A game is decided by a handful of plays. Fortunately, the Buccaneers stepped up on these chances.
The playoff win for the Buccaneers versus the Saints on Sunday was one of the biggest victories in the history of the franchise. The Saints have dominated the matchup in recent years and beat the Bucs twice during the regular season, so winning this game was a tall order for Tampa Bay.
The game was very close from the opening whistle, but the Buccaneers showed up when it mattered the most. Football games, especially in close playoff scenarios, often come down to a few key plays to determine who comes out with a victory, and these three set the tone for the Buccaneers.
Honorable mention: Antoine Winfield Jr. forced fumble
It’s so hard to leave this one out. Winfield should be the Defensive Rookie of the Year, and he has shown out in the playoffs in year one.
Play #3
Devin White interception
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1350994216793608192?s=20
Devin White played the best game of his career in his first playoff game. After missing the first game against Washington due to COVID-19, White was hungry to earn his first playoff start, and he did not disappoint.
White led the team in tackles and looked like he was in on almost every play. This was nothing new from the regular season, but White was the top performer in this game by a decent margin.
Drew Brees was already struggling with turnovers in this matchup, and Devin White essentially put the game on ice when he picked Brees off with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter. White jumped the route perfectly, and the stiff arm was the icing on the cake. Perhaps White needs to start helping out with the running backs.
New Orleans got one more chance with the ball after this, but this timely interception was likely the first time that most fans could breathe during the game.