A classic efficiency from Tom Brady and Mike Evans has the Buccaneers again within the playoffs

It was not the best way that Tampa bay Buccaneers followers envisioned it, however after an up-and-down season, the Buccaneers are again within the playoffs. A win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon clinched the NFC South for the Buccaneers, locking them into the fourth seed within the NFC playoffs and setting them up for a house recreation on Wild Card Weekend.

All it took on Sunday was one other second half comeback, and classic performances from Tom Brady and Mike Evans, for the Buccaneers to drag out the win.

By nearly any metric, it was one of the best recreation of Brady’s season. The veteran quarterback accomplished 34 of 45 passes for 432 yards (a season excessive) and three touchdowns, posting an NFL Passer Rating of 127.3 (one other season excessive) and an Adjusted Yards per Attempt of 10.93 (a 3rd season excessive). But it was additionally the best recreation of Evans’s season, as he caught 10 passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns, all of which had been season-high numbers.

The first landing connection got here within the second quarter, with the Buccaneers already trailing 14-0. Evans runs a straight go route alongside the precise sideline in opposition to Quarters protection, and simply runs by the cornerback. Brady drops in an ideal throw, and the Buccaneers are on the board:

Still, the Buccaneers trailed into the fourth quarter, setting the stage for one more late-game comeback from Tampa Bay. Early within the fourth, the Buccaneers confronted a third and 4 on their 43-yard line. Here is the route idea that offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich dials up:

This appears to be a variation of the Fish idea, and Brady opens to the left aspect of the sphere to learn out the three-receiver idea. But each choice to that aspect of the sphere is taken away from him. He reveals a fast pump pretend to attempt to get the protection to chew on wheel route from Chris Godwin earlier than he breaks vertically, however the curl/flat defender, together with the cornerback, carry that route. Brady then appears to Russell Gage beneath, however linebacker Shaq Thompson drives on that route. Finally, Brady appears on the dig from tight finish Cade Otton, however each safeties take that away.

So Brady will get to the bottom, the place Evans is working a go route:

Brady will get to the route late within the down, however has time because of the safety up entrance. With the Panthers in Quarter-Quarter-Half, there’s a tender spot within the protection for Evans, and Brady hits him in stride for his or her second landing of the afternoon.

After the Tampa Bay protection compelled a punt from the Panthers, it was time for Tampa Bay to take the lead. The Buccaneers began a drive on their very own eight-yard line, however eight performs later they had been on the Panthers’ 30-yard line.

Cue landing quantity three from this pair:

The Buccaneers run a go/out mixture to the precise aspect, with Evans working the go route and Godwin working the out route from the slot. Brady flashes a fast pump pretend on the out route, maybe making an attempt to affect the cornerback to peel off Evans and “trap” the out route. The Panthers are in Quarters, which may play out like man protection relying on how the routes distribute. Cornerback C.J. Henderson doesn’t chew on the pump pretend, as he’s answerable for Evans if he goes vertical, however the receiver will get a step on him as he releases downfield. That is all Brady and Evans want, because the QB drops in one other well-placed throw for the go-ahead rating.

Is this efficiency sufficient to instill confidence within the Buccaneers because the playoffs loom? Perhaps not. After all, the Buccaneers will host the fifth seed within the NFC playoffs, which could possibly be the Philadelphia Eagles or the Dallas Cowboys.

But the Buccaneers at the very least have a shot, one thing that appeared nearly unlikely a number of weeks in the past. And having the connection between Brady and Evans heating up going into the postseason provides that shot much more of an opportunity come playoff time.