Buccaneers vs. Washington score, result: Tom Brady avoids upset against Taylor Heinicke

Taylor Heinicke crammed in spectacularly at quarterback for the Washington Soccer Group in Saturday’s NFC wild-card matchup with the Buccaneers, beginning on quick discover with Alex Smith dominated out due to a calf damage.

Tampa Bay escaped with a 31-23 win, however he left the sector as the first speaking level.

Heinicke had thrown simply 77 profession NFL passes coming into the competition. He opposed maybe the best passer of all time in Tom Brady. He stayed sharp, although, throwing for 306 yards and accounting for 2 complete touchdowns. He had an opportunity to steer the kind of late game-tying drive Brady is known for however could not full a fourth-and-21 heave supposed for tight finish Logan Thomas.

MORE: Who is Taylor Heinicke?

The Buccaneers possible anticipated a neater consequence given Washington’s 7-9 regular-season report and uncertainty underneath heart. Nonetheless, a successful efficiency in Brady’s first playoff look since leaving New England is trigger for celebration, significantly when Tampa Bay hadn’t received a postseason contest since 2002.

Brady accomplished 22 of 40 passes for 381 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Working again Leonard Fournette, taking up an elevated function following an damage to Ronald Jones Jr., added a rating on the bottom.

Sporting Information tracked stay scoring updates and highlights from the Buccaneers vs. Washington wild-card matchup. Observe for full outcomes from the 2021 NFL playoff game.

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Buccaneers vs. Washington closing rating

Buccaneers vs. Washington stay updates, highlights

Closing: Buccaneers 31, Washington Soccer Group 23

11:32 p.m. Heinicke evades stress and targets Thomas with a soar ball throw, nevertheless it’s batted away. That is recreation over, because the Buccaneers can kneel now.

11:31 p.m.: Tampa Bay forces a fourth-and-21. With no timeouts left, Washington wants this one.

11:28 p.m.: And one other first! 

11:27 p.m.: Fast 17-yard first down for Washington.

11:24 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, Buccaneers. Washington holds Tampa Bay to a subject aim, giving Heinicke an opportunity to steer a game-tying drive with 2:49 left. 31-23, Tampa Bay.

11:23 p.m.: Chase Younger is on the sideline for third-and-18 with an obvious leg damage.

11:21 p.m.: Washington takes its second timeout with 3:46 remaining. Tampa Bay has second down upcoming.

11:12 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, Washington. Steven Sims hauls in a TD with 4:51 remaining. 28-23, Tampa Bay.

11:06 p.m.: Diversion! Heinicke is available in in spite of everything. It had seemed as if he would stay on the bench.

11:02 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, Buccaneers. Fournette offers his group respiration room. Heinicke, in the meantime, might be sidelined the following drive for Washington after taking a success on his earlier possession. 28-16, Tampa Bay.

10:55 p.m.: Three-and-out for Washington.

10:47 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, Buccaneers. That is the primary factors of the half for an offense that had seemed pretty snug earlier. 21-16, Tampa Bay.

Finish of third quarter: Buccaneers 18, Washington Soccer Group 16

10:43 p.m.: Wheels.

10:34 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, Washington. Heinicke magic! He is proven the elusiveness of Russell Wilson. Two-point try is unsuccessful. 18-16, Tampa Bay.

10:32 p.m.: A shock scramble from Heinicke and private foul in opposition to the Buccaneers places Washington within the crimson zone.

10:28 p.m.: Fumble! Ke’Shawn Vaughn coughs up the ball. Washington jumps on it.

10:26 p.m.: Brady finds Mike Evans to keep away from one other three-and-out. He is 13-of-28 passing for 222 yards and two touchdowns.

10:20 p.m.: An extended third-down scramble from Heinicke is negated by a holding name. He throws a test down cross on the following play, and Washington is pressured to kick the ball deep.

10:14 p.m.: Godwin cannot cling onto a low throw. Tampa Bay will punt following a three-and-out.

10:09 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, Washington. Dustin Hopkins converts a 36-yard try and make it a one-score recreation. 18-10, Tampa Bay.

