NFL play-offs: The Cowboys have no mercy for Brady and Tampa

Dallas scored the last ticket for the National Conference semi-finals by winning at Tampa Bay (31-14) on Monday, shattering the dream of an eighth coronation for Tom Brady, exceeded as rarely in the play-offs and whose l he future in the NFL seems all the more uncertain. The Cowboys, who are trying to revive their past glory – they have won five Super Bowls, the last in 1995 – will challenge the 49ers in San Francisco in a week.

In the meantime, the hour of the end has perhaps whistled for Brady, the one he refused to accept last year when he reconsidered his decision to retire, just 40 days after having made it the ‘announcement. Nevertheless, at the age of 45, some believe that he rather intends to pursue his career in another club (Las Vegas, Miami), his spirit somewhat freed since the announcement of his divorce from model Gisele Bundchen, who wanted to see him stop playing.

If he observes around him, a future of reconquest does not in any case seem to be taking shape at the Buccaneers, which he had led to the title in 2020. Last year, they had given in with more resistance, in semi- conference final, against the Los Angeles Rams, future champions. A stage logically not reached for this campaign, as the Florida team was dominated by more organized, solid and talented Cowboys. The contrast even appeared striking between Brady and Dak Prescott, the quarterback opposite, whose audacity resulted in excellence, under the eyes of Tom Cruise present in the stands.

The Texan was five touchdowns for his team. He found Dalton Schultz in the area twice, for the first and the third. Meanwhile, he took it upon himself to go in the race for second, on a combination that feigned the entire defense.

Shock and awe

Prescott then hit a decisive throw for Michael Gallup’s 4th touchdown in the 3rd quarter. And if the Cowboys led 24-0 rather than 28-0, it was because kicker Brett Maher found a way to miss all four conversions. Brady, who had been intercepted at the start of the match while attempting the touchdown, still managed to find the fault in the second half, alerting Julio Jones then Cameron Brate for two touchdowns.

This only served to save the honor, since Prescott meanwhile launched his 5th “TD” of the evening towards CeeDee Lamb, Maher finally managing to bring an additional point. Finally, the evening almost turned into a nightmare when the Bucs player, Russell Gage, was evacuated from the field, victim of a terrible shock to the neck.

His coach Todd Bowles said he suffered “a concussion and was taken to hospital for treatment and examination”, adding that “he was able to move the extremities of his limbs”. A new terrible incident reminding us of the extreme danger of this sport, which is one of the most violent and the most popular in the United States, barely two weeks after the cardiac arrest which struck down Buffalo player Damar Hamlin, on the field of Cincinnati after a tackle. The latter finally escaped the worst and was able to return to Buffalo to continue his convalescence, after a week in the hospital.

Results of the 1st round of the play-offs (“wild card”)

Saturday
(NFC) San Francisco 49ers (N.2) – Seattle Seahawks (N.7) 41 – 23
(AFC) Jacksonville Jaguars (N.4) – Los Angeles Chargers (N.5) 31 – 30

Sunday
(AFC) Buffalo Bills (N.2) – Miami Dolphins (N.7) 34 – 31
(NFC) Minnesota Vikings (N.3) – New York Giants (N.6) 24 – 31
(AFC) Cincinnati Bengals (N.3) – Baltimore Ravens (N.6) 24 – 17

Monday
(NFC) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (N.4) – Dallas Cowboys (N.5) 14 – 31

Conference semi-final program

Saturday
(AFC) Kansas City Chiefs (N.1) – Jacksonville Jaguars (N.4)
(NFC) Philadelphia Eagles (N.1) – New York Giants (N.6)

Sunday
(AFC) Buffalo Bills (N.2) – Cincinnati Bengals (N.3)
(NFC) San Francisco 49ers (N.2) – Dallas Cowboys (N.5)