The 2020 regular season is over, the playoff berths confirmed, and now the remaining teams have the road to the Super Bowl laid out in front of them.
While the Wild Card Round provides several mouth-watering ties that fans can look forward to, few can garner more attention than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs the Washington Football Team.
Playoff Tom Brady vs Ron Rivera’s solid Washington defense has all the ingredients for a playoff classic.
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Playoff Tom Brady, a different beast
By now we all know that the regular season is just a warm-up routine for Tom Brady. The former Patriots man really comes to life in the Playoffs.
With 30 wins in 41 playoff games, Brady is the winningest playoff quarterback in NFL history. The closest any active QB is to Brady is the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger with 13 wins.
Entering a new challenge at the age of 43 is no easy feat, but there’s little that Brady can’t take on. After a slow start to life in Tampa, Brady has found his stride again.
In each of his final 3 games of the regular season, Brady recorded 4 touchdowns. His passing average through those 3 games also stood close to the 380-mark.
But more than anything, it’s Brady’s ability to come in clutch that sets him apart from the rest. And his recent comeback performance against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 15 is a testament to the same.
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Washington no pushovers
While the Washington Football Team enter the playoffs as the side with the worst winning record, the side is not one to be taken for granted.
Ron Rivera’s Washington side has been a Top-6 unit through the majority of the season, thanks to its defensive line.
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Owing to players like Chase Young, Montez Sweat, and Ryan Kerrigan, Washington rank second in the league for total yards allowed. A stat that showcases their ability to shut out opposition offenses.
One aspect of Washington’s game that has been sub-par is their ability to create plays from turnovers. Something they must utilize, given Brady’s tendency to throw the odd-interception.
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It’s offense vs defense in this NFC Wildcard matchup. Who do you have your money on going through to the divisional round? Brady’s Buccaneers or Rivera’s band of speedsters?
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