The NFL playoffs are officially lit. Just ask the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The two did battle at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Sunday afternoon with a trip to the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers on the line.
For pretty much the entire game, it looked like the Rams were going to hand the defending champion Buccaneers a blowout loss at home.
Los Angeles held a 27-3 lead about midway through the third quarter with Tom Brady struggling to get anything going on offense.
However, multiple major mistakes on the part of the Los Angeles Rams coupled with some clutch play from Brady and Co. made this a game.
With the Rams up 27-20 with just over two minutes remaining, all they needed was to get a first down to end the game. That’s when Ndamukong Suh forced a fumble of Cam Akers to give Tampa the ball at the Rams’ 30.
A few plays later, Leonard Fournette scored from nine yards out with 42 seconds remaining in the final stanza to tie the game.
At that point, it seemed like overtime was the name of the game.
Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp had other ideas. After the quarterback almost fumbled on the first play of the final drive, he hit Kupp on consecutive passes for 20 yards and 44 yards, respectively — setting up the Rams at Tampa Bay’s 12. Matt Gay would nail a 30-yard field goal for the 30-27 win.
The entire scene was absolutely ridiculous.
.@CooperKupp put the team on his back.
— NFL (@NFL) January 23, 2022
This ending was WILD. #LARvsTB pic.twitter.com/6clEXf9SQq
No one can say Stafford is not a big-game quarterback. After years of losing with the Detroit Lions, he put the Los Angeles Rams on his back to earn a trip to the conference title game.
As for Kupp, he ended the game catching nine passes for 183 yards and a touchdown. Remember, Kupp led the NFL in receptions (145), yards (1,947) and touchdowns (16) during the regular season.
Despite turning the ball over a resounding four times, the Rams were able to hold off a game Buccaneers squad. This will also lead to questions about Brady’s future amid rumors of potential retirement.
These have been the best worst playoff games ever
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) January 23, 2022
Well, the #Buccaneers coordinators are now available.
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) January 23, 2022
Ho-hum, just three wins by the visiting team on a walk-off field goal.
— Joe Person (@josephperson) January 23, 2022
All three Divisional games decided by a field goal on the final play, all won by the road team.
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) January 23, 2022
We don’t ever need to have that Matthew Stafford conversation ever again!!!
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) January 23, 2022
And Matthew Stafford with the throw of his career. My God. What a game.
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) January 23, 2022
#Rams QB Matthew Stafford has his playoff moment. And LA goes home… which is good! Back in the NFC Title game.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 23, 2022
It's over. pic.twitter.com/KQXiXWnf78
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) January 23, 2022
That was some impressive stuff from Stafford, Kupp and McVay after they tried so hard to lose.
— Jason Cole (@JasonCole62) January 23, 2022
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