 15 play and the floodgates were opened. The next play, a quick snap screen to Adams, a missed tackle, and quickly the Packers moved into scoring territory. Rodgers hit Tampa area native Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a score to start the 2nd quarter and tie the game at 7-7.

Brady and Playoff Lenny, Leonard Fournette, charge right back following an answered Hail Mary from Brady to Godwin. Playoff Lenny broke free and skated on top of frozen bodies over the goal line to make it 14-7. Matt LaFleur shows why he is one of the NFL’s best coaches, as he wins a smart challenge on the kickoff, giving his QB some breathing room and an extra 15 yards to start the next drive. That ultimately led to points as Crosby knocks the frozen football through the uprights narrowing the gap to 14-10. The sun started to set, the temperatures started to fall. Rodgers threw a late pick, which appeared to be a hold on the Bucs defense, which will come to into play later in the game. Arians rolled the dice 4th and 3 from the Packers 45 yard line and the decision paid-off. A quick-pass first down to Fournette, followed by broken 1-on-1 coverage on the outside, Brady hit Scotty Miller for a huge TD to close the half.

If you bet the Bucs in the first half, check your tickets at home. You WON! The Bucs covered everything the 1Q spread(+1/2 -130), the 2Q spread (+1/2 -110), Halftime spread( +3 -115) and Bucs ML (+145). Oh, and the over hit on that last play as well (26.5 -110).

Halftime Score: Bucs 21 Packers 10

Photocred: WBAY

The second half began in a weird way. There was a quick stop by the Packers, followed by a couple of fumbles by the Packers offense, as they were moving down the field. Aaron Jones got popped in the chest, forcing the ball out, giving Brady the ball 1st and Goal. Brady capitalizes on that, obviously, and hits Brate in the back of the end-zone to make it 28-10 quickly, oddly. Tampa Bay was in complete control at that point. Rodgers, sensing the urgency, quickly slices and dices the Buccaneers defense with a quick answer to Big Bob Tonyan to cut the lead back to a manageable 11 point game.

Brady threw a pick on the next drive, proving he is human. Football Jedi master, Aaron Rodgers took back control of the Packers offense. AJ Dillion carried the Buccaneers defense on his back to keep the drive rolling, and Rodgers sliced away at the Buccaneers underneath to move into scoring range. Rodgers hits Adams for an easy score but the failed two-point conversion leaves the margin at 5. Now, Packers bettors are doomed going into the 4th and final quarter.

A costly 12-man on the field penalty kept a mundane drive going for the Bucs, but the Packers defense makes a huge play when it had to step up, a tipped ball INT, halting the Buccaneers attack. Uncharacteristically, Brady keeps giving the ball back to Rodgers via Packers interceptions. But the Packers fail to do much with these gifts from Brady, punting in back to back possessions. It’s getting cold, and you can tell that it is having its affect on these players late in the season (my expert opinion on the couch).

Although Brady tried to give the game away at the end, a questionable decision late by LaFleur to kick a FG with a little more than 2-minutes left on the clock, cutting the lead to five. Why would he give the GOAT, TB12, Tom Brady, the ball back, in January, in the playoffs with the opportunity to run the clock out and go to his 10th Super Bowl? It will be the talk of the sports world tonight and tomorrow, and I cannot wait to hear QB1 has to say on Aaron Rodgers Tuesday on the PatMcAfee Show.

A questionable DPI call late in the game but Brady and the Bucs get the call from the zebras to secure their first trip to the Super Bowl since 2003, and Brady’s first trip since 2018. It’s been a long 2-years for the greatest to ever do it.

A Super Bowl home game, something Tom Brady could never accomplish in New England. Had to win three playoff games on the road against three hard-nosed defenses.

I’ll say it, I hope he brings the Lombardi home to the Sunshine State.

Final Score: Bucs 31 (+3.5) Packers 26 (-3.5)

#GoBucs