10:05 p.m.: Tight finish Logan Thomas lumbers downfield for a 29-yard catch.

10:01 p.m.: Washington begins the third quarter with the ball.

Halftime: Buccaneers 18, Washington Soccer Group 7

9:48 p.m.: Washington goes nowhere on first down and adjustments to a conservative strategy, letting the remainder of the clock run out.

9:45 p.m.: Sweat sacks Brady to pressure fourth down. Washington calls timeout with 42 seconds left in hopes of placing collectively a fast scoring drive.

9:44 p.m.: A cross deflected off Godwin’s palms is almost intercepted.

9:43 p.m.: Washington punts with 1:22 remaining within the half. There’s ample time for Brady to drive for a killer blow right here.

9:34 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, Buccaneers. Extra potential factors squandered from Brady’s offense, however a 23-yard subject aim nonetheless extends the lead lower than two minutes earlier than halftime. 18-7, Tampa Bay.

9:29 p.m.: Two-minute warning.

9:27 p.m.: On the following snap, Brady goes play-action cross and hits Cameron Brate for 19 yards.

9:26 p.m.: Leonard Fournette takes a display screen cross for 22 yards.

9:23 p.m.: Washington punts after a promising drive stalls on Tampa Bay’s 43-yard line.

9:17 p.m.: Antonio Gibson lastly finds room on the bottom, choosing up 12 yards and a primary down. Washington is averaging simply 3.4 yards per carry.

9:10 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, Buccaneers. Brady drives down the sector with ease and finds Godwin for the TD. Two-point try is not any good. 15-7, Tampa Bay.

9:03 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, Washington. J.D. McKissic finishes off an excellent drive with a rating. 9-7, Tampa Bay.

9 p.m.: Heinicke has Washington within the crimson zone.

Finish of first quarter: Buccaneers 9, Washington Soccer Group 0

8:55 p.m.: Washington is not limiting the playbook for Heinicke. If something, he is throwing deep extra usually than Alex Smith had been late within the 12 months. With the Buccaneers bringing fixed blitzes, there’s room to search out receivers within the secondary if he makes right reads.

8:48 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, Buccaneers. Brady and Antonio Brown have the first NFC playoff touchdowns of their careers. Further-point is not any good. 9-0, Tampa Bay.

8:42 p.m.: Interception. Heinicke’s cross is tipped on the line and picked by Sean Murphy-Bunting.

8:40 p.m.: Sims makes amends for the sooner mistake with a 36-yard catch-and-run.

8:36 p.m.: Brady takes delay of recreation, turning third-and-4 right into a third-and-9, and he cannot match his ensuing cross by tight protection. Tampa Bay punts.

8:28 p.m.: Cam Sims would not assist out Taylor Heinicke there, dropping an extended cross over the center that would have allowed his quarterback to settle in had it been caught. Washington punts.

8:21 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, Buccaneers. Washington lastly applies stress to Brady, and its rush on third down places the quarterback on the turf as his cross try flies incomplete by the again of the top zone. The Buccaneers accept a brief kick. 3-0, Tampa Bay.

8:19 p.m.: Tampa Bay is previous midfield within the blink of a watch. A completion from Tom Brady to Chris Godwin places the Buccaneers on the 17.

8:15 p.m.: The Buccaneers begin Saturday evening’s wild-card recreation with the ball.

Buccaneers vs. Washington begin time

• Begin time: 8:15 p.m. ET
• TV channel (nationwide): NBC
• Stay stream: NBC Sports activities App, fuboTV 

This kickoff time is similar as the standard Monday evening kickoff time through the common season. Washington is coming off a Sunday evening recreation in Week 17, which may have its physique clocks lined as much as begin at the moment once more within the first spherical of the playoffs.

Buccaneers vs. Washington marks the third of three wild-card video games on the opening Saturday of the playoffs, with three extra scheduled for Sunday. 

NFL playoff schedule 2021

Wild-card spherical

Saturday, Jan. 9

Sunday, Jan. 10

Divisional spherical

Saturday, Jan. 16

Sunday, Jan. 17

Convention championships

Sunday, Jan. 24

Tremendous Bowl 55

Sunday, Feb. 7