TAMPA, Fla. — The Dallas Cowboys lastly found out Tom Brady.
After seven consecutive losses towards Brady courting to 2003, the Cowboys demolished the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their future Corridor of Fame quarterback, 31-14, whereas dominating almost each part of their wild-card matchup Monday night time.
The Cowboys will face the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif. on Sunday within the divisional spherical, whereas Brady will ponder his future as a 45-year-old free agent after enduring the one of many worst playoff defeats of his 23-year profession.
For all their bombast and hype, the Cowboys have been dismal within the playoffs for the previous quarter century, successful solely three video games and failing to advance previous the divisional spherical. However Monday’s sport was lopsided from the beginning as Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott accomplished passes to an array of receivers, and operating again Tony Pollard sliced by means of Tampa Bay’s protection for 77 yards on 15 carries.
Prescott completed with 5 whole touchdowns, and handed for 305 yards. Beforehand, he had received just one playoff sport in seven seasons in Dallas, however on Monday he appeared decided to conquer his postseason demons. Within the first half, he dove for one first down and scored on a nifty bootleg for the Cowboys’ second rating.
That run was bracketed by two landing passes to tight finish Dalton Schultz within the first half, when the Cowboys took an 18-0 lead at Raymond James Stadium. About the one offensive breaks the Buccaneers mustered within the first half got here from Brett Maher, the Cowboys kicker, who missed all three extra-point makes an attempt, an N.F.L. playoff document. (He later missed a fourth try within the second half, setting a brand new league document.)
The final time Brady was shut out within the first half of a playoff sport was his first postseason look, with the Patriots in 2002. The Patriots rallied that day to beat the Raiders in additional time, 16-13.
There was no comeback on Monday. The Buccaneers by no means established their operating sport, forcing Brady to throw 23 instances within the first half alone. A number of of his passes have been batted away and at one level he threw to tight finish Cameron Brate, who was quadruple-covered ultimately zone, within the first quarter.
Brady additionally overthrew a number of passes, together with one which was intercepted by security Jayron Kearse at the back of the Dallas finish zone initially of the second quarter.
Within the third quarter, after the Cowboys accomplished an eight-play, 86-yard drive that ended when Prescott discovered Michael Gallup ultimately zone for a landing, Brady tried to tug the Buccaneers out of a 24-point gap.
Catastrophe appeared to strike once more when receiver Chris Godwin fumbled after a reception on third-and-9 from the Tampa Bay 20-yard line. On the finish of the play, Brady appeared to attempt to journey Cowboys security Malik Hooker, who had recovered the ball.
The fumble was overturned after a overview, however Brady couldn’t capitalize. He sailed a third-down cross into empty area to finish the fruitless drive, and a smattering of boos rose from the stressed house crowd.
Brady lastly regarded just like the Brady of outdated on the finish of the third quarter, when he hit receiver Julio Jones operating full stride down the left sideline for a 30-yard rating. The Buccaneers went for the 2-point conversion, however Brady badly missed Godwin ultimately zone.
Dallas rapidly responded, marching down the sector with ease. On fourth-and-4, Cowboys Coach Mike McCarthy, maybe attempting to spare Maher one other embarrassment, opted to not kick a area aim. Prescott discovered receiver CeeDee Lamb broad open for an 18-yard landing rating. Maher ultimately transformed the additional level try and push Dallas’s result in 31-6.
In his greater than 20 years within the N.F.L., Brady has led 9 fourth-quarter comebacks within the playoffs. However Tampa Bay fell too far behind for Brady to engineer a tenth.
The sport got here to a somber cease with below three minutes remaining when Tampa Bay receiver Russell Gage lay on the sector after successful that appeared to jolt his neck. Gamers from each groups knelt as medical personnel attended to Gage in a second eerily paying homage to the collapse of Payments security Damar Hamlin earlier this month. Gage was carted off to a hospital with a concussion and a attainable neck damage, however was shifting his fingers, Buccaneers Coach Todd Bowles stated.
When the sport resumed, Brady completed the drive with an 8-yard landing cross to Cameron Brate and transformed a 2-point try and carry the rating to 31-14. The Buccaneers recovered an onside kick close to midfield, however the late rally fell quick.
Brady completed with 35 of 66 passing for 351 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception.
If this was Brady’s final sport, it was actually an anomaly. He owns almost each main N.F.L. passing document, together with yards and touchdowns. This yr, he set private bests for completions and cross makes an attempt as he threw for 4,694 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Brady’s dad and mom got here off the sector arm-in-arm after the sport, and his mom, Galynn, had tears in her eyes. Brady declined to reply questions final week about stories suggesting that he would possibly try so as to add to his profession totals by becoming a member of a brand new staff subsequent season. On Monday, Brady supplied little perception on his future.
“I’m going to go house and get an excellent night time’s sleep,” he stated when requested about his plans for subsequent yr.
However on the finish of his four-minute information convention, he thanked the media, together with the Tampa Bay beat writers, in addition to the Buccaneers group, seeming to shut his time with the franchise.
Information stories have prompt that Brady is excited about taking part in in South Florida so he will be near his youngsters. Final yr, the N.F.L. discovered that the Dolphins had “impermissible” talks with Brady whereas he was below contract with the Patriots and Buccaneers.
Dolphins Common Supervisor Chris Grier stated Monday that the staff helps their present quarterback, Tua Tagavailoa, a former first-round draft choose who missed 5 video games this season due to concussions.
The Las Vegas Raiders have been reported as one other potential vacation spot for Brady. He has a protracted historical past with Raiders Coach Josh McDaniels, who was his offensive coordinator in New England for 13 seasons.
With seven Tremendous Bowl titles, three M.V.P. awards and almost 300 wins, Brady is unlikely to be completely happy leaving the sector after such a drubbing towards the Cowboys. The place, and if, he tries to erase the reminiscence is but to be decided.
“You all the time need to finish yearly nice, however sadly sports activities doesn’t work that approach,” Brady stated.
