Tom Brady didn’t miss much in the second half of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers playoff victory over the New Orleans Saints, except when he tried to get an official to participate in the celebration. Brady, who became the oldest player to score a touchdown in the history of the NFL playoffs in a one-yard run in the fourth period that sealed Tampa Bay’s victory, tried to get the NFL official to give him a high five after the touchdown.
Brady made the high five, but the official refused. The Buccaneers’ quarterback was denied, which would have left the internet humming if the officer actually completed the transaction.
Brady passed John Elway (38 years, 166 days) as the oldest player to run for a playoff touchdown (43 years, 167 days). He finished 18 out of 33 to 199 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions (98.9 rating) and an accelerated touchdown in Tampa Bay’s 30-20 win over New Orleans. This is the third time in Brady’s postseason career that he has two more pass touchdowns and another running touchdown and the first time he has done this since the 2015 AFC divisional playoffs against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Brady will go on to his NFL record for the 14th conference championship game, over 28 other NFL franchises. He has more conference championship wins (nine) than any other defender has appearances. He is the fourth quarterback since the NFL merger to go to the championship game at each conference, joining Joe Montana (San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs), Jay Schroeder (Washington and Los Angeles Raiders) and Craig Morton (Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos)
Brady’s only defeat in Sunday’s game was being snubbed by the referee. He will certainly accept this if the Buccaneers continue to win.