If Tom Brady has played the last game of an unprecedented NFL career, he ended with one of his toughest losses after a stunning comeback.
Bloodied and battered by the Los Angeles Rams, the 44-year-old seven-time Super Bowl champion rallied the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back from a 24-point deficit, only to see the defence surrender a big play in the final minute to set up Matt Gay’s winning 30-yard field goal.
The Rams’ 30-27 victory on Sunday sent Los Angeles home to host the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC championship game next week.
They ended Tampa Bay’s bid to become the NFL’s first repeat champions since Brady led New England to consecutive titles in 2004 and 2005.
Have the Rams also ended Brady’s career?
“Truthfully, guys, I’m thinking about this game. I’m not thinking about past five minutes from now,” Brady said.
Brady is under contract for 2022 but his return isn’t definite.
“I haven’t put a lot of thought into it, taking it day by day,” Brady said.
In late September, Brady said he plans to play at least one more season, but he indicated several times since that returning will be a family decision.
After the loss to Los Angeles, Bucs caoch Bruce Arians said the decision is “up to Tom.”
Brady was playing at an elite level until running into the Rams. He didn’t complete a pass on his first two drives for the first time in his 47 play-off starts.
He got called for the first unsportsmanlike penalty of his career in the first half for arguing a call after a hit busted his lip.
Brady misfired on several passes, had two turnovers and was sacked three times. But his 55-yard touchdown pass to Mike Evans with just over three minutes left got the Buccaneers within 27-20.
After the Rams lost their fourth fumble, Brady drove Tampa to the tying score as Leonard Fournette ran in from the 9.
But defensive breakdowns allowed Matthew Stafford to connect with Cooper Kuup on 20 and 40-yard completions to put the Rams in position to win it.
Incredibly, all three play-off games this weekend have been decided by a field-goal in the final play of the game — with all going the way of the lower seed away from home.
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