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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are officially Super Bowl-bound after defeating the Green Bay Packers, 31-26, at Lambeau Field.
This will go down as one of the better NFC Championships in recent memory. There was plenty of big moments, crazy plays, and questionable calls to talk about for a long time.
Let’s revisit the best moments —or worst depending on which side you’re on— from Tampa Bay’s NFC Championship win over Green Bay.
Mike Evans puts the Bucs in the lead with the first touchdown of the game
Tampa Bay converted three 3rd downs on this drive. One of them was a deep pass to Evans and the other was this touchdown pass, which puts the Bucs up, 7-0 early in the first quarter.
.@TomBrady + @MikeEvans13_ = 6️⃣
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 24, 2021
: https://t.co/RwWO3cpuWt pic.twitter.com/6wlb2533RA
Shaquil Barrett gets home and ends the Packers’ first drive
And guess what? Vita Vea was in on this play. It was good to see last year’s sack leader and the Bucs’ former first-round draft pick get in on the action early.
HUGE sack by @ShaquilBarrett ☠️ #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/mVqZvuwepS
— AllThingsBucs (@AllThingsTBbucs) January 24, 2021
Tom Brady gets sacked by Kenny Young
The Bucs converted a 3rd and 14 and were on the move, but Young ended all hopes of any type of score with this sack on 3rd and long.
.@KCBoutThatLife GETS TO BRADY!#TBvsGB | #GoPackGo
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 24, 2021
FOX
Watch live https://t.co/hXyIKW8GE0 pic.twitter.com/DJuWCqmxXX
Jason Pierre-Paul gets in on the sack party
He gets around Billy Turner for the second sack on Rodgers and the third combined sack of the first quarter.
Too easy for JPP
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 24, 2021
(via @thecheckdown) pic.twitter.com/pDji4qYkqg
Aaron Rodgers and Marquez Valdes-Scantling hit the Bucs for a 50-burger
This is the epitome of playoff football and just an excellent throw by Rodgers. He hits MVS in stride and the Packers are able to tie the game up at seven points apiece in the second quarter.
5️⃣0️⃣ yards to @MVS__11!
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 24, 2021
TOUCHDOWN! #TBvsGB | #GoPackGo
FOX
Watch live https://t.co/hXyIKW8GE0 pic.twitter.com/SP71SKnc5y
Chris Godwin redeems himself with a ridiculous catch
The fourth-year receiver has had some big-time struggles with holding onto the ball during the postseason and he dropped a wide-open pass on the 2nd down before this play. Godwin made up for the drop with this insane catch, however, which helped set up Tampa Bay’s next touchdown.
Chris Godwin is unreal
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 24, 2021
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/jWvuMn6aHY
“Playoff Lenny” dishes out the run of a lifetime
Leonard Fournette has been a difference-maker during the postseason and it was never more apparent than on this play that gave the Bucs a 14-7 lead.
WHAT. A. RUN.
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 24, 2021
: https://t.co/RwWO3c7TxT pic.twitter.com/op2gXiDVQN
JPP gets to Rodgers....again
The Bucs defensive line feasted with 3.0 sacks in the first half. Two of them belonged to JPP. This was his second.
Jason Pierre-Paul bullrushed Billy Turner right into Aaron Rodgers.pic.twitter.com/JdhwRX4bB9
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) January 24, 2021
Sean Murphy-Bunting gets continues his hot postseason play
This dude has been lights out in terms of making plays since the last couple weeks of the regular season. He comes up with this clutch pick to stop the Packers from having any shot at points before halftime.
Third INT of these #NFLPlayoffs for Sean Murphy-Bunting! #GoBucs #NFLPlayoffs
— NFL (@NFL) January 24, 2021
: #TBvsGB on FOX
: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/cHuzDq5flQ pic.twitter.com/V2H8AQPEWH
Brady and the Bucs get risk-ay and it pays off
The Bucs went for it on 4th and 3 with just a few seconds left on the clock before this play and it paid off. The young man Brady calls “Scooter” —Scotty Miller— torches Kevin King for a touchdown right before halftime to give the Bucs a 21-10 lead.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME, SCOOTER?!
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 24, 2021
: https://t.co/RwWO3c7TxT pic.twitter.com/U6gzxyy6bU
Jordan Whitehead forces his second fumble of the day
The first one was recovered by the Packers, but Aaron Jones wasn’t so lucky this time around (Whitehead actually forced him to fumble the first time around, too). Devin White scoops it up and moves Tampa Bay into scoring position.
