The Bucs were in control from the very start of the game in their 31-15 Wild Card victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bucs defense stifled the Eagles vaunted rushing attack all game long. While Tampa Bay’s offense moved the ball at will against a defense that had no answers for Tom Brady. With the win, the Bucs move on to the Divisional Round and another home game in Tampa Bay.

Brady finished the game 29-37 for 271 yards and two scores. Mike Evans was the leading receiver, posting nine catches for 117 yards and a touchdown. While Rob Gronkowski added five receptions for 31 yards and a score of his own. Ke’Shawn Vaughn finished as the leading runner with 53 yards and a touchdown. Giovani Bernard added 44 yards and a score as well. The defense played very well, turning in two interceptions and a sack with six tackles-for-a-loss.

Offense & Defense Start Hot

Receiving the ball to start the game, Brady and the offense moved right down the field capping off a 75-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run by Giovani Bernard. The Bucs defense started the game just as hot, forcing a three-and-out after a big tackle-for-loss on Jalen Hurts. With a chance to increase their early lead, the offense could not convert on third down and punted themselves.

Another quick stop forced by the defense combined with a bad punt set the offense up with good field position. Spreading the ball around, Brady marched the offense to the 1-yard line, where Ke’Shawn Vaughn punched it in. A sack by Antoine Winfield Jr. stalled another drive for the Eagles, and Brady went right back to work after the punt. The offense moved into a goal-to-go situation, but a third down sack on Brady forced a successful field goal attempt.

Yet another stop by the Bucs defense stymied Philly. A turnover-on-downs with the Eagles driving gave the offense another shot. But a sack on Brady forced a punt. Another promising drive for Philadelphia was abruptly ended when Mike Edwards came up with a goal line interception to give the offense the ball back with less than a minute remaining in the first half. A third sack on Brady ended any hope of scoring before the half.

Bucs Finish Eagles In 3rd Quarter

Electing to defer, the Eagles started with the ball in the second half. Unable to convert on third down, the Bucs defense forced another punt. Philadelphia would come up with a stop of their own, but a muffed punt gave the offense the ball back inside the 50. Big plays by Bernard and Mike Evans allowed Brady to find Gronkowski in the end zone from two yards out.

Another promising drive by the Eagles ended in another interception thrown by Hurts, this time to Shaq Barrett. Brady only needed one play to find the end zone. The star quarterback hit Evans for a 36-yard touchdown and a 31-0 lead. The teams traded punts over the next four possessions until the Eagles finally got on the scoreboard. Philadelphia got two chunk plays of 30-plus yards by their offense. The second was a 34-yard scamper into the end zone by Boston Scott.

After a punt by the Bucs the Eagles found the end zone yet again. This time on a 93-yard drive ending in a 16-yard catch and run by Kenneth Gainwell. Remaining in the game, Brady led the offense inside the red zone moving the chains on the ground to run out the clock and give the Bucs a 31-15 victory.