Buccaneers Break Into Saints Panic Room

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30

New Orleans Saints 20

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are heading back to the NFC Championship game for the first time since 2002 after taking down the Saints in their New Orleans based panic room, or 'Superdome'. Much like 2002, the Saints learnt that having your own panic room to retreat to is not always the safe haven it's cracked up to be. After lurking on the periphery all season the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where able to break in on Sunday night and exact their revenge upon the holiest in all the land. While Drew Brees was praying he would be playing the lead role of Jodie Foster, saving his diabetic child's life and crushing a grown mans hand to smithereens along the way, he unfortunately was reduced to being cracked over the head by a sledgehammer and falling to his near death in the stairwell below. After failing to move the offense, while throwing three horrid interceptions, Brees may be locking himself back in the safe room to watch replays of the good ol' days gone by knowing there may be no more to come.

Tom Brady continues to look more than just competent at the age of 43. Taking deep shots, completing darts to the outside and using that big old brain of his to full effect, TB-Twelve refuses to fulfil the dreams of millions and slowly break down into mediocrity and dwell with the rest of us henceforth. Not given the opportunity the torch a talented Saints secondary, he took what he could the whole game, piking up enough first downs and pulling away when his defense came through with the ball time after time. While not taking over the game himself, playing consistent, mistake free pigskin-ball is the calling card of what make Tom Brady so easy to love or hate; you're not getting anything easy and if you do manage to pull off the impossible, it's a genuine surprise to all involved. As someone who's awaited the downfall of Marsha Brady's estranged son (probably) for over a decade, at some point you have to sit back and appreciate what has frustrated you all this time. Still not there yet, seeing him in pewter and red does help the medicine go down.

The New Orleans Saints offense does not look like the unit that dropped at 38 - 3 sized hammer on Tampa Bay back in November. Unable to connect deep at all, the Buccaneers were able to fly around near the line of scrimmage and keep things in front of them. Devin White seemed like he was in every meaningful play, swooping from side line to sideline and ending play after play. Michael Thomas remained catchless on four targets and Alvin Kamara was kept in check, as much as that is possible. After bringing in Jameis Winston to lob a deep touchdown pass to Tre'Quan Smith, Drew Brees and the Saints were out of puff, ending their season with the final four drives going as follows: fumble lost, punt, interception, interception. Another brutal end to the season for a team that seemed destined for greatness at Wild Card Weekend. Somehow over the last three years, this is the easiest loss to swallow. Yikes.

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