With their 47-7 victory Saturday over the Detroit Lions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2007.
In Saturday’s second game, the San Francisco 49ers beat the Arizona Cardinals, 20-12. The Cardinals could have clinched a playoff berth with a victory and a loss or tie by the Chicago Bears against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
The postseason berth marks the 17th consecutive season Bucs quarterback Tom Brady will reach the playoffs.
“This is why we play, to put your team in a place and give yourself an opportunity to compete for a championship,” Brady said before the game.
Bradythrew four touchdown passes in the only half he needed to play and the Bucs (10-5) set a franchise record with 588 yards and snapped the NFL’s second-longest postseason drought behind Cleveland’s 18-year run that can end Sunday.
Tampa Bay rested Brady ahead, 34-0, its largest halftime lead in franchise history. Blaine Gabbert threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski on his first snap, one play after Detroit running back D’Andre Swift fumbled, and a 22-yard pass to Mike Evans later in the third quarter.
Brady was 22 of 27 for 348 yards with a mix of passes deep down the field and darts in traffic. The six-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback threw touchdown passes to Gronkowski, Evans, Chris Godwin, who made a one-handed catch, and Antonio Brown from 33, 27, 7 and 12 yards.
Here’s a look at the current playoff seedings, projecting a Buccaneers win:
AFC
(Seven total spots available)
CLINCHED PLAYOFF BERTH
Kansas City Chiefs (13-1): First in AFC West
Week 16: Atlanta Falcons
Buffalo Bills (11-3): First in AFC East
Week 16: New England Patriots
Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3): First in AFC North
Week 16: Indianapolis Colts
IN THE HUNT
Tennessee Titans (10-4): First in AFC South
Week 16: Green Bay Packers
Cleveland Browns (10-4): Second in AFC North
Week 16: New York Jets
Indianapolis Colts (10-4): Second in AFC South
Week 16: Pittsburgh Steelers
Miami Dolphins (9-5): Second in AFC East
Week 16: Las Vegas Raiders
ON THE BUBBLE
Baltimore Ravens (9-5): Third in AFC North
Week 16: New York Giants
Las Vegas Raiders (7-7) : Second in AFC West
Week 16: Miami Dolphins
NFC
(Seven total spots available)
CLINCHED PLAYOFF BERTH
Green Bay Packers (11-3): First in NFC North
Week 16: Tennessee Titans
New Orleans Saints (11-4): First in NFC South
Week 16: Win over Minnesota Vikings
Seattle Seahawks (11-4)
Week 16: Los Angeles Rams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-5): Second in NFC South
Week 16: Win over Detroit Lions
IN THE HUNT
Washington Football Team (6-8): First in NFC East
Week 16: Carolina Panthers
Los Angeles Rams (9-5): Second in NFC West
Week 16: Seattle Seahawks
Arizona Cardinals (8-7): Third in NFC West
Week 16: Loss to San Francisco 49ers
ON THE BUBBLE
Chicago Bears (7-7): Second in NFC North
Week 16: Jacksonville Jaguars
Dallas Cowboys (5-9): Second in NFC East
Week 16: Philadelphia Eagles
New York Giants (5-9): Third in NFC East
Week 16: Baltimore Ravens
Philadelphia Eagles (4-9-1): Fourth in NFC East
Week 16: Dallas Cowboys
(The AP contributed to this report.)
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