The #Packers weren't going to to convert on 3rd down anyway but Jordan Whitehead forces his second fumble of the game. First time the #Bucs recover it.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 24, 2021
Last two drives by the #Packers were turnovers, first Rodgers INT and now Aaron Jones fumble.pic.twitter.com/CQSGpQfiWJ
Cameron Brate continues to have his impact felt
The Bucs run the play fake and the Packers bite. The end result is a wide-open Brate that puts the Bucs up, 28-10, early in the third quarter.
TOOOOOUCHDOWN BUCCANEERS!
— HTE Clutch (@HTEclutch) January 24, 2021
Tom Brady > Cameron Brate
Packers 10x28 Buccaneers#NFLpic.twitter.com/wyCjuDSGh8
Green Bay cuts into Tampa Bay’s lead
In dire need of some points, Rodgers led an eight-play, 75-yard drive that ended in a touchdown pass to Robert Tonyan to cut the Bucs’ lead to 28-17.
Touchdown, Tonyan! #GoPackGo #NFLPlayoffs
— NFL (@NFL) January 24, 2021
: #TBvsGB on FOX
: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/cHuzDq5flQ pic.twitter.com/6S1Tta6Bh4
Adrian Amos picks off Tom Brady
It’s tough to figure out what happened on this throw, but the result is the only thing that matters. Amos forces the first Tampa Bay turnover of the game and just the second of the postseason.
Adrian Amos! The @Packers get it back on the INT.#GoPackGo #NFLPlayoffs
— NFL (@NFL) January 24, 2021
: #TBvsGB on FOX
: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/cHuzDq5flQ pic.twitter.com/F0R38dYd1K
Davante Adams makes it a one-score game
The Packers were able to turn the Amos interception into a touchdown, but they couldn’t convert the two point conversion. Nevertheless, they were able to make it a one-score game after this touchdown.
Rodgers to Adams!@Packers pull within five. #GoPackGo #NFLPlayoffs
— NFL (@NFL) January 24, 2021
: #TBvsGB on FOX
: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/cHuzDq5flQ pic.twitter.com/UyFHRmEHS6
Jaire Alexander is the recipient of a tipped pass
This was a major game-changer for the Bucs. Brady and co. were in scoring range, but Brady overthrows Evans. The ball bounces off his hands and into the arms of Alexander.
Jaire Alexander tip-drill INT
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 24, 2021
This game is wild.
(via @NFLBrasil)pic.twitter.com/yWxvhI4VJ9
Shaquil Barrett ends the Packers drive with a sack
Barrett picked the perfect time to have the first multi-sack game in his postseason career. He ends any threat of Green Bay points with this sack on third down.
Shaq Barrett is special
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 24, 2021
Packers can’t stop him
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/QyEY8u54xc
Brady throws his third pick of the game
Darnell Savage comes unblocked off the edge and Brady just has to launch a prayer. Alexander is on the receiving end, again, for this second interception of the game.
.@JaireAlexander with back-to-back interceptions! #GoPackGo #NFLPlayoffs
— NFL (@NFL) January 24, 2021
: #TBvsGB on FOX
: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/cHuzDq5flQ pic.twitter.com/FBrGuZYfqk
Shaq Barrett gets his third sack of the game
The anticipation of the Packers snap count is on another level, here. Barrett blows by Wagner and takes down Rodgers for a sack on first down. The Packers would end up punting the ball away due to this play.
Shaq Barrett is unblockable right now @ShaquilBarrett @Buccaneers
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) January 24, 2021
#TBvsGB on FOX pic.twitter.com/kymTh1V1MW
Rob Gronkowski takes Tampa Bay into scoring range
This is how you make a mark with your first reception of the game. Gronk takes the Bucs into field goal range on this play.
Gronk’s big 29-yard gain
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 24, 2021
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/34lk4Jqp6h
Ryan Succop makes the game-sealing kick
Gronk’s reception led to a 46-yard field goal from Succop to put the Bucs up, 31-23. Green Bay would drive down to Tampa Bay’s eight-yard line on the next drive, but opted to kick a field goal on 4th and goal as opposed as going for the touchdown and then the subsequent two-point conversion to tie the game. A defensive pass interference call on Green Bay’s Kevin King on 3rd and 4 would give the Bucs the first down they needed to close out the game. Tampa Bay would go on to win, 31-26.
Ryan Succop is GOOD from 46 yards out. @Buccaneers extend their lead, 31-23. #NFLPlayoffs
— NFL (@NFL) January 24, 2021
: #TBvsGB on FOX
: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/cHuzDq5flQ pic.twitter.com/xZ4CTs3fW6